HBNC vs FISV

For growth investors, Fiserv, Inc.

(FISV) is the stronger pick with 3. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -71. 0% for Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (HBNC). Fiserv, Inc. (FISV) offers the better valuation at 8. 5x trailing P/E (6. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (HBNC) a "Buy" — based on 9 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 forward P/E, Fiserv, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 6. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Horizon Bancorp, Inc.

(HBNC) delivered a total return of +27. 7%, compared to -50. 7% for Fiserv, Inc. (FISV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HBNC returned +128. 4% versus FISV's +1. 8%. 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), Fiserv, Inc.

(FISV) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 87β versus Horizon Bancorp, Inc. 's 0. 97β — meaning HBNC is approximately 11% more volatile than FISV relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (HBNC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 59% versus 113% for Fiserv, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(FISV) is pulling ahead at 3. 6% versus -71. 0% for Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (HBNC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Fiserv, Inc. grew EPS 17. 8% year-over-year, compared to -493. 8% for Horizon Bancorp, 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.

Fiserv, Inc.

(FISV) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 4% net margin versus -145. 9% for Horizon Bancorp, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FISV leads at 26. 9% versus -193. 4% for HBNC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FISV leads at 59. 4%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Fiserv, Inc.

(FISV) trades at 6. 6x forward P/E versus 9. 4x for Horizon Bancorp, Inc. — 2. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FISV: 32. 3% to $71. 15.

In this comparison, HBNC (2.

1% yield) pays a dividend. FISV does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Horizon Bancorp, Inc.

(HBNC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 97), 2. 1% yield, +128. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HBNC: +128. 4%, FISV: +1. 8%), 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 (HBNC (Financial Services) and FISV (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HBNC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; FISV is a mid-cap deep-value stock. HBNC pays a dividend while FISV 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.