HURN vs ICFI

For growth investors, Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) is the stronger pick with 14. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 3% for ICF International, Inc. (ICFI). ICF International, Inc. (ICFI) offers the better valuation at 15. 1x trailing P/E (10. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Huron Consulting Group Inc. (HURN) 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 trailing P/E, ICF International, Inc.

(ICFI) is the cheapest at 15. 1x versus Huron Consulting Group Inc. at 21. 4x. On forward P/E, ICF International, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) delivered a total return of +120. 2%, compared to -16. 9% for ICF International, Inc. (ICFI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HURN returned +116. 8% versus ICFI's +100. 5%. 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), ICF International, Inc.

(ICFI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 52β versus Huron Consulting Group Inc. 's 0. 82β — meaning HURN is approximately 59% more volatile than ICFI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ICF International, Inc. (ICFI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 56% versus 104% for Huron Consulting Group Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) is pulling ahead at 14. 3% versus -7. 3% for ICF International, Inc. (ICFI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Huron Consulting Group Inc. grew EPS -6. 9% year-over-year, compared to -14. 9% for ICF International, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HURN leads at 14. 5% annualised revenue growth. 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.

Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 2% net margin versus 4. 9% for ICF International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HURN leads at 11. 7% versus 8. 1% for ICFI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ICFI leads at 34. 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.

On forward earnings alone, ICF International, Inc.

(ICFI) trades at 10. 6x forward P/E versus 14. 2x for Huron Consulting Group Inc. — 3. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HURN: 60. 3% to $200. 00.

In this comparison, ICFI (0.

8% yield) pays a dividend. HURN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, ICF International, Inc.

(ICFI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 52), 0. 8% yield, +100. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ICFI: +100. 5%, HURN: +116. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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