Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) vs Shopify Inc. (SHOP) 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 | SHOP | 30.1% revenue growth vs QTWO's 14.1% |
| Value | QTWO | Lower P/E (16.5x vs 65.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | SHOP | 10.7% net margin vs QTWO's 4.1% |
| Stability / Safety | QTWO | Beta 1.30 vs SHOP's 2.23 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | SHOP | +7.8% vs QTWO's -44.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SHOP | 8.1% ROA vs QTWO's 2.2%, ROIC 9.4% vs 4.5% |
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
Q2 Holdings is a cloud-based digital banking platform provider for regional and community banks and credit unions in the United States. It generates revenue primarily through subscription fees for its software-as-a-service platform — which includes digital banking, lending, and account opening solutions — with additional income from professional services and transaction-based fees. The company's moat stems from its deep integration with core banking systems, regulatory compliance expertise, and the high switching costs for financial institutions once they adopt its comprehensive digital ecosystem.
Shopify is a comprehensive commerce platform that enables businesses of all sizes to create online stores, manage sales across multiple channels, and handle operations like payments, shipping, and inventory. It generates revenue primarily through subscription fees for its platform tiers — which account for about 30% of revenue — and merchant solutions like payment processing, shipping, and capital advances that make up the remaining 70%. The company's key advantage is its integrated ecosystem that combines easy-to-use store creation tools with a vast app marketplace and fulfillment network, creating high switching costs for merchants as they grow their businesses.
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
SHOP leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). QTWO leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
SHOP is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.6B annually — 15.0x QTWO's $770M. SHOP is the more profitable business, keeping 10.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to QTWO's 4.1%. On growth, SHOP holds the edge at +30.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | QTWOQ2 Holdings, Inc. | SHOPShopify Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $770M | $11.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $73M | $1.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $32M | $1.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $164M | $2.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +53.4% | +48.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +2.8% | +12.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.1% | +10.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +21.3% | +17.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.2% | +30.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.1% | -42.0% |
Valuation Metrics
At 60.1x trailing earnings, QTWO trades at a 53% valuation discount to SHOP's 128.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, QTWO's 74.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SHOP's 104.1x.
| Metric | QTWOQ2 Holdings, Inc. | SHOPShopify Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.0B | $157.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.0B | $156.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 60.15x | 128.44x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.49x | 65.90x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.38x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 74.85x | 104.11x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.78x | 13.62x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.73x | 11.69x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.45x | 78.44x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SHOP delivers a 9.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $5 for QTWO. SHOP carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to QTWO's 0.52x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), QTWO scores 7/9 vs SHOP's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | QTWOQ2 Holdings, Inc. | SHOPShopify Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.1% | +9.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.2% | +8.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.5% | +9.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.9% | +11.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.52x | 0.01x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$22M | -$1.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $368M | $1.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $346M | $188M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 7.72x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SHOP five years ago would be worth $9,216 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,850 for QTWO. Over the past 12 months, SHOP leads with a +7.8% total return vs QTWO's -44.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SHOP at 43.2% vs QTWO's 14.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | QTWOQ2 Holdings, Inc. | SHOPShopify Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -30.7% | -23.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -44.9% | +7.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +49.1% | +193.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -61.5% | -7.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +137.4% | +5294.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.2% | +43.2% |
Risk & Volatility
QTWO is the less volatile stock with a 1.30 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SHOP's 2.23 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SHOP currently trades 66.3% from its 52-week high vs QTWO's 49.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | QTWOQ2 Holdings, Inc. | SHOPShopify Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.30x | 2.23x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $96.68 | $182.19 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $46.16 | $69.84 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +49.8% | +66.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 25.1 | 48.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 705K | 10.0M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates QTWO as "Buy" and SHOP as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 58.8% upside for QTWO (target: $76) vs 36.8% for SHOP (target: $165).
| Metric | QTWOQ2 Holdings, Inc. | SHOPShopify Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $76.40 | $165.16 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 32 | 63 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.2% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) | 100 | 77.62 | -22.4% |
| Shopify Inc. (SHOP) | 100 | 270.68 | +170.7% |
Shopify Inc. (SHOP) returned -8% over 5 years vs Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO)'s -62%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) | $150M | $795M | +429.1% |
| Shopify Inc. (SHOP) | $389M | $11.6B | +2868.2% |
Q2 Holdings, Inc.'s revenue grew from $150M (2016) to $795M (2025) — a 20.3% CAGR. Shopify Inc.'s revenue grew from $389M (2016) to $11.6B (2025) — a 45.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) | -24.2% | 6.5% | +127.0% |
| Shopify Inc. (SHOP) | -9.1% | 10.7% | +217.3% |
Q2 Holdings, Inc.'s net margin went from -24% (2016) to 7% (2025). Shopify Inc.'s net margin went from -9% (2016) to 11% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 4 Years
| Stock | 2020 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Inc. (SHOP) | 435.4 | 171.2 | -60.7% |
Shopify Inc. has traded in a 61x–435x P/E range over 4 years; current trailing P/E is ~128x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) | -0.92 | 0.8 | +187.0% |
| Shopify Inc. (SHOP) | -0.04 | 0.94 | +2332.8% |
Q2 Holdings, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.92 (2016) to $0.80 (2025). Shopify Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.04 (2016) to $0.94 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Q2 Holdings, Inc. generated $195M FCF in 2025 (+3457% vs 2021). Shopify Inc. generated $2B FCF in 2025 (+314% vs 2021).
QTWO vs SHOP: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is QTWO or SHOP a better buy right now?
Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) offers the better valuation at 60.1x trailing P/E (16.5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) a "Buy" — based on 32 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 — QTWO or SHOP?
On trailing P/E, Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) is the cheapest at 60.1x versus Shopify Inc. at 128.4x. On forward P/E, Q2 Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 16.5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — QTWO or SHOP?
Over the past 5 years, Shopify Inc. (SHOP) delivered a total return of -7.8%, compared to -61.5% for Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO). A $10,000 investment in SHOP five years ago would be worth approximately $9K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SHOP returned +52.9% versus QTWO's +137.4%. 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 — QTWO or SHOP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) is the lower-risk stock at 1.30β versus Shopify Inc.'s 2.23β — meaning SHOP is approximately 71% more volatile than QTWO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Shopify Inc. (SHOP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 52% for Q2 Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — QTWO or SHOP?
Shopify Inc. (SHOP) is the more profitable company, earning 10.7% net margin versus 6.5% for Q2 Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SHOP leads at 12.7% versus 5.0% for QTWO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — QTWO leads at 54.1%, 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 QTWO or SHOP more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) trades at 16.5x forward P/E versus 65.9x for Shopify Inc. — 49.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for QTWO: 58.8% to $76.40.
07Which pays a better dividend — QTWO or SHOP?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend. All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
08Is QTWO or SHOP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+137.4% 10Y return). Shopify Inc. (SHOP) carries a higher beta of 2.23 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (QTWO: +137.4%, SHOP: +52.9%), 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 QTWO and SHOP?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. 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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