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ULS vs TRU
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Consulting Services
ULS vs TRU — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Specialty Business Services | Consulting Services |
| Market Cap | $19.96B | $14.07B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.11B | $4.73B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $349M | $705M |
| Gross Margin | 49.6% | 52.7% |
| Operating Margin | 17.8% | 18.1% |
| Forward P/E | 45.5x | 15.3x |
| Total Debt | $832M | $5.16B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $295M | $854M |
ULS vs TRU — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Apr 24 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| UL Solutions Inc. (ULS) | 100 | 283.0 | +183.0% |
| TransUnion (TRU) | 100 | 99.9 | -0.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ULS vs TRU
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
ULS is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.73, yield 0.5%
- 187.3% 10Y total return vs TRU's 142.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.73, Low D/E 64.3%, current ratio 1.32x
TRU carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and valuation efficiency.
- Rev growth 9.4%, EPS growth 60.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 7.2%
- PEG 2.87 vs ULS's 6.85
- Beta 1.36, yield 0.6%, current ratio 1.75x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 9.4% revenue growth vs ULS's 6.4% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (15.3x vs 45.5x), PEG 2.87 vs 6.85 | |
| Quality / Margins | 14.9% margin vs ULS's 11.2% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.73 vs TRU's 1.36, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 0.6% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs ULS's 0.5% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +42.7% vs TRU's -13.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 11.9% ROA vs TRU's 6.2%, ROIC 23.1% vs 7.3% |
ULS vs TRU — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
ULS vs TRU — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TRU leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TRU is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.7B annually — 1.5x ULS's $3.1B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 14.9% (TRU) to 11.2% (ULS). On growth, TRU holds the edge at +13.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.1B | $4.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $742M | $1.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $349M | $705M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $300M | $697M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +49.6% | +52.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +17.8% | +18.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.2% | +14.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +9.7% | +14.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.5% | +13.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +36.4% | +172.0% |
Valuation Metrics
TRU leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 31.4x trailing earnings, TRU trades at a 49% valuation discount to ULS's 62.1x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), TRU offers better value at 5.91x vs ULS's 9.35x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $20.0B | $14.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $20.5B | $18.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 62.09x | 31.44x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 45.49x | 15.28x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 9.35x | 5.91x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 27.04x | 12.83x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 6.54x | 3.08x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 15.58x | 3.16x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 49.53x | 21.27x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ULS leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ULS delivers a 28.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $28 in annual profit, vs $15 for TRU. ULS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.64x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to TRU's 1.13x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), TRU scores 8/9 vs ULS's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +28.1% | +15.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +11.9% | +6.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +23.1% | +7.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +24.8% | +8.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.64x | 1.13x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $537M | $4.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $295M | $854M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $832M | $5.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 25.46x | 3.61x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ULS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ULS five years ago would be worth $28,729 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,067 for TRU. Over the past 12 months, ULS leads with a +42.7% total return vs TRU's -13.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ULS at 42.2% vs TRU's 4.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +23.0% | -12.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +42.7% | -13.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +187.3% | +13.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +187.3% | -29.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +187.3% | +142.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +42.2% | +4.4% |
Risk & Volatility
ULS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ULS is the less volatile stock with a 0.73 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TRU's 1.36 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ULS currently trades 92.4% from its 52-week high vs TRU's 73.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.73x | 1.36x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $107.54 | $99.39 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $61.64 | $65.23 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +92.4% | +73.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 76.5 | 47.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 704K | 2.3M |
Analyst Outlook
TRU leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ULS as "Buy" and TRU as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 30.1% upside for TRU (target: $95) vs -10.0% for ULS (target: $89). For income investors, TRU offers the higher dividend yield at 0.63% vs ULS's 0.52%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $89.40 | $94.88 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 26 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.5% | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.51 | $0.46 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.4% |
TRU leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). ULS leads in 3 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns).
ULS vs TRU: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ULS or TRU a better buy right now?
For growth investors, TransUnion (TRU) is the stronger pick with 9.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 4% for UL Solutions Inc. (ULS). TransUnion (TRU) offers the better valuation at 31. 4x trailing P/E (15. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate UL Solutions Inc. (ULS) a "Buy" — based on 8 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.
02Which has the better valuation — ULS or TRU?
On trailing P/E, TransUnion (TRU) is the cheapest at 31.
4x versus UL Solutions Inc. at 62. 1x. On forward P/E, TransUnion is actually cheaper at 15. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: TransUnion wins at 2. 87x versus UL Solutions Inc. 's 6. 85x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ULS or TRU?
Over the past 5 years, UL Solutions Inc.
(ULS) delivered a total return of +187. 3%, compared to -29. 3% for TransUnion (TRU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ULS returned +187. 3% versus TRU's +142. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ULS or TRU?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), UL Solutions Inc.
(ULS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 73β versus TransUnion's 1. 36β — meaning TRU is approximately 88% more volatile than ULS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, UL Solutions Inc. (ULS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 64% versus 113% for TransUnion — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ULS or TRU?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), TransUnion (TRU) is pulling ahead at 9.
4% versus 6. 4% for UL Solutions Inc. (ULS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TransUnion grew EPS 60. 0% year-over-year, compared to -1. 2% for UL Solutions Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TRU leads at 7. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — ULS or TRU?
UL Solutions Inc.
(ULS) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 6% net margin versus 10. 0% for TransUnion — meaning it keeps 10. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TRU leads at 18. 7% versus 17. 1% for ULS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TRU leads at 59. 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.
07Is ULS or TRU more undervalued right now?
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, TransUnion (TRU) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 87x versus UL Solutions Inc. 's 6. 85x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, TransUnion (TRU) trades at 15. 3x forward P/E versus 45. 5x for UL Solutions Inc. — 30. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TRU: 30. 1% to $94. 88.
08Which pays a better dividend — ULS or TRU?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
TransUnion (TRU) offers the highest yield at 0. 6%, versus 0. 5% for UL Solutions Inc. (ULS).
09Is ULS or TRU better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, UL Solutions Inc.
(ULS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 73), 0. 5% yield, +187. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ULS: +187. 3%, TRU: +142. 0%), 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.
10What are the main differences between ULS and TRU?
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.
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