Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Cognyte Software Ltd. (CGNT) 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 | CGNT | 11.9% revenue growth vs ORCL's 8.4% |
| Value | ORCL | Lower P/E (19.7x vs 29.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | ORCL | 25.3% net margin vs CGNT's -1.2% |
| Stability / Safety | CGNT | Beta 0.93 vs ORCL's 1.40, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ORCL | 1.1% yield; 18-year raise streak; CGNT pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ORCL | -11.2% vs CGNT's -20.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ORCL | 7.5% ROA vs CGNT's -0.9%, ROIC 12.8% vs -2.5% |
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
Cognyte Software provides investigative analytics software to government agencies and enterprises for security and intelligence operations. It generates revenue primarily through software licenses and subscriptions — with government contracts forming the bulk of its business — supplemented by professional services like implementation and support. The company's competitive advantage lies in its specialized, open-architecture platform that integrates diverse data sources for complex investigations, creating high switching costs for security-focused customers.
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
CGNT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). ORCL leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ORCL is the larger business by revenue, generating $61.0B annually — 162.0x CGNT's $377M. ORCL is the more profitable business, keeping 25.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CGNT's -1.2%.
| Metric | CGNTCognyte Software … | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $377M | $61.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $16M | $22.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$5M | $15.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $11M | -$13.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.9% | +70.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +0.9% | +30.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -1.2% | +25.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.0% | -21.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.5% | +14.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +173.6% | +90.9% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, ORCL's 21.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CGNT's 50.9x.
| Metric | CGNTCognyte Software … | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $511M | $408.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $434M | $501.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -41.71x | 33.50x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 29.64x | 19.71x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.72x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 50.87x | 21.02x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.46x | 7.11x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.34x | 19.87x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.21x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
ORCL delivers a 50.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $51 in annual profit, vs $-2 for CGNT. CGNT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.16x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ORCL's 4.96x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ORCL scores 6/9 vs CGNT's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CGNTCognyte Software … | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.0% | +50.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.9% | +7.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -2.5% | +12.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -1.8% | +14.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.16x | 4.96x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$77M | $93.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $113M | $10.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $36M | $104.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 21.71x | 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 $2,302 for CGNT. Over the past 12 months, ORCL leads with a -11.2% total return vs CGNT's -20.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CGNT at 24.2% vs ORCL's 19.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CGNTCognyte Software … | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -20.3% | -25.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -20.6% | -11.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +91.6% | +72.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -77.0% | +131.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -74.7% | +327.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +24.2% | +19.9% |
Risk & Volatility
CGNT is the less volatile stock with a 0.93 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ORCL's 1.40 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CGNT currently trades 60.8% from its 52-week high vs ORCL's 42.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CGNTCognyte Software … | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.93x | 1.40x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $11.66 | $345.72 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $6.29 | $118.86 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +60.8% | +42.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 39.5 | 41.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 289K | 20.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CGNT as "Hold" and ORCL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 103.5% upside for ORCL (target: $296) vs 97.5% for CGNT (target: $14). ORCL is the only dividend payer here at 1.14% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CGNTCognyte Software … | ORCLOracle Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $14.00 | $295.85 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 86 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 18 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.65 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.0% | +0.4% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 21 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognyte Software Lt… (CGNT) | 100 | 32.77 | -67.2% |
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 100 | 241.89 | +141.9% |
Oracle Corporation (ORCL) returned +131% over 5 years vs Cognyte Software Lt… (CGNT)'s -77%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognyte Software Lt… (CGNT) | $56M | $351M | +522.6% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognyte Software Lt… (CGNT) | -1.6% | -3.4% | -119.2% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognyte Software Lt… (CGNT) | -0.01 | -0.17 | -1056.5% |
| 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
Cognyte Software Ltd. generated $34M FCF in 2025 (-35% vs 2021). Oracle Corporation generated $-394M FCF in 2025 (-103% vs 2021).
CGNT vs ORCL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CGNT 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 — CGNT or ORCL?
On forward P/E, Oracle Corporation is actually cheaper at 19.7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CGNT or ORCL?
Over the past 5 years, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) delivered a total return of +131.5%, compared to -77.0% for Cognyte Software Ltd. (CGNT). 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 CGNT's -74.7%. 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 — CGNT or ORCL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cognyte Software Ltd. (CGNT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.93β versus Oracle Corporation's 1.40β — meaning ORCL is approximately 51% more volatile than CGNT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cognyte Software Ltd. (CGNT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 5% for Oracle Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CGNT or ORCL?
Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the more profitable company, earning 21.7% net margin versus -3.4% for Cognyte Software Ltd. — 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 -1.5% for CGNT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ORCL leads at 70.5%, 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 CGNT or ORCL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) trades at 19.7x forward P/E versus 29.6x for Cognyte Software Ltd. — 9.9x 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 — CGNT or ORCL?
In this comparison, ORCL (1.1% yield) pays a dividend. CGNT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is CGNT 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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ORCL: +327.4%, CGNT: -74.7%), 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 CGNT 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 CGNT 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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