CHE vs CSV

For growth investors, Chemed Corporation (CHE) is the stronger pick with 4.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 3% for Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV). Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) offers the better valuation at 14. 3x trailing P/E (13. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, Carriage Services, Inc.

(CSV) is the cheapest at 14. 3x versus Chemed Corporation at 23. 0x. On forward P/E, Carriage Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Carriage Services, Inc.

(CSV) delivered a total return of +26. 9%, compared to -10. 4% for Chemed Corporation (CHE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CHE returned +239. 1% versus CSV's +112. 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), Chemed Corporation (CHE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

33β versus Carriage Services, Inc. 's 0. 66β — meaning CSV is approximately 102% more volatile than CHE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Chemed Corporation (CHE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 2% for Carriage Services, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Chemed Corporation (CHE) is pulling ahead at 4.

1% versus 3. 3% for Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Carriage Services, Inc. grew EPS 54. 8% year-over-year, compared to -7. 4% for Chemed Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CHE leads at 5. 8% 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.

Carriage Services, Inc.

(CSV) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 3% net margin versus 10. 5% for Chemed Corporation — meaning it keeps 12. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CSV leads at 23. 7% versus 13. 4% for CHE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CSV leads at 35. 3%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Carriage Services, Inc.

(CSV) trades at 13. 6x forward P/E versus 17. 4x for Chemed Corporation — 3. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CHE: 11. 9% to $475. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) offers the highest yield at 1. 0%, versus 0. 5% for Chemed Corporation (CHE).

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

33), 0. 5% yield, +239. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CHE: +239. 1%, CSV: +112. 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 (CHE (Healthcare) and CSV (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CHE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CSV is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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.