FDS vs ICE vs CME vs MSCI

For growth investors, MSCI Inc.

(MSCI) is the stronger pick with 9. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 4% for FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS). FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) offers the better valuation at 14. 4x trailing P/E (12. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) a "Buy" — based on 36 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, FactSet Research Systems Inc.

(FDS) is the cheapest at 14. 4x versus MSCI Inc. at 37. 6x. On forward P/E, FactSet Research Systems Inc. is actually cheaper at 12. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: FactSet Research Systems Inc. wins at 1. 26x versus Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. 's 2. 18x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, CME Group Inc.

(CME) delivered a total return of +57. 8%, compared to -27. 5% for FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MSCI returned +717. 0% versus FDS's +68. 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), CME Group Inc.

(CME) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 32β versus MSCI Inc. 's 0. 58β — meaning MSCI is approximately -281% more volatile than CME relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CME Group Inc. (CME) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 13% versus 71% for FactSet Research Systems Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), MSCI Inc.

(MSCI) is pulling ahead at 9. 7% versus 5. 4% for FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. grew EPS 20. 7% 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.

CME Group Inc.

(CME) is the more profitable company, earning 62. 0% net margin versus 25. 7% for FactSet Research Systems 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 32. 2% for FDS. 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.

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, FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 26x versus Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. 's 2. 18x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) trades at 12. 6x forward P/E versus 29. 8x for MSCI Inc. — 17. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ICE: 25. 6% to $195. 71.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

CME Group Inc. (CME) offers the highest yield at 3. 9%, versus 1. 2% for MSCI Inc. (MSCI).

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. 32), 3. 9% yield, +279. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CME: +279. 0%, FDS: +68. 3%), 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.

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: FDS is a small-cap deep-value stock; ICE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; 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.