ITUB vs GFI

For growth investors, Itaú Unibanco Holding S.

A. (ITUB) is the stronger pick with 18. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 15. 6% for Gold Fields Limited (GFI). Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. (ITUB) offers the better valuation at 10. 3x trailing P/E (1. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. (ITUB) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, Itaú Unibanco Holding S.

A. (ITUB) is the cheapest at 10. 3x versus Gold Fields Limited at 32. 5x. On forward P/E, Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. is actually cheaper at 1. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. wins at 0. 08x versus Gold Fields Limited's 0. 16x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Gold Fields Limited (GFI) delivered a total return of +361.

9%, compared to +149. 0% for Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. (ITUB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GFI returned +1087% versus ITUB's +188. 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), Gold Fields Limited (GFI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

86β versus Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. 's 1. 11β — meaning ITUB is approximately 29% more volatile than GFI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Gold Fields Limited (GFI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 55% versus 5% for Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Itaú Unibanco Holding S.

A. (ITUB) is pulling ahead at 18. 0% versus 15. 6% for Gold Fields Limited (GFI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Gold Fields Limited grew EPS 79. 2% year-over-year, compared to 4. 0% for Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A.. 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.

Gold Fields Limited (GFI) is the more profitable company, earning 23.

9% net margin versus 11. 7% for Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. — meaning it keeps 23. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GFI leads at 40. 2% versus 13. 1% for ITUB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GFI leads at 42. 5%, 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, Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. (ITUB) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 08x versus Gold Fields Limited's 0. 16x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. (ITUB) trades at 1. 7x forward P/E versus 7. 6x for Gold Fields Limited — 5. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GFI: 21. 2% to $54. 42.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. (ITUB) offers the highest yield at 10. 4%, versus 0. 9% for Gold Fields Limited (GFI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Gold Fields Limited (GFI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

86), 0. 9% yield, +1087% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GFI: +1087%, ITUB: +188. 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 (ITUB (Financial Services) and GFI (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.