SNEX vs MS vs GS vs CME

For growth investors, StoneX Group Inc.

(SNEX) is the stronger pick with 32. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 4% for CME Group Inc. (CME). StoneX Group Inc. (SNEX) offers the better valuation at 20. 5x trailing P/E (21. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate StoneX Group Inc. (SNEX) a "Buy" — based on 2 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, StoneX Group Inc.

(SNEX) is the cheapest at 20. 5x versus CME Group Inc. at 25. 7x. On forward P/E, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 15. 6x — 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: The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. wins at 1. 12x versus StoneX Group Inc. 's 2. 33x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, StoneX Group Inc.

(SNEX) delivered a total return of +547. 9%, compared to +64. 5% for CME Group Inc. (CME). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SNEX returned +1454% versus CME's +284. 9%. 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. 30β versus The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. 's 1. 47β — meaning GS is approximately -582% 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 8% for StoneX Group Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), StoneX Group Inc.

(SNEX) is pulling ahead at 32. 5% versus 6. 4% for CME Group Inc. (CME). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. grew EPS 77. 3% year-over-year, compared to 10. 9% for StoneX Group 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.

CME Group Inc.

(CME) is the more profitable company, earning 62. 0% net margin versus 0. 2% for StoneX Group Inc. — 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 1. 6% for SNEX. 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, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 12x versus StoneX Group Inc. 's 2. 33x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) trades at 15. 6x forward P/E versus 23. 5x for CME Group Inc. — 7. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CME: 11. 6% to $320. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

CME Group Inc. (CME) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 1. 5% for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS).

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. 30), 3. 8% yield, +284. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CME: +284. 9%, GS: +534. 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.

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: SNEX is a small-cap high-growth stock; MS is a large-cap high-growth stock; GS is a large-cap high-growth stock; CME is a mid-cap income-oriented 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.