Quick verdict: FICO vs GRMN in 2026

In this detailed 2026 comparison, Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) appears to have a significant overall edge, winning 9 out of 12 comparable metrics against Garmin Ltd. (GRMN). FICO stands out as the growth and margin leader with a slight edge in revenue growth and substantially higher profitability, while GRMN holds the lead on traditional valuation metrics such as P/E ratio. Analysts also favor FICO overwhelmingly, projecting significantly higher upside potential compared to GRMN. Not investment advice.

FICO vs GRMN: key metrics side by side

Full side-by-side comparison of FICO and GRMN across valuation, profitability, growth and analyst sentiment. Data updated 2026-05-04.

FICO vs GRMN valuation comparison

When considering FICO vs GRMN valuation, Garmin Ltd. (GRMN) appears more favorable on traditional price-to-earnings metrics, trading at a P/E ratio of 26.52x compared to FICO’s higher 32.7x. This suggests that investors are willing to pay a lower multiple for each dollar of GRMN’s earnings. However, valuation is a complex assessment, and FICO’s premium may be justified by its superior profitability and market position in the analytics software space.

Delving deeper, the discounted cash flow (DCF) models provide another perspective on the intrinsic value of these companies. The DCF analysis suggests that FICO is currently trading at a significant overvaluation of -51.2% relative to its calculated fair value, while GRMN shows a less severe, yet still notable, overvaluation of -30.8%. Additionally, FICO’s P/B ratio stands at a negative -11.82x, contrasting sharply with GRMN’s 4.97x. This negative P/B for FICO often indicates that a company has accumulated losses exceeding its equity or has engaged in significant share buybacks that reduced shareholders’ equity below zero, which is not uncommon for mature, highly profitable software companies. Based on these metrics, GRMN presents itself as the less expensive option, especially considering the DCF models, although both are currently trading above their calculated intrinsic values.

FICO vs GRMN growth comparison

In terms of top-line expansion, FICO demonstrates slightly stronger momentum in this FICO vs GRMN stock comparison 2026, reporting a year-over-year revenue growth of 15.9%. Garmin Ltd. is not far behind, showing robust revenue growth of 15.1% for the same period. While the difference in revenue growth is modest, FICO’s ability to achieve this growth rate while operating with significantly higher margins (as discussed in the profitability section) suggests a more efficient and potentially sustainable growth trajectory within its specialized analytics market.

The market’s perception of future growth also plays a crucial role. While specific forward estimates are not provided beyond analyst targets, FICO’s higher analyst buy rating percentage and substantially larger price target upside imply that the market anticipates stronger future earnings growth and market leadership for Fair Isaac Corporation. Both companies operate in dynamic technology sectors, but FICO’s proprietary scoring models and data analytics are integral to the financial ecosystem, potentially providing a durable competitive advantage that fuels its consistent growth.

FICO vs GRMN profitability

When analyzing FICO vs GRMN profitability, Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) clearly stands out as the more profitable enterprise by a substantial margin. FICO boasts an impressive net margin of 33.67%, meaning that for every dollar of revenue, it converts over 33 cents into net profit. This is significantly higher than Garmin Ltd.’s (GRMN) net margin of 23.26%. This difference is also reflected in their EBITDA margins, with FICO achieving an outstanding 51.54% compared to GRMN’s respectable 30.28%, highlighting FICO’s superior operational efficiency and cost control within its business model.

In terms of capital efficiency, unfortunately, the Return on Equity (ROE) for both companies is listed as N/A%. However, we can look at Free Cash Flow (FCF) yield as an indicator of how effectively each company generates cash relative to its market capitalization. FICO’s FCF yield of 3.66% is marginally better than GRMN’s 3.15%, indicating that FICO generates slightly more free cash flow per dollar of market value. These profitability metrics underscore FICO’s dominant position in creating value from its revenue streams, which is a key fundamental indicator for investors looking at strong financial health.

Analyst ratings: FICO vs GRMN

The analyst community shows a distinct preference for Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) in this FICO vs GRMN stock comparison 2026. Out of 18 analysts covering FICO, an overwhelming 83.3% have issued a “Buy” rating. Their consensus target price for FICO is $1593.56, representing a substantial upside potential of +51.6% from its current price of $1051.275. This strong endorsement from analysts suggests high confidence in FICO’s future performance and growth prospects.

In contrast, Garmin Ltd. (GRMN) receives a more cautious outlook from analysts. Among the 28 analysts covering GRMN, only 21.5% recommend a “Buy,” with the majority leaning towards a “Hold” consensus. The consensus target price for GRMN is $269, which implies a more modest upside of +12.6% from its current price of $238.94. This disparity in analyst sentiment indicates that while GRMN is considered a stable company, FICO is viewed as having significantly greater upside potential and is the clear analyst favorite between the two.

Should I buy FICO or GRMN stock in 2026?

Deciding whether to buy FICO or GRMN stock in 2026 depends heavily on an investor’s individual strategy and risk tolerance, especially when examining their fundamentals and valuation. For growth-oriented investors, FICO presents a compelling case. It boasts a slightly higher revenue growth rate of 15.9% compared to GRMN’s 15.1%, coupled with significantly superior profitability margins across the board, including a net margin of 33.67% versus GRMN’s 23.26%. Furthermore, analyst sentiment strongly favors FICO, with a consensus “Buy” rating and a projected price target upside of +51.6%, suggesting robust future performance and market appreciation.

Value investors, on the other hand, might find Garmin (GRMN) to be the more attractive option. GRMN trades at a lower P/E ratio of 26.52x, making it relatively cheaper than FICO’s 32.7x earnings multiple. While both stocks appear overvalued by their respective DCF models, GRMN’s indicated overvaluation of -30.8% is less severe than FICO’s -51.2%. This suggests that GRMN might offer a better margin of safety for investors focused on intrinsic value, despite FICO’s strong fundamentals.

For investors seeking income, neither FICO nor GRMN is a primary dividend play. FICO currently offers a 0% dividend yield, while GRMN provides a minimal 0.02% yield. Therefore, if regular income is a key investment criterion, neither of these technology stocks would be a suitable choice. Ultimately, the decision of which stock to buy hinges on whether an investor prioritizes FICO’s strong growth and profitability with higher potential upside, or GRMN’s relatively cheaper valuation and less pronounced overvaluation by DCF models. This is not investment advice; always conduct your own thorough research.

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FAQ: FICO vs GRMN