IIIV vs EVTC vs FIS vs FISV

For growth investors, EVERTEC, Inc.

(EVTC) is the stronger pick with 10. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 3% for i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV). Fiserv, Inc. (FISV) offers the better valuation at 9. 0x trailing P/E (7. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV) a "Buy" — based on 14 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, Fiserv, Inc.

(FISV) is the cheapest at 9. 0x versus Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. at 63. 0x. On forward P/E, EVERTEC, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 0x — 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: Fiserv, Inc. wins at 0. 20x versus EVERTEC, Inc. 's 0. 66x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, i3 Verticals, Inc.

(IIIV) delivered a total return of -27. 6%, compared to -63. 2% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EVTC returned +89. 5% versus FIS's -13. 2%. 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), Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

(FIS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 76β versus Fiserv, Inc. 's 0. 94β — meaning FISV is approximately 24% more volatile than FIS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 158% for EVERTEC, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(EVTC) is pulling ahead at 10. 2% versus -7. 3% for i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: EVERTEC, Inc. grew EPS 27. 2% year-over-year, compared to -87. 9% for i3 Verticals, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, EVTC leads at 14. 6% 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.

Fiserv, Inc.

(FISV) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 4% net margin versus 3. 6% for Fidelity National Information Services, 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 1. 9% for IIIV. 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.

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, Fiserv, Inc. (FISV) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 20x versus EVERTEC, Inc. 's 0. 66x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, EVERTEC, Inc. (EVTC) trades at 6. 0x forward P/E versus 20. 3x for i3 Verticals, Inc. — 14. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EVTC: 58. 4% to $37. 00.

In this comparison, FIS (3.

5% yield), EVTC (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. IIIV, FISV do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, EVERTEC, Inc.

(EVTC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 76), 0. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EVTC: +89. 5%, FISV: +9. 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.

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

In terms of investment character: IIIV is a small-cap quality compounder stock; EVTC is a small-cap deep-value stock; FIS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; FISV is a mid-cap deep-value stock. EVTC, FIS pay a dividend while IIIV, FISV do 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.