GPN vs FIS

For growth investors, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

(FIS) is the stronger pick with 5. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 7% for Global Payments Inc. (GPN). Global Payments Inc. (GPN) offers the better valuation at 11. 9x trailing P/E (5. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Global Payments Inc. (GPN) a "Buy" — based on 62 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, Global Payments Inc.

(GPN) is the cheapest at 11. 9x versus Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. at 61. 3x. On forward P/E, Global Payments Inc. is actually cheaper at 5. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Global Payments Inc. wins at 0. 21x versus Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. 's 0. 30x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Global Payments Inc.

(GPN) delivered a total return of -62. 9%, compared to -64. 0% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GPN returned +4. 1% versus FIS's -14. 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), Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

(FIS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 76β versus Global Payments Inc. 's 1. 37β — meaning GPN is approximately 81% more volatile than FIS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 92% for Global Payments Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

(FIS) is pulling ahead at 5. 4% versus -23. 7% for Global Payments Inc. (GPN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Global Payments Inc. grew EPS -5. 4% year-over-year, compared to -47. 2% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FIS leads at 3. 2% 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.

Global Payments Inc.

(GPN) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 2% net margin versus 3. 6% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 18. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GPN leads at 19. 1% versus 16. 5% for FIS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GPN leads at 72. 6%, 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, Global Payments Inc. (GPN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 21x versus Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. 's 0. 30x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Global Payments Inc. (GPN) trades at 5. 1x forward P/E versus 7. 3x for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. — 2. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FIS: 46. 6% to $67. 38.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) offers the highest yield at 3. 6%, versus 1. 4% for Global Payments Inc. (GPN).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

(FIS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 76), 3. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FIS: -14. 4%, GPN: +4. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (GPN (Industrials) and FIS (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: GPN is a mid-cap deep-value stock; FIS is a mid-cap income-oriented 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.