XAIR vs AVPT vs QLYS vs INVA

For growth investors, Beyond Air, Inc.

(XAIR) is the stronger pick with 219. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 1% for Qualys, Inc. (QLYS). Innoviva, Inc. (INVA) offers the better valuation at 6. 9x trailing P/E (11. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AvePoint, Inc. (AVPT) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, Innoviva, Inc.

(INVA) is the cheapest at 6. 9x versus AvePoint, Inc. at 68. 8x. On forward P/E, Innoviva, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Qualys, Inc. wins at 0. 66x versus Innoviva, Inc. 's 1. 15x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Innoviva, Inc.

(INVA) delivered a total return of +94. 4%, compared to -99. 5% for Beyond Air, Inc. (XAIR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: QLYS returned +267. 2% versus XAIR's -99. 6%. 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), Innoviva, Inc.

(INVA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 13β versus AvePoint, Inc. 's 1. 06β — meaning AVPT is approximately 743% more volatile than INVA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AvePoint, Inc. (AVPT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 82% for Beyond Air, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Beyond Air, Inc.

(XAIR) is pulling ahead at 219. 7% versus 10. 1% for Qualys, Inc. (QLYS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Innoviva, Inc. grew EPS 816. 7% year-over-year, compared to 17. 0% for Qualys, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AVPT leads at 21. 8% annualised revenue growth. 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.

Innoviva, Inc.

(INVA) is the more profitable company, earning 63. 8% net margin versus -1258. 4% for Beyond Air, Inc. — meaning it keeps 63. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: INVA leads at 38. 5% versus -1202. 1% for XAIR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — QLYS leads at 82. 8%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Qualys, Inc. (QLYS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 66x versus Innoviva, Inc. 's 1. 15x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Innoviva, Inc. (INVA) trades at 11. 9x forward P/E versus 27. 7x for AvePoint, Inc. — 15. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AVPT: 69. 6% to $17. 50.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Innoviva, Inc.

(INVA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 13)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (INVA: +94. 9%, AVPT: +5. 5%), 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 (XAIR (Healthcare) and AVPT (Technology) and QLYS (Technology) and INVA (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: XAIR is a small-cap high-growth stock; AVPT is a small-cap high-growth stock; QLYS is a small-cap deep-value stock; INVA is a small-cap high-growth stock. 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.