CME
CME Group Inc.
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges
Market Cap$104.06B
5Y Perf.+57.1%
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Stock Comparison
CME vs MSCI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MSCI
MSCI Inc.
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges
Market Cap$42.29B
5Y Perf.+76.6%
CME vs MSCI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CME | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges | Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges |
| Market Cap | $104.06B | $42.29B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $6.52B | $3.13B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $4.24B | $1.32B |
| Gross Margin | 86.1% | 82.4% |
| Operating Margin | 64.9% | 54.7% |
| Forward P/E | 23.5x | 29.6x |
| Total Debt | $3.76B | $6.31B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $4.42B | $515M |
CME vs MSCI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CME
MSCI
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| CME Group Inc. (CME) | 100 | 157.1 | +57.1% |
| MSCI Inc. (MSCI) | 100 | 176.6 | +76.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CME vs MSCI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CME leads in 4 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. MSCI Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CME
CME Group Inc.
The Banking Pick
CME carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 6 yrs, beta -0.30, yield 3.8%
- Lower volatility, beta -0.30, Low D/E 13.1%, current ratio 92.97x
- PEG 1.71 vs MSCI's 1.75
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
MSCI
MSCI Inc.
The Banking Pick
MSCI is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 9.7%, EPS growth 10.7%
- 7.3% 10Y total return vs CME's 289.3%
- 9.7% NII/revenue growth vs CME's 6.4%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | MSCI | 9.7% NII/revenue growth vs CME's 6.4% |
| Value | CME | Lower P/E (23.5x vs 29.6x), PEG 1.71 vs 1.75 |
| Quality / Margins | CME | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs MSCI's 0.3% (lower = leaner) |
| Dividends | CME | 3.8% yield, 6-year raise streak, vs MSCI's 1.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | MSCI | +6.9% vs CME's +5.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CME | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs MSCI's 0.3% |
CME vs MSCI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CME vs MSCI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCMELAGGINGMSCI
MSCIMSCI Inc.
1leads
CMECME Group Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs MSCIMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CME4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CME5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
MSCI4/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CME4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CME leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CME is the larger business by revenue, generating $6.5B annually — 2.1x MSCI's $3.1B. CME is the more profitable business, keeping 62.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to MSCI's 38.4%.
| Metric | CMECME Group Inc. | MSCIMSCI Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.5B | $3.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $4.7B | $2.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $4.2B | $1.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4.4B | $1.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +86.1% | +82.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +64.9% | +54.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +62.0% | +38.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +64.3% | +49.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +21.4% | +49.1% |
CME leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CME leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 25.7x trailing earnings, CME trades at a 31% valuation discount to MSCI's 37.3x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), CME offers better value at 1.87x vs MSCI's 2.21x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | CMECME Group Inc. | MSCIMSCI Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $104.1B | $42.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $103.4B | $48.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 25.70x | 37.33x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 23.49x | 29.61x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.87x | 2.21x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 22.95x | 24.89x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 15.96x | 13.49x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.60x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 24.81x | 27.30x |
CME leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MSCI leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MSCI scores 8/9 vs CME's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CMECME Group Inc. | MSCIMSCI Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.3% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.2% | +24.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.2% | +34.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.6% | +44.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.13x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$666M | $5.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $4.4B | $515M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.8B | $6.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 41.55x | 7.67x |
MSCI leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CME leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CME five years ago would be worth $16,437 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,746 for MSCI. Over the past 12 months, MSCI leads with a +6.9% total return vs CME's +5.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CME at 19.8% vs MSCI's 8.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CMECME Group Inc. | MSCIMSCI Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +9.1% | +3.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +5.5% | +6.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +71.9% | +26.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +64.4% | +27.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +289.3% | +728.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +19.8% | +8.2% |
CME leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CME and MSCI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CME is the less volatile stock with a -0.30 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MSCI's 0.61 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MSCI currently trades 92.8% from its 52-week high vs CME's 87.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CMECME Group Inc. | MSCIMSCI Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.30x | 0.61x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $329.16 | $626.28 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $257.17 | $501.08 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +87.1% | +92.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 46.0 | 54.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.2M | 527K |
Evenly matched — CME and MSCI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CME and MSCI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CME as "Hold" and MSCI as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 16.1% upside for MSCI (target: $674) vs 11.7% for CME (target: $320). For income investors, CME offers the higher dividend yield at 3.81% vs MSCI's 1.24%.
| Metric | CMECME Group Inc. | MSCIMSCI Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $320.25 | $674.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 35 | 27 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.8% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 6 | 11 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $10.92 | $7.20 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.3% | +5.9% |
Evenly matched — CME and MSCI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CME leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). MSCI leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
Best OverallCME Group Inc. (CME)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CME vs MSCI: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CME or MSCI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, MSCI Inc.
(MSCI) is the stronger pick with 9. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 4% for CME Group Inc. (CME). CME Group Inc. (CME) offers the better valuation at 25. 7x trailing P/E (23. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MSCI Inc. (MSCI) a "Buy" — based on 27 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 — CME or MSCI?
On trailing P/E, CME Group Inc.
(CME) is the cheapest at 25. 7x versus MSCI Inc. at 37. 3x. On forward P/E, CME Group Inc. is actually cheaper at 23. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CME Group Inc. wins at 1. 71x versus MSCI Inc. 's 1. 75x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CME or MSCI?
Over the past 5 years, CME Group Inc.
(CME) delivered a total return of +64. 4%, compared to +27. 5% for MSCI Inc. (MSCI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MSCI returned +728. 5% versus CME's +289. 3%. 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 — CME or MSCI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CME Group Inc.
(CME) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 30β versus MSCI Inc. 's 0. 61β — meaning MSCI is approximately -300% more volatile than CME relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — CME or MSCI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), MSCI Inc.
(MSCI) is pulling ahead at 9. 7% versus 6. 4% for CME Group Inc. (CME). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CME Group Inc. grew EPS 15. 4% year-over-year, compared to 10. 7% for MSCI 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.
06Which has better profit margins — CME or MSCI?
CME Group Inc.
(CME) is the more profitable company, earning 62. 0% net margin versus 38. 4% for MSCI Inc. — meaning it keeps 62. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CME leads at 64. 9% versus 54. 7% for MSCI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CME leads at 86. 1%, 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.
07Is CME or MSCI 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, CME Group Inc. (CME) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 71x versus MSCI Inc. 's 1. 75x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, CME Group Inc. (CME) trades at 23. 5x forward P/E versus 29. 6x for MSCI Inc. — 6. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MSCI: 16. 1% to $674. 33.
08Which pays a better dividend — CME or MSCI?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
CME Group Inc. (CME) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 1. 2% for MSCI Inc. (MSCI).
09Is CME or MSCI better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, CME Group Inc.
(CME) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 30), 3. 8% yield, +289. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CME: +289. 3%, MSCI: +728. 5%), 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.
10What are the main differences between CME and MSCI?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: CME is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; MSCI is a mid-cap quality compounder 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(CME: 6.4% · MSCI: 9.7%)Net Margin>
%
(CME: 62.0% · MSCI: 38.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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