ACIW vs GPN

For growth investors, ACI Worldwide, Inc.

(ACIW) is the stronger pick with 10. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 7% for Global Payments Inc. (GPN). Global Payments Inc. (GPN) offers the better valuation at 12. 0x trailing P/E (5. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) a "Buy" — based on 17 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 12. 0x versus ACI Worldwide, Inc. at 21. 6x. 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 ACI Worldwide, Inc. 's 0. 67x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, ACI Worldwide, Inc.

(ACIW) delivered a total return of +21. 7%, compared to -62. 7% for Global Payments Inc. (GPN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACIW returned +131. 7% versus GPN's +4. 6%. 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), ACI Worldwide, Inc.

(ACIW) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 03β versus Global Payments Inc. 's 1. 37β — meaning GPN is approximately 34% more volatile than ACIW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 57% versus 92% for Global Payments Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), ACI Worldwide, Inc.

(ACIW) is pulling ahead at 10. 4% versus -23. 7% for Global Payments Inc. (GPN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ACI Worldwide, Inc. grew EPS 13. 1% year-over-year, compared to -5. 4% for Global Payments Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ACIW leads at 7. 4% 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 12. 9% for ACI Worldwide, 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 18. 7% for ACIW. 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 ACI Worldwide, Inc. 's 0. 67x. 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 19. 0x for ACI Worldwide, Inc. — 13. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACIW: 50. 1% to $70. 00.

In this comparison, GPN (1.

4% yield) pays a dividend. ACIW does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Global Payments Inc.

(GPN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GPN: +4. 6%, ACIW: +131. 7%), 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 (ACIW (Technology) and GPN (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ACIW is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GPN is a mid-cap deep-value stock. GPN pays a dividend while ACIW does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.