CSV vs GL vs CNO vs SCI

For growth investors, Globe Life Inc.

(GL) is the stronger pick with 3. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -90. 7% for Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV). Globe Life Inc. (GL) offers the better valuation at 11. 0x trailing P/E (9. 9x 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, Globe Life Inc.

(GL) is the cheapest at 11. 0x versus Service Corporation International at 20. 9x. On forward P/E, Globe Life Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Carriage Services, Inc. wins at 0. 46x versus CNO Financial Group, Inc. 's 4. 76x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CNO Financial Group, Inc.

(CNO) delivered a total return of +85. 8%, compared to +29. 0% for Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SCI returned +226. 8% 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), Service Corporation International (SCI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

11β versus CNO Financial Group, Inc. 's 0. 80β — meaning CNO is approximately 605% more volatile than SCI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Globe Life Inc. (GL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 44% versus 3% for Service Corporation International — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Globe Life Inc.

(GL) is pulling ahead at 3. 8% versus -90. 7% 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 -37. 2% for CNO Financial Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CNO leads at 7. 9% 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 136. 8% net margin versus 5. 1% for CNO Financial Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 136. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CSV leads at 259. 3% versus 6. 5% for CNO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CSV leads at 389. 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, Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 46x versus CNO Financial Group, Inc. 's 4. 76x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Globe Life Inc. (GL) trades at 9. 9x forward P/E versus 18. 8x for Service Corporation International — 8. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SCI: 17. 0% to $93. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Service Corporation International (SCI) offers the highest yield at 1. 6%, versus 0. 7% for Globe Life Inc. (GL).

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

11), 1. 6% yield, +226. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SCI: +226. 8%, CNO: +174. 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 (CSV (Consumer Cyclical) and GL (Financial Services) and CNO (Financial Services) and SCI (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CSV is a small-cap deep-value stock; GL is a mid-cap deep-value stock; CNO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SCI 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.