CSV vs SCI

For growth investors, Carriage Services, Inc.

(CSV) is the stronger pick with 3. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 9% for Service Corporation International (SCI). Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) offers the better valuation at 14. 3x trailing P/E (13. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, Carriage Services, Inc.

(CSV) is the cheapest at 14. 3x versus Service Corporation International at 20. 6x. On forward P/E, Carriage Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Carriage Services, Inc. wins at 0. 46x versus Service Corporation International's 3. 29x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Service Corporation International (SCI) delivered a total return of +51.

3%, compared to +26. 9% for Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SCI returned +226. 8% versus CSV's +112. 1%. 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), Service Corporation International (SCI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

11β versus Carriage Services, Inc. 's 0. 66β — meaning CSV is approximately 482% more volatile than SCI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 3% for Service Corporation International — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Carriage Services, Inc.

(CSV) is pulling ahead at 3. 3% versus 2. 9% for Service Corporation International (SCI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Carriage Services, Inc. grew EPS 54. 8% year-over-year, compared to 7. 6% for Service Corporation International. Over a 3-year CAGR, CSV leads at 4. 1% 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.

Service Corporation International (SCI) is the more profitable company, earning 12.

6% net margin versus 12. 3% for Carriage Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CSV leads at 23. 7% versus 22. 6% for SCI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CSV leads at 35. 3%, 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, Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 46x versus Service Corporation International's 3. 29x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) trades at 13. 6x forward P/E versus 18. 8x for Service Corporation International — 5. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SCI: 18. 6% to $93. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Service Corporation International (SCI) offers the highest yield at 1. 6%, versus 1. 0% for Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Service Corporation International (SCI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

11), 1. 6% yield, +226. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SCI: +226. 8%, CSV: +112. 1%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: CSV is a small-cap deep-value stock; SCI is a mid-cap quality compounder 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.