NIQ vs ICE vs SPGI vs CME vs KO

For growth investors, S&P Global Inc.

(SPGI) is the stronger pick with 7. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 9% for The Coca-Cola Company (KO). CME Group Inc. (CME) offers the better valuation at 24. 2x trailing P/E (22. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate NIQ Global Intelligence Plc (NIQ) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, CME Group Inc.

(CME) is the cheapest at 24. 2x versus S&P Global Inc. at 28. 6x. On forward P/E, NIQ Global Intelligence Plc is actually cheaper at 8. 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: CME Group Inc. wins at 1. 60x versus S&P Global Inc. 's 2. 45x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, The Coca-Cola Company (KO) delivered a total return of +65.

6%, compared to -56. 5% for NIQ Global Intelligence Plc (NIQ). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SPGI returned +317. 5% versus NIQ's -56. 5%. 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), CME Group Inc.

(CME) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 28β versus NIQ Global Intelligence Plc's 0. 85β — meaning NIQ is approximately -402% more volatile than CME relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CME Group Inc. (CME) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 13% versus 3% for NIQ Global Intelligence Plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), S&P Global Inc.

(SPGI) is pulling ahead at 7. 9% versus 1. 9% for The Coca-Cola Company (KO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NIQ Global Intelligence Plc grew EPS 60. 1% year-over-year, compared to 15. 4% for CME Group Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NIQ 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.

CME Group Inc.

(CME) is the more profitable company, earning 62. 0% net margin versus -8. 4% for NIQ Global Intelligence Plc — meaning it keeps 62. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CME leads at 64. 9% versus 3. 4% for NIQ. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CME leads at 86. 1%, 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, CME Group Inc. (CME) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 60x versus S&P Global Inc. 's 2. 45x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, NIQ Global Intelligence Plc (NIQ) trades at 8. 5x forward P/E versus 25. 3x for The Coca-Cola Company — 16. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NIQ: 74. 1% to $14. 40.

In this comparison, CME (4.

1% yield), KO (2. 5% yield), ICE (1. 4% yield), SPGI (0. 9% yield) pay a dividend. NIQ does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, CME Group Inc.

(CME) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 28), 4. 1% yield, +262. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CME: +262. 4%, NIQ: -56. 5%), 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 (NIQ (Technology) and ICE (Financial Services) and SPGI (Financial Services) and CME (Financial Services) and KO (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: NIQ is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ICE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SPGI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CME is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; KO is a large-cap quality compounder stock. ICE, SPGI, CME, KO pay a dividend while NIQ does 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.