ACIW vs JPM

For growth investors, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(JPM) is the stronger pick with 14. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 4% for ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW). JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) offers the better valuation at 15. 9x trailing P/E (14. 2x 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, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(JPM) is the cheapest at 15. 9x versus ACI Worldwide, Inc. at 20. 0x. On forward P/E, JPMorgan Chase & Co. is actually cheaper at 14. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: ACI Worldwide, Inc. wins at 0. 62x versus JPMorgan Chase & Co. 's 1. 09x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(JPM) delivered a total return of +110. 3%, compared to +15. 2% for ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: JPM returned +471. 7% versus ACIW's +119. 1%. 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), JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(JPM) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 00β versus ACI Worldwide, Inc. 's 1. 03β — meaning ACIW is approximately 2% more volatile than JPM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 55% versus 2% for JPMorgan Chase & Co. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(JPM) is pulling ahead at 14. 6% versus 10. 4% for ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew EPS 21. 7% year-over-year, compared to 13. 1% for ACI Worldwide, Inc.. 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.

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(JPM) is the more profitable company, earning 21. 6% net margin versus 12. 9% for ACI Worldwide, Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: JPM leads at 27. 7% versus 18. 7% for ACIW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — JPM leads at 58. 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, ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 62x versus JPMorgan Chase & Co. 's 1. 09x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) trades at 14. 2x forward P/E versus 17. 7x for ACI Worldwide, Inc. — 3. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACIW: 61. 8% to $70. 00.

In this comparison, JPM (1.

6% yield) pays a dividend. ACIW does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(JPM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 00), 1. 6% yield, +471. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (JPM: +471. 7%, ACIW: +119. 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 (ACIW (Technology) and JPM (Financial Services)), 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; JPM is a large-cap deep-value stock. JPM 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.