OSBC vs ICE

For growth investors, Old Second Bancorp, Inc.

(OSBC) is the stronger pick with 18. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 5% for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE). Old Second Bancorp, Inc. (OSBC) offers the better valuation at 13. 1x trailing P/E (9. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Old Second Bancorp, Inc. (OSBC) a "Buy" — based on 6 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, Old Second Bancorp, Inc.

(OSBC) is the cheapest at 13. 1x versus Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. at 26. 6x. On forward P/E, Old Second Bancorp, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Old Second Bancorp, Inc. wins at 0. 81x versus Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. 's 2. 15x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Old Second Bancorp, Inc.

(OSBC) delivered a total return of +57. 9%, compared to +42. 4% for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ICE returned +222. 9% versus OSBC's +219. 4%. 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), Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

(ICE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 33β versus Old Second Bancorp, Inc. 's 0. 90β — meaning OSBC is approximately 175% more volatile than ICE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Old Second Bancorp, Inc. (OSBC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 38% versus 70% for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Old Second Bancorp, Inc.

(OSBC) is pulling ahead at 18. 1% versus 7. 5% for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. grew EPS 20. 7% year-over-year, compared to -13. 4% for Old Second Bancorp, Inc.. 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 20. 2% for Old Second Bancorp, Inc. — 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 27. 9% for OSBC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OSBC leads at 78. 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, Old Second Bancorp, Inc. (OSBC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 81x versus Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. 's 2. 15x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Old Second Bancorp, Inc. (OSBC) trades at 9. 7x forward P/E versus 19. 1x for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. — 9. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ICE: 27. 6% to $195. 71.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) offers the highest yield at 1. 3%, versus 1. 1% for Old Second Bancorp, Inc. (OSBC).

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. 3% yield, +222. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ICE: +222. 9%, OSBC: +219. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: OSBC is a small-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.