CARG vs TRU vs OPEN vs EFX vs FICO

For growth investors, Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is the stronger pick with 15.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -15. 2% for Opendoor Technologies Inc. (OPEN). CarGurus, Inc. (CARG) offers the better valuation at 22. 4x trailing P/E (13. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CarGurus, Inc. (CARG) a "Buy" — based on 23 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, CarGurus, Inc.

(CARG) is the cheapest at 22. 4x versus Fair Isaac Corporation at 42. 4x. On forward P/E, CarGurus, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CarGurus, Inc. wins at 0. 77x versus Equifax Inc. 's 4. 39x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) delivered a total return of +128.

4%, compared to -70. 1% for Opendoor Technologies Inc. (OPEN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FICO returned +945. 7% versus OPEN's -53. 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), Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

82β versus Opendoor Technologies Inc. 's 3. 05β — meaning OPEN is approximately 273% more volatile than FICO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Opendoor Technologies Inc. (OPEN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 113% for TransUnion — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is pulling ahead at 15.

9% versus -15. 2% for Opendoor Technologies Inc. (OPEN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CarGurus, Inc. grew EPS 675. 0% year-over-year, compared to -203. 6% for Opendoor Technologies Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FICO leads at 13. 1% 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.

Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is the more profitable company, earning 32.

7% net margin versus -29. 7% for Opendoor Technologies Inc. — meaning it keeps 32. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FICO leads at 46. 5% versus -6. 2% for OPEN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CARG leads at 89. 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.

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, CarGurus, Inc. (CARG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 77x versus Equifax Inc. 's 4. 39x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, CarGurus, Inc. (CARG) trades at 13. 8x forward P/E versus 26. 2x for Fair Isaac Corporation — 12. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FICO: 41. 5% to $1593. 56.

In this comparison, EFX (1.

1% yield), TRU (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. CARG, OPEN, FICO do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

82), +945. 7% 10Y return). Opendoor Technologies Inc. (OPEN) carries a higher beta of 3. 05 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (FICO: +945. 7%, OPEN: -53. 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 (CARG (Consumer Cyclical) and TRU (Industrials) and OPEN (Real Estate) and EFX (Industrials) and FICO (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CARG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TRU is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; OPEN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; EFX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; FICO is a mid-cap high-growth stock. TRU, EFX pay a dividend while CARG, OPEN, FICO do 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.