ASST vs COHN vs ICE vs NDAQ

For growth investors, Strive, Inc.

(ASST) is the stronger pick with 476. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 5% for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE). Cohen & Company Inc. (COHN) offers the better valuation at 3. 3x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) a "Buy" — based on 36 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, Cohen & Company Inc.

(COHN) is the cheapest at 3. 3x versus Nasdaq, Inc. at 28. 8x. On forward P/E, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Nasdaq, Inc. wins at 2. 12x versus Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. 's 2. 19x.

Over the past 5 years, Nasdaq, Inc.

(NDAQ) delivered a total return of +70. 4%, compared to -95. 6% for Strive, Inc. (ASST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NDAQ returned +347. 6% versus ASST's -95. 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), Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

(ICE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 33β versus Strive, Inc. 's 2. 47β — meaning ASST is approximately 653% more volatile than ICE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Strive, Inc. (ASST) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 4% for Cohen & Company Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Strive, Inc.

(ASST) is pulling ahead at 476. 2% versus 7. 5% for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cohen & Company Inc. grew EPS 55. 4% year-over-year, compared to 20. 7% for Intercontinental Exchange, 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.

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

(ICE) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 1% net margin versus -591. 2% for Strive, Inc. — meaning it keeps 26. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ICE leads at 38. 7% versus -620. 7% for ASST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — COHN leads at 93. 8%, 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, Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 12x versus Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. 's 2. 19x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) trades at 19. 5x forward P/E versus 22. 6x for Nasdaq, Inc. — 3. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NDAQ: 28. 8% to $114. 60.

In this comparison, COHN (2.

5% yield), ICE (1. 2% yield), NDAQ (1. 2% yield) pay a dividend. ASST does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

(ICE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 33), 1. 2% yield, +225. 3% 10Y return). Strive, Inc. (ASST) carries a higher beta of 2. 47 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ICE: +225. 3%, ASST: -95. 6%), 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 (ASST (Communication Services) and COHN (Financial Services) and ICE (Financial Services) and NDAQ (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ASST is a small-cap high-growth stock; COHN is a small-cap high-growth stock; ICE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; NDAQ is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. COHN, ICE, NDAQ pay a dividend while ASST 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.