CSV vs SCI vs MATW vs HI vs ACCO

For growth investors, Carriage Services, Inc.

(CSV) is the stronger pick with 3. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -16. 6% for Matthews International Corporation (MATW). ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) offers the better valuation at 9. 2x trailing P/E (4. 8x 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, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the cheapest at 9.

2x versus Hillenbrand, Inc. at 52. 4x. On forward P/E, ACCO Brands Corporation is actually cheaper at 4. 8x. 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 Service Corporation International's 3. 29x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Service Corporation International (SCI) delivered a total return of +51.

3%, compared to -38. 4% for ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SCI returned +226. 8% versus ACCO's -35. 3%. 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 Hillenbrand, Inc. 's 1. 92β — meaning HI is approximately 1583% more volatile than SCI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hillenbrand, Inc. (HI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 112% versus 3% for Service Corporation International — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Carriage Services, Inc.

(CSV) is pulling ahead at 3. 3% versus -16. 6% for Matthews International Corporation (MATW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ACCO Brands Corporation grew EPS 141. 5% year-over-year, compared to 7. 6% for Service Corporation International. Over a 3-year CAGR, HI leads at 4. 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.

Service Corporation International (SCI) is the more profitable company, earning 12.

6% net margin versus -1. 6% for Matthews International Corporation — meaning it keeps 12. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CSV leads at 23. 7% versus 1. 4% for MATW. 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.

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 Service Corporation International's 3. 29x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) trades at 4. 8x forward P/E versus 35. 1x for Matthews International Corporation — 30. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACCO: 98. 5% to $8. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) offers the highest yield at 7. 1%, versus 1. 0% for Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV).

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). Hillenbrand, Inc. (HI) carries a higher beta of 1. 92 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SCI: +226. 8%, HI: +33. 0%), 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 SCI (Consumer Cyclical) and MATW (Industrials) and HI (Industrials) and ACCO (Industrials)), 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; SCI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MATW is a small-cap income-oriented stock; HI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ACCO 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.