CBIZ (NYSE:CBZ) & ICF International (NASDAQ:ICFI) Critical Contrast

ICF International (NASDAQ:ICFI) and CBIZ (NYSE:CBZ) are both industrials companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, dividends and risk.

Volatility and Risk

ICF International has a beta of 0.45, meaning that its stock price is 55% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, CBIZ has a beta of 0.91, meaning that its stock price is 9% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

94.1% of ICF International shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 87.4% of CBIZ shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.7% of ICF International shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 4.1% of CBIZ shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares ICF International and CBIZ’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
ICF International	5.29%	11.81%	5.97%
CBIZ	5.33%	12.74%	5.19%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings for ICF International and CBIZ, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
ICF International	0	2	2	0	2.50
CBIZ	0	7	1	0	2.12

ICF International currently has a consensus price target of $105.00, suggesting a potential upside of 26.66%. CBIZ has a consensus price target of $44.50, suggesting a potential downside of 19.06%. Given ICF International’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe ICF International is more favorable than CBIZ.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares ICF International and CBIZ”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
ICF International	$1.87 billion	0.79	$91.59 million	$5.31	15.61
CBIZ	$2.78 billion	1.07	$115.44 million	$2.45	22.44

CBIZ has higher revenue and earnings than ICF International. ICF International is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than CBIZ, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

CBIZ beats ICF International on 8 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About ICF International

ICF International, Inc. is a consulting and technology services company headquartered in Reston, Virginia. Founded in 1969 as the Inner City Fund, the company works with government agencies and commercial clients, combining advisory services with technology implementation and digital solutions. Its work spans energy and climate, environmental management, health, social programs, and disaster recovery. ICF also provides policy research, data analytics, program management, strategic communications, and technology services, including support for digital transformation and cybersecurity initiatives.

About CBIZ

CBIZ, Inc. is a professional services company that provides financial, advisory, insurance and employee benefits services to businesses, individuals and organizations. Its offerings include accounting, tax preparation and planning, audit and assurance, and outsourced finance and business support. The company also provides consulting and advisory services, including valuation, transaction support and risk management, alongside commercial insurance and employee benefits solutions. Through its benefits and insurance services, CBIZ helps employers manage workplace programs and coverage needs.