CWAN vs BLK vs STT vs IVZ

For growth investors, Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc.

(CWAN) is the stronger pick with 61. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 1% for Invesco Ltd. (IVZ). State Street Corporation (STT) offers the better valuation at 18. 1x trailing P/E (12. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) a "Buy" — based on 33 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, State Street Corporation (STT) is the cheapest at 18.

1x versus BlackRock, Inc. at 25. 4x. On forward P/E, Invesco Ltd. is actually cheaper at 10. 4x — 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: State Street Corporation wins at 1. 36x versus BlackRock, Inc. 's 2. 47x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, State Street Corporation (STT) delivered a total return of +86.

2%, compared to -4. 3% for Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. (CWAN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BLK returned +245. 8% versus CWAN's -4. 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), Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc.

(CWAN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 80β versus Invesco Ltd. 's 1. 67β — meaning IVZ is approximately 110% more volatile than CWAN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 145% for State Street Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc.

(CWAN) is pulling ahead at 61. 9% versus 5. 1% for Invesco Ltd. (IVZ). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: State Street Corporation grew EPS 47. 1% year-over-year, compared to -235. 6% for Invesco Ltd.. 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.

BlackRock, Inc.

(BLK) is the more profitable company, earning 31. 2% net margin versus -5. 3% for Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 31. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BLK leads at 37. 1% versus -10. 9% for IVZ. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CWAN leads at 67. 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, State Street Corporation (STT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 36x versus BlackRock, Inc. 's 2. 47x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Invesco Ltd. (IVZ) trades at 10. 4x forward P/E versus 34. 6x for Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. — 24. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BLK: 22. 8% to $1311. 78.

In this comparison, IVZ (3.

1% yield), STT (2. 3% yield), BLK (1. 9% yield) pay a dividend. CWAN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, State Street Corporation (STT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

19), 2. 3% yield, +186. 8% 10Y return). Invesco Ltd. (IVZ) carries a higher beta of 1. 67 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (STT: +186. 8%, IVZ: +22. 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 (CWAN (Technology) and BLK (Financial Services) and STT (Financial Services) and IVZ (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CWAN is a small-cap high-growth stock; BLK is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; STT is a mid-cap high-growth stock; IVZ is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. BLK, STT, IVZ pay a dividend while CWAN 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.