Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) vs Oracle Corporation (ORCL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CFLT | 21.1% revenue growth vs ORCL's 8.4% |
| Value | ORCL | Lower P/E (19.7x vs 61.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | ORCL | 25.3% net margin vs CFLT's -25.3% |
| Stability / Safety | ORCL | Beta 1.40 vs CFLT's 1.50 |
| Dividends | ORCL | 1.1% yield; 18-year raise streak; CFLT pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CFLT | -3.4% vs ORCL's -11.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ORCL | 7.5% ROA vs CFLT's -9.9%, ROIC 12.8% vs -15.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Confluent is a data streaming platform company that helps organizations process and analyze real-time data streams. It generates revenue primarily through its Confluent Cloud managed service — a cloud-native platform — and Confluent Platform enterprise software, with additional income from training and professional services. The company's key advantage is its deep expertise with Apache Kafka — the open-source streaming standard — which it commercializes with enterprise-grade features, management tools, and cloud scalability.
Oracle is a global enterprise software and cloud computing company that provides database management systems, enterprise applications, and cloud infrastructure services. It generates revenue primarily through cloud services and license support (~70% of total revenue) and cloud license and on-premise license sales (~20%), with hardware and services making up the remainder. The company's key moat is its entrenched position in enterprise database software—particularly with its flagship Oracle Database—which creates significant switching costs and lock-in for large corporate customers.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
ORCL leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). CFLT leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ORCL is the larger business by revenue, generating $61.0B annually — 52.3x CFLT's $1.2B. ORCL is the more profitable business, keeping 25.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CFLT's -25.3%. On growth, CFLT holds the edge at +20.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.2B | $61.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$358M | $22.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$295M | $15.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $50M | -$13.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +74.3% | +70.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -32.6% | +30.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -25.3% | +25.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.3% | -21.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +20.5% | +14.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.8% | +90.9% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.5B | $408.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.3B | $501.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -35.66x | 33.50x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 61.51x | 19.71x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.72x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 21.02x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.29x | 7.11x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 9.02x | 19.87x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 24.76x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
ORCL delivers a 50.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $51 in annual profit, vs $-25 for CFLT. CFLT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.95x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ORCL's 4.96x.
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -25.3% | +50.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -9.9% | +7.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -15.8% | +12.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -17.2% | +14.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.95x | 4.96x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $758M | $93.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $347M | $10.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.1B | $104.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -262.57x | 3.24x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ORCL five years ago would be worth $23,146 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,813 for CFLT. Over the past 12 months, CFLT leads with a -3.4% total return vs ORCL's -11.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ORCL at 19.9% vs CFLT's 7.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.9% | -25.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -3.4% | -11.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.7% | +72.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -31.9% | +131.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -31.9% | +327.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.9% | +19.9% |
Risk & Volatility
ORCL is the less volatile stock with a 1.40 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CFLT's 1.50 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CFLT currently trades 94.0% from its 52-week high vs ORCL's 42.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.50x | 1.40x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $32.63 | $345.72 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.64 | $118.86 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.0% | +42.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 63.4 | 41.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 11.6M | 20.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CFLT as "Hold" and ORCL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 103.5% upside for ORCL (target: $296) vs -3.2% for CFLT (target: $30). ORCL is the only dividend payer here at 1.14% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $29.68 | $295.85 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 38 | 86 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 18 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.65 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.4% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Jun 21 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) | 100 | 67.84 | -32.2% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 100 | 201.23 | +101.2% |
Oracle Corporation (ORCL) returned +131% over 5 years vs Confluent, Inc. (CFLT)'s -32%. A $10,000 investment in ORCL 5 years ago would be worth $23,146 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) | $150M | $1.2B | +678.8% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | $37.0B | $57.4B | +54.9% |
Oracle Corporation's revenue grew from $37.0B (2016) to $57.4B (2025) — a 5.0% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) | -63.4% | -25.3% | +60.1% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 24.0% | 21.7% | -9.8% |
Oracle Corporation's net margin went from 24% (2016) to 22% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 21.4 | 44.9 | +109.8% |
Oracle Corporation has traded in a 18x–53x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~34x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) | -0.38 | -0.86 | -126.3% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 2.07 | 4.34 | +109.7% |
Oracle Corporation's EPS grew from $2.07 (2016) to $4.34 (2025) — a 9% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Confluent, Inc. generated $61M FCF in 2025 (+153% vs 2021). Oracle Corporation generated $-394M FCF in 2025 (-103% vs 2021).
CFLT vs ORCL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CFLT or ORCL a better buy right now?
Oracle Corporation (ORCL) offers the better valuation at 33.5x trailing P/E (19.7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Oracle Corporation (ORCL) a "Buy" — based on 86 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.
02Which has the better valuation — CFLT or ORCL?
On forward P/E, Oracle Corporation is actually cheaper at 19.7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CFLT or ORCL?
Over the past 5 years, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) delivered a total return of +131.5%, compared to -31.9% for Confluent, Inc. (CFLT). A $10,000 investment in ORCL five years ago would be worth approximately $23K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ORCL returned +327.4% versus CFLT's -31.9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CFLT or ORCL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.40β versus Confluent, Inc.'s 1.50β — meaning CFLT is approximately 7% more volatile than ORCL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 95% versus 5% for Oracle Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CFLT or ORCL?
Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the more profitable company, earning 21.7% net margin versus -25.3% for Confluent, Inc. — meaning it keeps 21.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ORCL leads at 30.8% versus -32.6% for CFLT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CFLT leads at 74.3%, 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.
06Is CFLT or ORCL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) trades at 19.7x forward P/E versus 61.5x for Confluent, Inc. — 41.8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ORCL: 103.5% to $295.85.
07Which pays a better dividend — CFLT or ORCL?
In this comparison, ORCL (1.1% yield) pays a dividend. CFLT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is CFLT or ORCL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1.1% yield, +327.4% 10Y return). Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) carries a higher beta of 1.50 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ORCL: +327.4%, CFLT: -31.9%), 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.
09What are the main differences between CFLT and ORCL?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. ORCL pays a dividend while CFLT does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.
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