JKHY vs NTRS vs NDAQ vs STT vs ICE

For growth investors, State Street Corporation (STT) is the stronger pick with 19.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 9% for Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS). State Street Corporation (STT) offers the better valuation at 18. 1x trailing P/E (12. 0x 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, State Street Corporation (STT) is the cheapest at 18.

1x versus Nasdaq, Inc. at 28. 8x. On forward P/E, State Street Corporation is actually cheaper at 12. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: State Street Corporation wins at 1. 36x versus Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. 's 2. 19x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, State Street Corporation (STT) delivered a total return of +86.

2%, compared to +0. 3% for Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (JKHY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NDAQ returned +347. 6% versus JKHY's +94. 9%. 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 State Street Corporation's 1. 19β — meaning STT is approximately 319% more volatile than JKHY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 70% versus 145% for State Street Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), State Street Corporation (STT) is pulling ahead at 19.

6% versus -9. 9% for Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nasdaq, Inc. grew EPS 60. 1% year-over-year, compared to -10. 5% for Northern Trust 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 12. 1% for Northern Trust Corporation — meaning it keeps 26. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ICE leads at 38. 7% versus 15. 5% for STT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ICE leads at 61. 9%, 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, State Street Corporation (STT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 36x versus Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. 's 2. 19x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, State Street Corporation (STT) trades at 12. 0x forward P/E versus 22. 6x for Nasdaq, Inc. — 10. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for JKHY: 39. 5% to $203. 75.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

State Street Corporation (STT) offers the highest yield at 2. 3%, versus 1. 2% for Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ).

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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ICE: +225. 3%, STT: +186. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (JKHY (Technology) and NTRS (Financial Services) and NDAQ (Financial Services) and STT (Financial Services) and ICE (Financial Services)), 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; NTRS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; NDAQ is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; STT is a mid-cap high-growth stock; ICE is a mid-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.