FCN vs HURN

For growth investors, Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) is the stronger pick with 14. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 4% for FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN). FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN) offers the better valuation at 19. 5x trailing P/E (17. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN) a "Buy" — based on 13 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, FTI Consulting, Inc.

(FCN) is the cheapest at 19. 5x versus Huron Consulting Group Inc. at 20. 6x. On forward P/E, Huron Consulting Group Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) delivered a total return of +113. 2%, compared to +11. 4% for FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FCN returned +293. 0% versus HURN's +108. 4%. 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), FTI Consulting, Inc.

(FCN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 09β versus Huron Consulting Group Inc. 's 0. 82β — meaning HURN is approximately 821% more volatile than FCN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 34% versus 104% for Huron Consulting Group Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) is pulling ahead at 14. 3% versus 2. 4% for FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: FTI Consulting, Inc. grew EPS 5. 5% year-over-year, compared to -6. 9% for Huron Consulting Group Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HURN leads at 14. 5% 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.

FTI Consulting, Inc.

(FCN) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 1% net margin versus 6. 2% for Huron Consulting Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HURN leads at 11. 7% versus 10. 9% for FCN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FCN leads at 32. 1%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) trades at 13. 7x forward P/E versus 17. 2x for FTI Consulting, Inc. — 3. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HURN: 66. 5% to $200. 00.

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, FTI Consulting, Inc.

(FCN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 09), +293. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FCN: +293. 0%, HURN: +108. 4%), 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 Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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.