MATW vs MATX vs SCI vs ZIM

For growth investors, Service Corporation International (SCI) is the stronger pick with 2.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -18. 1% for ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (ZIM). ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (ZIM) offers the better valuation at 6. 7x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Matthews International Corporation (MATW) a "Buy" — based on 10 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, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.

(ZIM) is the cheapest at 6. 7x versus Service Corporation International at 20. 5x. On forward P/E, Matson, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 1x — 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: Matson, Inc. wins at 0. 51x versus Service Corporation International's 3. 30x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Matson, Inc.

(MATX) delivered a total return of +193. 9%, compared to -20. 9% for Matthews International Corporation (MATW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ZIM returned +552. 4% versus MATW's -30. 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), Service Corporation International (SCI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

12β versus Matson, Inc. 's 1. 65β — meaning MATX is approximately 1291% more volatile than SCI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Matson, Inc. (MATX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% versus 3% for Service Corporation International — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Service Corporation International (SCI) is pulling ahead at 2.

9% versus -18. 1% for ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (ZIM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Matthews International Corporation grew EPS 59. 1% year-over-year, compared to -77. 7% for ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SCI leads at 1. 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.

Matson, Inc.

(MATX) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 3% net margin versus -1. 6% for Matthews International Corporation — meaning it keeps 13. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SCI leads at 22. 6% versus 1. 4% for MATW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MATW leads at 32. 6%, 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, Matson, Inc. (MATX) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 51x versus Service Corporation International's 3. 30x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Matson, Inc. (MATX) trades at 13. 1x forward P/E versus 25. 8x for Matthews International Corporation — 12. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SCI: 19. 7% to $93. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (ZIM) offers the highest yield at 16. 1%, versus 0. 8% for Matson, Inc. (MATX).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Service Corporation International (SCI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

12), 1. 7% yield, +222. 7% 10Y return). Matson, Inc. (MATX) carries a higher beta of 1. 65 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SCI: +222. 7%, MATX: +484. 2%), 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 (MATW (Industrials) and MATX (Industrials) and SCI (Consumer Cyclical) and ZIM (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: MATW is a small-cap income-oriented stock; MATX is a small-cap deep-value stock; SCI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ZIM is a small-cap deep-value 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.