VRTS vs HNNA vs GROW vs CNNE

For growth investors, Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) is the stronger pick with 19. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 1% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW). Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (VRTS) offers the better valuation at 7. 1x trailing P/E (5. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cannae Holdings, Inc. (CNNE) a "Buy" — based on 5 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.

(VRTS) is the cheapest at 7. 1x versus Hennessy Advisors, Inc. at 8. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) delivered a total return of +37. 6%, compared to -60. 5% for Cannae Holdings, Inc. (CNNE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VRTS returned +142. 6% versus HNNA's -35. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 30β versus Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. 's 1. 14β — meaning VRTS is approximately 275% more volatile than HNNA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 3% for Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) is pulling ahead at 19. 9% versus -23. 1% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hennessy Advisors, Inc. grew EPS 38. 0% year-over-year, compared to -126. 6% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) is the more profitable company, earning 28. 0% net margin versus -99. 2% for Cannae Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 28. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HNNA leads at 37. 0% versus -35. 3% for GROW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VRTS leads at 74. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CNNE: 21.

5% to $17. 00.

In this comparison, VRTS (6.

6% yield), HNNA (5. 3% yield), GROW (3. 5% yield) pay a dividend. CNNE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 30), 5. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HNNA: -35. 0%, CNNE: -18. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (VRTS (Financial Services) and HNNA (Financial Services) and GROW (Financial Services) and CNNE (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: VRTS is a small-cap deep-value stock; HNNA is a small-cap high-growth stock; GROW is a small-cap income-oriented stock; CNNE is a small-cap quality compounder stock. VRTS, HNNA, GROW pay a dividend while CNNE does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.