TENB vs QLYS

For growth investors, Tenable Holdings, Inc.

(TENB) is the stronger pick with 11. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 1% for Qualys, Inc. (QLYS). Qualys, Inc. (QLYS) offers the better valuation at 16. 7x trailing P/E (12. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Tenable Holdings, Inc. (TENB) a "Buy" — based on 28 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 forward P/E, Tenable Holdings, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 10. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Qualys, Inc.

(QLYS) delivered a total return of -7. 5%, compared to -42. 6% for Tenable Holdings, Inc. (TENB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: QLYS returned +252. 6% versus TENB's -30. 0%. 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 Tenable Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 12β — meaning TENB is approximately 112% more volatile than QLYS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Qualys, Inc. (QLYS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 143% for Tenable Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Tenable Holdings, Inc.

(TENB) is pulling ahead at 11. 0% versus 10. 1% for Qualys, Inc. (QLYS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Qualys, Inc. grew EPS 17. 0% year-over-year, compared to 3. 2% for Tenable Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TENB leads at 13. 5% 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.

Qualys, Inc.

(QLYS) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 6% net margin versus -3. 6% for Tenable Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: QLYS leads at 33. 2% versus 0. 1% for TENB. 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, Tenable Holdings, Inc.

(TENB) trades at 10. 9x forward P/E versus 12. 3x for Qualys, Inc. — 1. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for QLYS: 47. 8% to $134. 30.

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.

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%, TENB: -30. 0%), 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.

In terms of investment character: TENB is a small-cap quality compounder stock; QLYS is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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.