SCI vs MATW

For growth investors, Service Corporation International (SCI) is the stronger pick with 2.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -16. 6% for Matthews International Corporation (MATW). Service Corporation International (SCI) offers the better valuation at 20. 9x trailing P/E (19. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Service Corporation International (SCI) a "Buy" — based on 9 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 forward P/E, Service Corporation International is actually cheaper at 19.

0x.

Over the past 5 years, Service Corporation International (SCI) delivered a total return of +52.

6%, compared to -20. 2% for Matthews International Corporation (MATW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SCI returned +231. 9% versus MATW's -28. 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), Service Corporation International (SCI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

11β versus Matthews International Corporation's 1. 03β — meaning MATW is approximately 805% more volatile than SCI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Matthews International Corporation (MATW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 159% versus 3% for Service Corporation International — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Service Corporation International (SCI) is pulling ahead at 2.

9% versus -16. 6% for Matthews International Corporation (MATW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Matthews International Corporation grew EPS 59. 1% year-over-year, compared to 7. 6% for Service Corporation International. Over a 3-year CAGR, SCI leads at 1. 6% 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 -1. 6% for Matthews International Corporation — meaning it keeps 12. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SCI leads at 22. 6% versus 1. 4% for MATW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MATW leads at 32. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Service Corporation International (SCI) trades at 19.

0x forward P/E versus 35. 7x for Matthews International Corporation — 16. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Matthews International Corporation (MATW) offers the highest yield at 3. 7%, versus 1. 6% for Service Corporation International (SCI).

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, +231. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SCI: +231. 9%, MATW: -28. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (SCI (Consumer Cyclical) and MATW (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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