PROV
Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$109M
5Y Perf.+27.6%
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Side-by-side financial analysisPROV
ICE
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Stock Comparison
PROV vs ICE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ICE
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges
Market Cap$79.60B
5Y Perf.+53.4%
PROV vs ICE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  PROV |  ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges |
| Market Cap | $109M | $79.60B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $60M | $12.64B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $7M | $3.30B |
| Gross Margin | 67.8% | 61.9% |
| Operating Margin | 16.2% | 38.7% |
| Forward P/E | 15.4x | 17.3x |
| Total Debt | $213M | $20.28B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $53M | $837M |
PROV vs ICE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PROV
ICE
| Stock | Jun 20 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provident Financial… (PROV) | 100 | 127.6 | +27.6% |
| Intercontinental Ex… (ICE) | 100 | 153.4 | +53.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PROV vs ICE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: PROV leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
🥇PROV emerged as the overall leader. Track its performance:
PROV
Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.
The Banking Pick
PROV carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.21, yield 3.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.21, current ratio 0.06x
- Beta 0.21, yield 3.3%, current ratio 0.06x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
ICE
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
The Banking Pick
ICE is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 7.5%, EPS growth 20.7%
- 195.3% 10Y total return vs PROV's 25.8%
- 7.5% NII/revenue growth vs PROV's 2.5%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  ICE | 7.5% NII/revenue growth vs PROV's 2.5% |
| Value |  PROV | Lower P/E (15.4x vs 17.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | ICE | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs PROV's 0.5% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | PROV | Beta 0.21 vs ICE's 0.35 |
| Dividends | PROV | 3.3% yield, vs ICE's 1.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | PROV | +14.5% vs ICE's -20.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ICE | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs PROV's 0.5% |
PROV vs ICE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
PROV vs ICE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLPROVLAGGINGICE
ICEIntercontinental Exch…
2leads
PROVProvident Financial H…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ICEMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ICE3/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
PROV5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ICE7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
PROV4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
PROV2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ICE leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ICE is the larger business by revenue, generating $12.6B annually — 210.1x PROV's $60M. ICE is the more profitable business, keeping 26.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PROV's 11.0%.
| Metric | PROVProvident Financi… | ICEIntercontinental … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $60M | $12.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $12M | $6.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $7M | $3.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $9M | $4.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +67.8% | +61.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.2% | +38.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.0% | +26.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.3% | +33.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +69.2% | +23.1% |
ICE leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
PROV leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 18.4x trailing earnings, PROV trades at a 24% valuation discount to ICE's 24.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ICE's 15.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PROV's 21.8x.
| Metric | PROVProvident Financi… | ICEIntercontinental … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $109M | $79.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $269M | $99.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.40x | 24.36x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.41x | 17.34x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.74x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 21.77x | 15.34x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.81x | 6.30x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.90x | 2.77x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.38x | 18.56x |
PROV leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ICE leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ICE delivers a 11.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $5 for PROV. ICE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.70x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PROV's 1.66x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ICE scores 9/9 vs PROV's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | PROVProvident Financi… | ICEIntercontinental … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.1% | +11.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.5% | +2.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.9% | +7.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.4% | +9.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 9 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.66x | 0.70x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $160M | $19.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $53M | $837M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $213M | $20.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.47x | 6.53x |
ICE leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PROV leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ICE five years ago would be worth $13,085 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,816 for PROV. Over the past 12 months, PROV leads with a +14.5% total return vs ICE's -20.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PROV at 14.7% vs ICE's 10.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PROVProvident Financi… | ICEIntercontinental … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +8.8% | -11.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +14.5% | -20.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +50.9% | +34.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.2% | +30.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.8% | +195.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.7% | +10.4% |
PROV leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PROV leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PROV is the less volatile stock with a 0.21 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ICE's 0.35 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PROV currently trades 98.2% from its 52-week high vs ICE's 74.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PROVProvident Financi… | ICEIntercontinental … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.21x | 0.35x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.42 | $189.35 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.95 | $136.67 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.2% | +74.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.8 | 31.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 8K | 3.2M |
PROV leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — PROV and ICE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PROV as "Hold" and ICE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 38.0% upside for ICE (target: $194) vs -6.5% for PROV (target: $16). For income investors, PROV offers the higher dividend yield at 3.26% vs ICE's 1.38%.
| Metric | PROVProvident Financi… | ICEIntercontinental … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $16.00 | $194.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 10 | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.3% | +1.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 13 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.56 | $1.93 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.1% | +1.7% |
Evenly matched — PROV and ICE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
PROV leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). ICE leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
Best OverallProvident Financial Holding… (PROV)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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PROV vs ICE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PROV or ICE a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
(ICE) is the stronger pick with 7. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 5% for Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (PROV). Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (PROV) offers the better valuation at 18. 4x trailing P/E (15. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) a "Buy" — based on 36 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.
02Which has the better valuation — PROV or ICE?
On trailing P/E, Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.
(PROV) is the cheapest at 18. 4x versus Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. at 24. 4x. On forward P/E, Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 15. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PROV or ICE?
Over the past 5 years, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
(ICE) delivered a total return of +30. 9%, compared to +18. 2% for Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (PROV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ICE returned +195. 3% versus PROV's +25. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — PROV or ICE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.
(PROV) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 21β versus Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. 's 0. 35β — meaning ICE is approximately 70% more volatile than PROV relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 70% versus 166% for Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PROV or ICE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
(ICE) is pulling ahead at 7. 5% versus 2. 5% for Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (PROV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. grew EPS 20. 7% year-over-year, compared to -12. 3% for Provident Financial Holdings, 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.
06Which has better profit margins — PROV or ICE?
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
(ICE) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 1% net margin versus 10. 4% for Provident Financial Holdings, 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 14. 8% for PROV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PROV leads at 65. 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.
07Is PROV or ICE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.
(PROV) trades at 15. 4x forward P/E versus 17. 3x for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. — 1. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ICE: 38. 0% to $194. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — PROV or ICE?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (PROV) offers the highest yield at 3. 3%, versus 1. 4% for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE).
09Is PROV or ICE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Provident Financial Holdings, Inc.
(PROV) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 21), 3. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PROV: +25. 8%, ICE: +195. 3%), 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.
10What are the main differences between PROV and ICE?
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: PROV is a small-cap income-oriented 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.
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