HTH
Hilltop Holdings Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$2.27B
5Y Perf.+104.0%
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Stock Comparison
HTH vs ICE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ICE
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges
Market Cap$86.89B
5Y Perf.+57.7%
HTH vs ICE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | HTH | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges |
| Market Cap | $2.27B | $86.89B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.63B | $12.64B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $162M | $3.30B |
| Gross Margin | 78.4% | 61.9% |
| Operating Margin | 13.6% | 38.7% |
| Forward P/E | 16.0x | 19.1x |
| Total Debt | $927M | $20.28B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.23B | $837M |
HTH vs ICE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
HTH
ICE
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilltop Holdings In… (HTH) | 100 | 204.0 | +104.0% |
| Intercontinental Ex… (ICE) | 100 | 157.7 | +57.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HTH vs ICE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ICE leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Hilltop Holdings Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
HTH
Hilltop Holdings Inc.
The Banking Pick
HTH is the clearest fit if your priority is value and dividends.
- Lower P/E (16.0x vs 19.1x)
- 1.9% yield, 10-year raise streak, vs ICE's 1.3%
- +29.9% vs ICE's -11.3%
Best for: value and dividends
ICE
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
The Banking Pick
ICE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 14 yrs, beta 0.33, yield 1.3%
- Rev growth 7.5%, EPS growth 20.7%
- 222.9% 10Y total return vs HTH's 122.3%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ICE | 7.5% NII/revenue growth vs HTH's 5.5% |
| Value | HTH | Lower P/E (16.0x vs 19.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | ICE | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs HTH's 0.6% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | ICE | Beta 0.33 vs HTH's 0.72 |
| Dividends | HTH | 1.9% yield, 10-year raise streak, vs ICE's 1.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | HTH | +29.9% vs ICE's -11.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ICE | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs HTH's 0.6% |
HTH vs ICE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
HTH vs ICE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLICELAGGINGHTH
HTHHilltop Holdings Inc.
1leads
ICEIntercontinental Exch…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HTHMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ICE4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
HTH5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ICE6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ICE4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ICE leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ICE is the larger business by revenue, generating $12.6B annually — 7.8x HTH's $1.6B. ICE is the more profitable business, keeping 26.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to HTH's 10.2%.
| Metric | HTHHilltop Holdings … | ICEIntercontinental … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.6B | $12.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $172M | $6.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $162M | $3.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$140M | $4.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +78.4% | +61.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.6% | +38.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.2% | +26.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -5.9% | +33.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -1.5% | +23.1% |
ICE leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
HTH leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 14.4x trailing earnings, HTH trades at a 46% valuation discount to ICE's 26.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, HTH's 8.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ICE's 16.5x.
| Metric | HTHHilltop Holdings … | ICEIntercontinental … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.3B | $86.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.0B | $106.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 14.44x | 26.59x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.02x | 19.14x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.99x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.87x | 16.47x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.39x | 6.88x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.09x | 3.02x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 20.26x |
HTH leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ICE leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ICE delivers a 11.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $7 for HTH. HTH carries lower financial leverage with a 0.42x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ICE's 0.70x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ICE scores 9/9 vs HTH's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | HTHHilltop Holdings … | ICEIntercontinental … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.4% | +11.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.0% | +2.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.0% | +7.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.2% | +9.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 9 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.42x | 0.70x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$305M | $19.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.2B | $837M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $927M | $20.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.50x | 6.53x |
ICE leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ICE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ICE five years ago would be worth $14,243 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,561 for HTH. Over the past 12 months, HTH leads with a +29.9% total return vs ICE's -11.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ICE at 14.0% vs HTH's 9.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HTHHilltop Holdings … | ICEIntercontinental … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +13.0% | -3.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +29.9% | -11.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +30.4% | +48.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +15.6% | +42.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +122.3% | +222.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +9.2% | +14.0% |
ICE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — HTH and ICE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ICE is the less volatile stock with a 0.33 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than HTH's 0.72 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HTH currently trades 94.3% from its 52-week high vs ICE's 81.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | HTHHilltop Holdings … | ICEIntercontinental … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.72x | 0.33x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $40.41 | $189.35 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $28.92 | $143.17 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.3% | +81.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 54.7 | 42.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 329K | 3.1M |
Evenly matched — HTH and ICE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — HTH and ICE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HTH as "Hold" and ICE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 27.6% upside for ICE (target: $196) vs -5.6% for HTH (target: $36). For income investors, HTH offers the higher dividend yield at 1.90% vs ICE's 1.26%.
| Metric | HTHHilltop Holdings … | ICEIntercontinental … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $36.00 | $195.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.9% | +1.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 10 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.72 | $1.93 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +8.1% | +1.6% |
Evenly matched — HTH and ICE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
ICE leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). HTH leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallIntercontinental Exchange, … (ICE)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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HTH vs ICE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HTH or ICE a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
(ICE) is the stronger pick with 7. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 5% for Hilltop Holdings Inc. (HTH). Hilltop Holdings Inc. (HTH) offers the better valuation at 14. 4x trailing P/E (16. 0x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — HTH or ICE?
On trailing P/E, Hilltop Holdings Inc.
(HTH) is the cheapest at 14. 4x versus Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. at 26. 6x. On forward P/E, Hilltop Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HTH or ICE?
Over the past 5 years, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
(ICE) delivered a total return of +42. 4%, compared to +15. 6% for Hilltop Holdings Inc. (HTH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ICE returned +222. 9% versus HTH's +122. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — HTH or ICE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
(ICE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 33β versus Hilltop Holdings Inc. 's 0. 72β — meaning HTH is approximately 119% more volatile than ICE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hilltop Holdings Inc. (HTH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 42% versus 70% for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HTH or ICE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
(ICE) is pulling ahead at 7. 5% versus 5. 5% for Hilltop Holdings Inc. (HTH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hilltop Holdings Inc. grew EPS 51. 7% year-over-year, compared to 20. 7% for Intercontinental Exchange, 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.
06Which has better profit margins — HTH or ICE?
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
(ICE) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 1% net margin versus 10. 2% for Hilltop Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 26. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ICE leads at 38. 7% versus 13. 6% for HTH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HTH leads at 78. 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.
07Is HTH or ICE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Hilltop Holdings Inc.
(HTH) trades at 16. 0x forward P/E versus 19. 1x for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. — 3. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ICE: 27. 6% to $195. 71.
08Which pays a better dividend — HTH or ICE?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Hilltop Holdings Inc. (HTH) offers the highest yield at 1. 9%, versus 1. 3% for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE).
09Is HTH or ICE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
(ICE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 33), 1. 3% yield, +222. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ICE: +222. 9%, HTH: +122. 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.
10What are the main differences between HTH and ICE?
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: HTH is a small-cap deep-value stock; ICE 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(HTH: 5.5% · ICE: 7.5%)Net Margin>
%
(HTH: 10.2% · ICE: 26.1%)P/E Ratio<
x
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