WU vs FIS vs JKHY vs WEX

For growth investors, Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

(JKHY) is the stronger pick with 7. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 0% for The Western Union Company (WU). The Western Union Company (WU) offers the better valuation at 5. 9x trailing P/E (5. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) a "Buy" — based on 37 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, The Western Union Company (WU) is the cheapest at 5.

9x versus Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. at 63. 0x. On forward P/E, The Western Union Company is actually cheaper at 5. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. wins at 0. 31x versus Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. 's 2. 16x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

(JKHY) delivered a total return of +0. 3%, compared to -63. 2% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: JKHY returned +94. 9% versus FIS's -13. 2%. 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), Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

(JKHY) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 28β versus WEX Inc. 's 1. 16β — meaning WEX is approximately 310% more volatile than JKHY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 4% for WEX Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

(JKHY) is pulling ahead at 7. 2% versus -4. 0% for The Western Union Company (WU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. grew EPS 19. 3% year-over-year, compared to -47. 2% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, JKHY leads at 6. 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.

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

(JKHY) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 2% net margin versus 3. 6% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WEX leads at 25. 4% versus 16. 5% for FIS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WEX leads at 54. 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.

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, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 31x versus Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. 's 2. 16x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, The Western Union Company (WU) trades at 5. 1x forward P/E versus 21. 8x for Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. — 16. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FIS: 42. 6% to $67. 38.

In this comparison, WU (10.

4% yield), FIS (3. 5% yield), JKHY (1. 5% yield) pay a dividend. WEX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

(JKHY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 28), 1. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (JKHY: +94. 9%, WEX: +60. 9%), 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 (WU (Financial Services) and FIS (Technology) and JKHY (Technology) and WEX (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: WU is a small-cap deep-value stock; FIS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; JKHY is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; WEX is a small-cap deep-value stock. WU, FIS, JKHY pay a dividend while WEX 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.