IBKR vs MS vs GS vs SCHW vs ICE

For growth investors, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

(GS) is the stronger pick with 17. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 9% for The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW). The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) offers the better valuation at 22. 8x trailing P/E (15. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR) a "Buy" — based on 19 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, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

(GS) is the cheapest at 22. 8x versus Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. at 37. 7x. On forward P/E, The Charles Schwab Corporation is actually cheaper at 14. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. wins at 1. 12x versus The Charles Schwab Corporation's 6. 49x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.

(IBKR) delivered a total return of +386. 1%, compared to +31. 4% for The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IBKR returned +823. 8% versus ICE's +225. 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), Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

(ICE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 33β versus Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. 's 1. 93β — meaning IBKR is approximately 490% more volatile than ICE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 5% for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

(GS) is pulling ahead at 17. 0% versus 1. 9% for The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. grew EPS 77. 3% year-over-year, compared to 17. 7% for The Charles Schwab Corporation. 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.

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

(ICE) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 1% net margin versus 9. 6% for Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 26. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IBKR leads at 86. 0% versus 14. 5% for GS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IBKR leads at 89. 8%, 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, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 12x versus The Charles Schwab Corporation's 6. 49x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW) trades at 14. 9x forward P/E versus 33. 6x for Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. — 18. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SCHW: 33. 1% to $119. 11.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Morgan Stanley (MS) offers the highest yield at 2. 0%, versus 0. 4% for Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR).

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. 2% yield, +225. 3% 10Y return). Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR) carries a higher beta of 1. 93 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ICE: +225. 3%, IBKR: +823. 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 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: IBKR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MS is a large-cap high-growth stock; GS is a large-cap high-growth stock; SCHW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ICE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. MS, GS, SCHW, ICE pay a dividend while IBKR 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.