PROV vs ICE vs CME vs WAFD vs NDAQ vs KO

For growth investors, Nasdaq, Inc.

(NDAQ) is the stronger pick with 11. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 6% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD). WaFd, Inc. (WAFD) offers the better valuation at 14. 1x trailing P/E (11. 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.

On trailing P/E, WaFd, Inc.

(WAFD) is the cheapest at 14. 1x versus Nasdaq, Inc. at 28. 8x. On forward P/E, WaFd, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CME Group Inc. wins at 1. 60x versus WaFd, Inc. 's 3. 69x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, The Coca-Cola Company (KO) delivered a total return of +65.

6%, compared to +18. 2% for Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (PROV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NDAQ returned +344. 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.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CME Group Inc.

(CME) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 28β versus Nasdaq, Inc. 's 0. 71β — meaning NDAQ is approximately -354% 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 166% for Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nasdaq, Inc.

(NDAQ) is pulling ahead at 11. 1% versus -1. 6% for WaFd, Inc. (WAFD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nasdaq, Inc. grew EPS 60. 1% 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.

CME Group Inc.

(CME) is the more profitable company, earning 62. 0% net margin versus 10. 4% for Provident Financial Holdings, 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 14. 8% for PROV. 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, CME Group Inc. (CME) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 60x versus WaFd, Inc. 's 3. 69x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, WaFd, Inc. (WAFD) trades at 11. 4x forward P/E versus 25. 3x for The Coca-Cola Company — 13. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ICE: 38. 0% to $194. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

CME Group Inc. (CME) offers the highest yield at 4. 1%, versus 1. 2% for Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ).

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. 28), 4. 1% yield, +262. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CME: +262. 4%, WAFD: +91. 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 (PROV (Financial Services) and ICE (Financial Services) and CME (Financial Services) and WAFD (Financial Services) and NDAQ (Financial Services) and KO (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: PROV is a small-cap income-oriented stock; ICE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CME is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; WAFD is a small-cap deep-value stock; NDAQ is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; KO is a large-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.