HBT vs FICO

For growth investors, Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is the stronger pick with 15.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 8% for HBT Financial, Inc. (HBT). HBT Financial, Inc. (HBT) offers the better valuation at 11. 5x trailing P/E (9. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HBT Financial, Inc. (HBT) a "Buy" — based on 6 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, HBT Financial, Inc.

(HBT) is the cheapest at 11. 5x versus Fair Isaac Corporation at 46. 4x. On forward P/E, HBT Financial, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: HBT Financial, Inc. wins at 0. 75x versus Fair Isaac Corporation's 1. 04x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) delivered a total return of +145.

4%, compared to +73. 9% for HBT Financial, Inc. (HBT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FICO returned +1048% versus HBT's +110. 7%. 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), HBT Financial, Inc.

(HBT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 77β versus Fair Isaac Corporation's 0. 78β — meaning FICO is approximately 2% more volatile than HBT relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is pulling ahead at 15.

9% versus 2. 8% for HBT Financial, Inc. (HBT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Fair Isaac Corporation grew EPS 29. 8% year-over-year, compared to 8. 0% for HBT Financial, 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.

Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is the more profitable company, earning 32.

7% net margin versus 26. 3% for HBT Financial, Inc. — meaning it keeps 32. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FICO leads at 46. 5% versus 35. 6% for HBT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FICO leads at 82. 2%, 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, HBT Financial, Inc. (HBT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 75x versus Fair Isaac Corporation's 1. 04x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, HBT Financial, Inc. (HBT) trades at 9. 6x forward P/E versus 28. 6x for Fair Isaac Corporation — 19. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FICO: 29. 5% to $1593. 56.

In this comparison, HBT (3.

0% yield) pays a dividend. FICO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

78), +1048% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FICO: +1048%, HBT: +110. 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 (HBT (Financial Services) and FICO (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HBT is a small-cap deep-value stock; FICO is a mid-cap high-growth stock. HBT pays a dividend while FICO 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.