FDS vs ORCL

For growth investors, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the stronger pick with 8.

4% 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 Oracle Corporation (ORCL) a "Buy" — based on 86 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 Oracle Corporation at 45. 1x. 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 Oracle Corporation's 3. 69x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) delivered a total return of +154.

4%, compared to -27. 5% for FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ORCL returned +428. 7% 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), FactSet Research Systems Inc.

(FDS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 36β versus Oracle Corporation's 1. 58β — meaning ORCL is approximately 342% more volatile than FDS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 71% versus 5% for Oracle Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is pulling ahead at 8.

4% versus 5. 4% for FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Oracle Corporation grew EPS 17. 0% year-over-year, compared to 11. 8% for FactSet Research Systems 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.

FactSet Research Systems Inc.

(FDS) is the more profitable company, earning 25. 7% net margin versus 21. 7% for Oracle Corporation — meaning it keeps 25. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FDS leads at 32. 2% versus 30. 8% for ORCL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ORCL leads at 70. 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, FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 26x versus Oracle Corporation's 3. 69x. 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 26. 2x for Oracle Corporation — 13. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ORCL: 31. 2% to $257. 09.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) offers the highest yield at 1. 9%, versus 0. 8% for Oracle Corporation (ORCL).

For long-horizon retirement investors, FactSet Research Systems Inc.

(FDS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 36), 1. 9% yield). Oracle Corporation (ORCL) carries a higher beta of 1. 58 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (FDS: +68. 3%, ORCL: +428. 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 (FDS (Financial Services) and ORCL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: FDS is a small-cap deep-value stock; ORCL is a large-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.