OSPN vs QLYS

For growth investors, Qualys, Inc.

(QLYS) is the stronger pick with 10. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 0% for OneSpan Inc. (OSPN). OneSpan Inc. (OSPN) offers the better valuation at 6. 2x trailing P/E (9. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate OneSpan Inc. (OSPN) a "Buy" — based on 15 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.

On trailing P/E, OneSpan Inc.

(OSPN) is the cheapest at 6. 2x versus Qualys, Inc. at 16. 7x. On forward P/E, OneSpan Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Qualys, Inc.

(QLYS) delivered a total return of -7. 5%, compared to -51. 4% for OneSpan Inc. (OSPN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: QLYS returned +252. 6% versus OSPN's -24. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Qualys, Inc.

(QLYS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 53β versus OneSpan Inc. 's 1. 23β — meaning OSPN is approximately 132% more volatile than QLYS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, OneSpan Inc. (OSPN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 17% for Qualys, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Qualys, Inc.

(QLYS) is pulling ahead at 10. 1% versus 0. 0% for OneSpan Inc. (OSPN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: OneSpan Inc. grew EPS 30. 1% year-over-year, compared to 17. 0% for Qualys, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, QLYS leads at 11. 0% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

OneSpan Inc.

(OSPN) is the more profitable company, earning 30. 0% net margin versus 29. 6% for Qualys, Inc. — meaning it keeps 30. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: QLYS leads at 33. 2% versus 20. 6% for OSPN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — QLYS leads at 82. 8%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, OneSpan Inc.

(OSPN) trades at 9. 6x forward P/E versus 12. 3x for Qualys, Inc. — 2. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for QLYS: 47. 8% to $134. 30.

In this comparison, OSPN (4.

1% yield) pays a dividend. QLYS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Qualys, Inc.

(QLYS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 53), +252. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (QLYS: +252. 6%, OSPN: -24. 1%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

OSPN pays a dividend while QLYS 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.