JKHY vs CSL vs FIS vs AWI

For growth investors, Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

(AWI) is the stronger pick with 12. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 3% for Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL). Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL) offers the better valuation at 21. 1x trailing P/E (17. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (JKHY) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL) is the cheapest at 21.

1x versus Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. at 63. 0x. On forward P/E, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 5x — 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: Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. wins at 0. 31x versus Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. 's 2. 16x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL) delivered a total return of +95.

1%, compared to -63. 2% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AWI returned +330. 4% 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), Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

(JKHY) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 28β versus Carlisle Companies Incorporated's 1. 12β — meaning CSL is approximately 296% more volatile than JKHY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 160% for Carlisle Companies Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

(AWI) is pulling ahead at 12. 1% versus 0. 3% for Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. grew EPS 19. 3% year-over-year, compared to -47. 2% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AWI leads at 9. 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.

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

(JKHY) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 2% net margin versus 3. 6% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AWI leads at 26. 6% versus 16. 5% for FIS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — JKHY leads at 42. 7%, 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, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 31x versus Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. 's 2. 16x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) trades at 7. 5x forward P/E versus 21. 8x for Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. — 14. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FIS: 42. 6% to $67. 38.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) offers the highest yield at 3. 5%, versus 0. 8% for Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (AWI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

(JKHY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 28), 1. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (JKHY: +94. 9%, CSL: +277. 4%), 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 (JKHY (Technology) and CSL (Industrials) and FIS (Technology) and AWI (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: JKHY is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CSL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; FIS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; AWI is a small-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.