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NDAQ vs SF
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ) vs. Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- NDAQ has delivered stronger year-to-date (YTD) performance at 9.34% compared to SF's 1.73%, reflecting resilience in exchange and data services amid market volatility.
- SF shows superior longer-term returns, with 1-year gains of 46.39% and 3-year cumulative returns of 110.28%, outperforming NDAQ in those periods.
- Both stocks trade at forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiples suggesting value, but NDAQ's higher profit margins (34.06%) contrast with SF's focus on revenue growth from advisory services.
- Analyst price targets indicate upside potential: 21% for NDAQ (to $106.07) and 8% for SF (to $88.25), with earnings reports imminent for both.
- NDAQ boasts a larger market cap ($50B vs. $12.6B) and lower beta (1.02 vs. 1.10), signaling greater stability.
Introduction
This comparison examines NDAQ and SF, two players in the financial services sector—one a global exchange operator and data provider, the other a middle-market investment bank and wealth manager. Investors seeking exposure to capital markets infrastructure or brokerage services may find value in evaluating their relative performance, valuation, and market positioning. With both stocks anticipating quarterly earnings in the coming days, this analysis highlights recent trends, business drivers, and key metrics to inform stock comparison decisions in today's environment.
NDAQ Overview and Recent Performance
Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ) operates one of the world's largest electronic stock exchanges, alongside financial technology solutions, market data, and listing services. In recent market activity, NDAQ shares have traded around $87.78, within a 52-week range of $71.57 to $101.79, supported by steady trading volumes and a market cap exceeding $50 billion. Year-to-date gains stand at 9.34%, driven by robust revenue from data and technology segments amid elevated market activity. Sentiment remains positive ahead of Q1 earnings on April 23, with analysts focusing on revenue growth to $1.37 billion and EPS (earnings per share) trends, influenced by overall equity market participation and regulatory stability.
SF Overview and Recent Performance
Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) provides investment banking, trading, and wealth management services, primarily targeting middle-market clients through its broker-dealer network. Shares recently closed at $81.66, within a 52-week range of $54.49 to $89.83, with a market cap of $12.64 billion. Recent weeks have seen modest YTD returns of 1.73%, following strong prior-year gains, buoyed by record fiscal 2025 net revenues of $5.53 billion from higher investment banking fees and asset management. Performance reflects sensitivity to interest rates and M&A (mergers and acquisitions) activity, with investor attention on Q1 results due April 22, emphasizing net interest income (NII) and advisory pipelines.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
NDAQ and SF differ in business models: NDAQ benefits from recurring data revenues (ttm $5.25B) and exchange fees, offering scale and high margins, while SF relies on transactional income from advisory and trading (ttm $5.49B revenues). Growth drivers include NDAQ's tech expansions versus SF's M&A momentum. Recent momentum favors NDAQ YTD but SF over 1-5 years. Risk profiles are comparable (betas near 1.0-1.1), though NDAQ exhibits lower volatility. Sector exposure ties both to capital markets, but SF faces higher cyclicality from rates. Market sentiment leans toward NDAQ's stability amid earnings anticipation.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI analysis currently leans toward NDAQ with moderate conviction, based on superior YTD trend consistency, higher analyst upside, and structural stability from data-driven revenues. SF offers compelling longer-term growth potential, but recent relative underperformance and narrower margins temper near-term favorability. Outcomes may shift post-earnings, emphasizing observable momentum and catalysts over the next quarter.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is NDAQ is a Hold and SF is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
NDAQ’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileSF’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- NDAQ’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- SF’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
NDAQ’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while SF’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- NDAQ’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
- SF’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
NDAQ (@Financial Publishing/Services) experienced а -9.26% price change this week, while SF (@Investment Banks/Brokers) price change was +0.86% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Financial Publishing/Services industry was -4.86%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -6.55%, and the average quarterly price growth was -18.94%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Investment Banks/Brokers industry was -1.71%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.29%, and the average quarterly price growth was -6.29%.
Reported Earning Dates
NDAQ is expected to report earnings on Jul 22, 2026.
SF is expected to report earnings on Jul 29, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Financial Publishing/Services (-4.86% weekly)The financial publishing /services sector includes companies that provide informational products and services that are of value to investors, financial/analytics professionals and other interested readers. The products include real-time stock quotes, financial news and analyses. Think S&P Global, Inc., Moody`s Corporation, Thomson-Reuters Corp and IHS Markit Ltd. Information is critical in making financial or investment decisions, and what makes this industry’s output relevant at all times, across various economic conditions.
@Investment Banks/Brokers (-1.71% weekly)These banks specialize in underwriting (helping companies with debt financing or equity issuances), IPOs, facilitating mergers and other corporate reorganizations and acting as a broker or financial advisor for institutions. They might also trade securities on their own accounts. Investment banks potentially thrive on expanding its network of clients, since that could help them increase profits. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and CME Group Inc are some of the largest investment banking companies.
| NDAQ | SF | NDAQ / SF | |
| Capitalization | 46.7B | 11.3B | 413% |
| EBITDA | 3.32B | N/A | - |
| Gain YTD | -14.374 | -10.880 | 132% |
| P/E Ratio | 24.88 | 14.38 | 173% |
| Revenue | 8.3B | 5.69B | 146% |
| Total Cash | N/A | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 9.45B | 1.52B | 621% |
NDAQ | SF | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 64 | 11 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 68 Overvalued | 62 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 34 | 55 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 53 | 21 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 62 | 54 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 85 | 74 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
SF's Valuation (62) in the Investment Banks Or Brokers industry is in the same range as NDAQ (68). This means that SF’s stock grew similarly to NDAQ’s over the last 12 months.
NDAQ's Profit vs Risk Rating (34) in the Investment Banks Or Brokers industry is in the same range as SF (55). This means that NDAQ’s stock grew similarly to SF’s over the last 12 months.
SF's SMR Rating (21) in the Investment Banks Or Brokers industry is in the same range as NDAQ (53). This means that SF’s stock grew similarly to NDAQ’s over the last 12 months.
SF's Price Growth Rating (54) in the Investment Banks Or Brokers industry is in the same range as NDAQ (62). This means that SF’s stock grew similarly to NDAQ’s over the last 12 months.
SF's P/E Growth Rating (74) in the Investment Banks Or Brokers industry is in the same range as NDAQ (85). This means that SF’s stock grew similarly to NDAQ’s over the last 12 months.
| NDAQ | SF | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 83% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 56% | 2 days ago 53% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 48% | 2 days ago 68% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 43% | 2 days ago 76% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 47% | 2 days ago 68% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 52% | 2 days ago 61% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 67% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 46% | 16 days ago 62% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 75% | 2 days ago 59% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 55% | 2 days ago 66% |
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NDAQ and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, NDAQ has been closely correlated with JEF. These tickers have moved in lockstep 71% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if NDAQ jumps, then JEF could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To NDAQ | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDAQ | 100% | +0.45% | ||
| JEF - NDAQ | 71% Closely correlated | +1.14% | ||
| MS - NDAQ | 71% Closely correlated | +1.76% | ||
| GS - NDAQ | 70% Closely correlated | +0.89% | ||
| RJF - NDAQ | 69% Closely correlated | +0.51% | ||
| MCO - NDAQ | 68% Closely correlated | -0.74% | ||
More | ||||
SF and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, SF has been closely correlated with RJF. These tickers have moved in lockstep 87% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if SF jumps, then RJF could also see price increases.