CNDT vs UIS vs MMS vs IBM vs ACN

For growth investors, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the stronger pick with 7.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 4% for Conduent Incorporated (CNDT). Maximus, Inc. (MMS) offers the better valuation at 12. 1x trailing P/E (7. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Maximus, Inc. (MMS) a "Buy" — based on 16 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, Maximus, Inc.

(MMS) is the cheapest at 12. 1x versus International Business Machines Corporation at 20. 7x. On forward P/E, Unisys Corporation is actually cheaper at 4. 0x — 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: Maximus, Inc. wins at 0. 77x versus International Business Machines Corporation's 1. 50x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) delivered a total return of +90.

2%, compared to -87. 2% for Unisys Corporation (UIS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IBM returned +107. 8% versus CNDT's -88. 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), Maximus, Inc.

(MMS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 72β versus Unisys Corporation's 2. 34β — meaning UIS is approximately 223% more volatile than MMS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Accenture plc (ACN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 25% versus 2% for International Business Machines Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is pulling ahead at 7.

6% versus -9. 4% for Conduent Incorporated (CNDT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: International Business Machines Corporation grew EPS 73. 7% year-over-year, compared to -151. 1% for Conduent Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, MMS leads at 5. 5% 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.

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the more profitable company, earning 15.

7% net margin versus -17. 4% for Unisys Corporation — meaning it keeps 15. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IBM leads at 15. 3% versus 4. 5% for CNDT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IBM leads at 59. 5%, 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, Maximus, Inc. (MMS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 77x versus International Business Machines Corporation's 1. 50x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Unisys Corporation (UIS) trades at 4. 0x forward P/E versus 18. 6x for International Business Machines Corporation — 14. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UIS: 113. 1% to $6. 50.

In this comparison, CNDT (3.

4% yield), ACN (3. 2% yield), IBM (2. 9% yield), MMS (1. 8% yield) pay a dividend. UIS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Maximus, Inc.

(MMS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 72), 1. 8% yield). Unisys Corporation (UIS) carries a higher beta of 2. 34 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MMS: +39. 7%, UIS: -58. 7%), 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 (CNDT (Technology) and UIS (Technology) and MMS (Industrials) and IBM (Technology) and ACN (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CNDT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; UIS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MMS is a small-cap deep-value stock; IBM is a large-cap quality compounder stock; ACN is a mid-cap deep-value stock. CNDT, MMS, IBM, ACN pay a dividend while UIS 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.