Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) vs Block, Inc. (XYZ) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ACIW | 10.4% revenue growth vs XYZ's 0.3% |
| Value | ACIW | Lower P/E (15.7x vs 19.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | ACIW | 12.9% net margin vs XYZ's 5.4% |
| Stability / Safety | ACIW | Beta 1.11 vs XYZ's 1.59 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | XYZ | -2.5% vs ACIW's -30.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ACIW | 7.3% ROA vs XYZ's 3.3%, ROIC 11.4% vs 6.4% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
ACI Worldwide is a software company that provides digital payment processing solutions to financial institutions, merchants, and billers globally. It generates revenue primarily through software licensing, maintenance fees, and transaction-based processing services — with its enterprise payments platform serving as the core revenue driver. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep integration with legacy banking systems and its comprehensive, real-time payment processing capabilities that are difficult for new entrants to replicate.
Block is a financial technology company that provides payment processing and business software tools primarily for small and medium-sized businesses. It generates revenue primarily from transaction fees on payment processing — about 90% of total revenue — with additional income from subscription services, hardware sales, and banking services like Cash App. The company's key advantage is its integrated ecosystem that combines payment hardware, software, and banking services, creating network effects and high switching costs for merchants.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
ACIW leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Valuation Metrics. 2 categories are tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
XYZ is the larger business by revenue, generating $24.2B annually — 13.7x ACIW's $1.8B. ACIW is the more profitable business, keeping 12.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to XYZ's 5.4%.
| Metric | ACIWACI Worldwide, In… | XYZBlock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.8B | $24.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $427M | $1.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $227M | $1.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $298M | $2.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +49.0% | +42.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +18.7% | +7.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.9% | +5.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.9% | +10.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.3% | +3.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -33.3% | -93.8% |
Valuation Metrics
At 18.4x trailing earnings, ACIW trades at a 39% valuation discount to XYZ's 30.3x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ACIW offers better value at 0.65x vs XYZ's 0.83x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ACIWACI Worldwide, In… | XYZBlock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.1B | $38.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.7B | $39.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.37x | 30.33x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.70x | 19.00x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.65x | 0.83x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.09x | 22.87x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.32x | 1.59x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.74x | 1.79x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.20x | 15.82x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ACIW delivers a 14.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $6 for XYZ. XYZ carries lower financial leverage with a 0.33x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ACIW's 0.55x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ACIW scores 7/9 vs XYZ's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ACIWACI Worldwide, In… | XYZBlock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.9% | +5.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.3% | +3.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.4% | +6.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +13.7% | +6.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.55x | 0.33x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $644M | $725M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $196M | $6.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $840M | $7.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.33x | 13.21x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ACIW five years ago would be worth $10,081 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,643 for XYZ. Over the past 12 months, XYZ leads with a -2.5% total return vs ACIW's -30.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ACIW at 15.4% vs XYZ's -6.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ACIWACI Worldwide, In… | XYZBlock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -13.1% | -2.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -30.8% | -2.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +53.5% | -17.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +0.8% | -73.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +112.6% | +510.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +15.4% | -6.0% |
Risk & Volatility
ACIW is the less volatile stock with a 1.11 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than XYZ's 1.59 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. XYZ currently trades 77.2% from its 52-week high vs ACIW's 68.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ACIWACI Worldwide, In… | XYZBlock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.11x | 1.59x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $58.14 | $82.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $38.05 | $44.27 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +68.2% | +77.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.8 | 45.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 599K | 5.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ACIW as "Buy" and XYZ as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 76.4% upside for ACIW (target: $70) vs 32.9% for XYZ (target: $85).
| Metric | ACIWACI Worldwide, In… | XYZBlock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $70.00 | $84.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 17 | 33 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +5.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) | 100 | 151.34 | +51.3% |
| Block, Inc. (XYZ) | 100 | 76.61 | -23.4% |
ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) returned +1% over 5 years vs Block, Inc. (XYZ)'s -74%. A $10,000 investment in ACIW 5 years ago would be worth $10,081 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) | $1.0B | $1.8B | +75.0% |
| Block, Inc. (XYZ) | $1.7B | $24.2B | +1315.9% |
ACI Worldwide, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.0B (2016) to $1.8B (2025) — a 6.4% CAGR. Block, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.7B (2016) to $24.2B (2025) — a 34.2% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) | 12.9% | 12.9% | -0.0% |
| Block, Inc. (XYZ) | -10.0% | 5.4% | +153.7% |
ACI Worldwide, Inc.'s net margin went from 13% (2016) to 13% (2025). Block, Inc.'s net margin went from -10% (2016) to 5% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) | 46.9 | 22.1 | -52.9% |
| Block, Inc. (XYZ) | 77.2 | 31 | -59.8% |
ACI Worldwide, Inc. has traded in a 19x–67x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~18x. Block, Inc. has traded in a 19x–495x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~30x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) | 1.09 | 2.16 | +98.2% |
| Block, Inc. (XYZ) | -0.5 | 2.1 | +520.0% |
ACI Worldwide, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.09 (2016) to $2.16 (2025) — a 8% CAGR. Block, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.50 (2016) to $2.10 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
ACI Worldwide, Inc. generated $310M FCF in 2025 (+77% vs 2021). Block, Inc. generated $2B FCF in 2025 (+346% vs 2021).
ACIW vs XYZ: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ACIW or XYZ a better buy right now?
ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) offers the better valuation at 18.4x trailing P/E (15.7x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — ACIW or XYZ?
On trailing P/E, ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) is the cheapest at 18.4x versus Block, Inc. at 30.3x. On forward P/E, ACI Worldwide, Inc. is actually cheaper at 15.7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Block, Inc. wins at 0.52x versus ACI Worldwide, Inc.'s 0.55x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ACIW or XYZ?
Over the past 5 years, ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) delivered a total return of +0.8%, compared to -73.6% for Block, Inc. (XYZ). A $10,000 investment in ACIW five years ago would be worth approximately $10K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: XYZ returned +510.2% versus ACIW's +112.6%. 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 — ACIW or XYZ?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) is the lower-risk stock at 1.11β versus Block, Inc.'s 1.59β — meaning XYZ is approximately 44% more volatile than ACIW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Block, Inc. (XYZ) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 33% versus 55% for ACI Worldwide, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ACIW or XYZ?
ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) is the more profitable company, earning 12.9% net margin versus 5.4% for Block, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACIW leads at 18.7% versus 7.1% for XYZ. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACIW leads at 49.0%, 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.
06Is ACIW or XYZ 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, Block, Inc. (XYZ) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.52x versus ACI Worldwide, Inc.'s 0.55x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) trades at 15.7x forward P/E versus 19.0x for Block, Inc. — 3.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACIW: 76.4% to $70.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — ACIW or XYZ?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend. All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
08Is ACIW or XYZ better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, ACI Worldwide, Inc. (ACIW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.11), +112.6% 10Y return). Block, Inc. (XYZ) carries a higher beta of 1.59 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ACIW: +112.6%, XYZ: +510.2%), 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.
09What are the main differences between ACIW and XYZ?
Both stocks operate in the Technology 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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