WallStSmart

Booking Holdings Inc (BKNG)vsCME Group Inc (CME)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Booking Holdings Inc generates 314% more annual revenue ($26.92B vs $6.51B). CME leads profitability with a 62.6% profit margin vs 20.1%. BKNG appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.73. BKNG earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 78/100 (B+).

BKNG

Strong Buy

78

out of 100

Grade: B+

Growth: 8.7Profit: 8.0Value: 10.0Quality: 7.5
Piotroski: 4/9Altman Z: 4.05

CME

Buy

63

out of 100

Grade: C+

Growth: 7.3Profit: 7.5Value: 7.3Quality: 5.5
Piotroski: 1/9
IV

Intrinsic Value Comparison

Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula

BKNGUndervalued (+45.4%)

Margin of Safety

+45.4%

Fair Value

$7757.57

Current Price

$4237.75

$3519.82 discount

UndervaluedFair: $7757.57Overvalued
CMEUndervalued (+43.8%)

Margin of Safety

+43.8%

Fair Value

$522.76

Current Price

$293.93

$228.83 discount

UndervaluedFair: $522.76Overvalued

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

BKNG6 strengths · Avg: 9.3/10
Operating MarginProfitability
32.5%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 32.5%

Debt/EquityHealth
-3.4610/10

Conservative balance sheet, low leverage

Altman Z-ScoreHealth
4.0510/10

Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk

Market CapQuality
$138.30B9/10

Large-cap with strong market position

Profit MarginProfitability
20.1%9/10

Keeps 20 of every $100 in revenue as profit

PEG RatioValuation
0.738/10

Growing faster than its price suggests

CME6 strengths · Avg: 9.0/10
Profit MarginProfitability
62.6%10/10

Keeps 63 of every $100 in revenue as profit

Operating MarginProfitability
63.8%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 63.8%

Market CapQuality
$105.67B9/10

Large-cap with strong market position

Debt/EquityHealth
0.129/10

Conservative balance sheet, low leverage

EPS GrowthGrowth
35.0%8/10

Earnings expanding 35.0% YoY

Free Cash FlowQuality
$1.10B8/10

Generating 1.1B in free cash flow

Areas to Watch

BKNG2 concerns · Avg: 3.5/10
P/E RatioValuation
25.9x4/10

Moderate valuation

Return on EquityProfitability
2.3%3/10

ROE of 2.3% — below average capital efficiency

CME3 concerns · Avg: 3.0/10
P/E RatioValuation
26.3x4/10

Moderate valuation

Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
1/93/10

Weak financial health signals

PEG RatioValuation
5.842/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : BKNG

The strongest argument for BKNG centers on Operating Margin, Debt/Equity, Altman Z-Score. Profitability is solid with margins at 20.1% and operating margin at 32.5%. Revenue growth of 16.0% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bull Case : CME

The strongest argument for CME centers on Profit Margin, Operating Margin, Market Cap. Profitability is solid with margins at 62.6% and operating margin at 63.8%.

Bear Case : BKNG

The primary concerns for BKNG are P/E Ratio, Return on Equity.

Bear Case : CME

The primary concerns for CME are P/E Ratio, Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

BKNG profiles as a growth stock while CME is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.

BKNG carries more volatility with a beta of 1.23 — expect wider price swings.

BKNG is growing revenue faster at 16.0% — sustainability is the question.

BKNG generates stronger free cash flow (1.4B), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

BKNG scores higher overall (78/100 vs 63/100), backed by strong 20.1% margins and 16.0% revenue growth. CME offers better value entry with a 43.8% margin of safety. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.

This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.

Booking Holdings Inc

CONSUMER CYCLICAL · TRAVEL SERVICES · USA

Booking Holdings Inc. is an American travel technology company organized in Delaware and based in Norwalk, Connecticut, that owns and operates several travel fare aggregators and travel fare metasearch engines including namesake and flagship Booking.com, Priceline.com, Agoda.com, Kayak.com, Cheapflights, Rentalcars.com, Momondo, and OpenTable.

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CME Group Inc

FINANCIAL SERVICES · FINANCIAL DATA & STOCK EXCHANGES · USA

CME Group Inc. (Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade, New York Mercantile Exchange, The Commodity Exchange) is an American global markets company. It is the world's largest financial derivatives exchange, and trades in asset classes that include agricultural products, currencies, energy, interest rates, metals, stock indexes and cryptocurrencies futures.

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