SCI vs HI vs FELE vs CSV

For growth investors, Franklin Electric Co.

, Inc. (FELE) is the stronger pick with 5. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -90. 7% for Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV). Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) offers the better valuation at 14. 6x trailing P/E (13. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Service Corporation International (SCI) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, Carriage Services, Inc.

(CSV) is the cheapest at 14. 6x versus Hillenbrand, Inc. at 52. 4x. On forward P/E, Hillenbrand, Inc. is actually cheaper at 12. 4x — 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: Carriage Services, Inc. wins at 0. 47x versus Service Corporation International's 3. 34x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Service Corporation International (SCI) delivered a total return of +52.

6%, compared to -21. 4% for Hillenbrand, Inc. (HI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FELE returned +232. 9% versus HI's +35. 0%. 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.

11β versus Hillenbrand, Inc. 's 1. 92β — meaning HI is approximately 1583% more volatile than SCI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. (FELE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 3% for Service Corporation International — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Franklin Electric Co.

, Inc. (FELE) is pulling ahead at 5. 4% versus -90. 7% for Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hillenbrand, Inc. grew EPS 120. 3% year-over-year, compared to -15. 8% for Franklin Electric Co. , Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HI leads at 4. 9% 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.

Carriage Services, Inc.

(CSV) is the more profitable company, earning 136. 8% net margin versus 1. 6% for Hillenbrand, Inc. — meaning it keeps 136. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CSV leads at 259. 3% versus 5. 9% for HI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CSV leads at 389. 5%, 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, Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 47x versus Service Corporation International's 3. 34x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Hillenbrand, Inc. (HI) trades at 12. 4x forward P/E versus 21. 8x for Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. — 9. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SCI: 17. 0% to $93. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Hillenbrand, Inc. (HI) offers the highest yield at 2. 8%, versus 0. 9% for Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV).

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.

11), 1. 6% yield, +231. 9% 10Y return). Hillenbrand, Inc. (HI) carries a higher beta of 1. 92 — 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: +231. 9%, HI: +35. 0%), 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 (SCI (Consumer Cyclical) and HI (Industrials) and FELE (Industrials) and CSV (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: SCI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; HI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; FELE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CSV 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.