Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) vs SAP SE (SAP) 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 | UPBD | 8.2% revenue growth vs SAP's 3.4% |
| Value | UPBD | Lower P/E (5.1x vs 27.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | SAP | 19.9% net margin vs UPBD's 1.8% |
| Stability / Safety | SAP | Beta 0.86 vs UPBD's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | UPBD | 6.9% yield, vs SAP's 1.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | UPBD | -10.9% vs SAP's -25.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SAP | 10.4% ROA vs UPBD's 2.6%, ROIC 16.1% vs 10.4% |
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
Upbound Group operates an omni-channel lease-to-own platform for household durable goods like furniture, electronics, and appliances. It generates revenue primarily through lease-to-own agreements — with its Rent-A-Center and Acima segments driving most of its business — plus franchise fees and installment sales. The company's competitive advantage lies in its dual-channel approach combining physical stores with virtual platforms, serving credit-constrained customers that traditional retailers often overlook.
SAP is a global enterprise software company that provides business applications, technology platforms, and cloud services for organizations worldwide. It generates revenue primarily through software licenses and cloud subscriptions — with cloud services now representing over 40% of total revenue — along with consulting and support services. The company's key advantage is its deep integration across business functions — from finance to supply chain to HR — creating switching costs and network effects within its large enterprise customer base.
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
SAP leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). UPBD leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
SAP is the larger business by revenue, generating $36.7B annually — 8.0x UPBD's $4.6B. SAP is the more profitable business, keeping 19.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to UPBD's 1.8%. On growth, UPBD holds the edge at +9.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | UPBDUpbound Group, In… | SAPSAP SE |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.6B | $36.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $981M | $11.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $84M | $7.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $197M | $8.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +47.9% | +73.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.4% | +27.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.8% | +19.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.3% | +22.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.0% | +2.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -60.0% | +14.7% |
Valuation Metrics
At 9.7x trailing earnings, UPBD trades at a 66% valuation discount to SAP's 28.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, UPBD's 8.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SAP's 17.8x.
| Metric | UPBDUpbound Group, In… | SAPSAP SE |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.2B | $234.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.8B | $234.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 9.71x | 28.52x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 5.11x | 27.77x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.32x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.07x | 17.84x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.29x | 5.63x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.91x | 4.44x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 25.64x | 25.07x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SAP delivers a 16.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $16 in annual profit, vs $12 for UPBD. SAP carries lower financial leverage with a 0.18x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to UPBD's 2.52x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SAP scores 9/9 vs UPBD's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | UPBDUpbound Group, In… | SAPSAP SE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.3% | +16.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.6% | +10.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.4% | +16.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +13.7% | +18.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 9 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.52x | 0.18x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.5B | -$149M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $61M | $8.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.6B | $8.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.20x | 8.94x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SAP five years ago would be worth $17,166 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,789 for UPBD. Over the past 12 months, UPBD leads with a -10.9% total return vs SAP's -25.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SAP at 22.4% vs UPBD's -1.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | UPBDUpbound Group, In… | SAPSAP SE |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +23.6% | -14.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -10.9% | -25.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -3.5% | +83.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -52.1% | +71.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +140.6% | +193.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -1.2% | +22.4% |
Risk & Volatility
SAP is the less volatile stock with a 0.86 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than UPBD's 1.28 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. UPBD currently trades 76.5% from its 52-week high vs SAP's 64.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | UPBDUpbound Group, In… | SAPSAP SE |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.28x | 0.86x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $28.03 | $313.28 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.82 | $189.22 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +76.5% | +64.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.0 | 45.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 587K | 2.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates UPBD as "Buy" and SAP as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 106.1% upside for SAP (target: $415) vs 84.9% for UPBD (target: $40). For income investors, UPBD offers the higher dividend yield at 6.86% vs SAP's 1.31%.
| Metric | UPBDUpbound Group, In… | SAPSAP SE |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $39.67 | $415.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 43 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +6.9% | +1.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.47 | $2.24 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) | 100 | 89.95 | -10.1% |
| SAP SE (SAP) | 100 | 163.78 | +63.8% |
SAP SE (SAP) returned +72% over 5 years vs Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD)'s -52%. A $10,000 investment in SAP 5 years ago would be worth $17,166 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) | $3.0B | $4.3B | +45.8% |
| SAP SE (SAP) | $22.1B | $35.3B | +60.2% |
SAP SE's revenue grew from $22.1B (2016) to $35.3B (2025) — a 5.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) | -3.8% | 2.9% | +174.8% |
| SAP SE (SAP) | 16.5% | 19.9% | +20.6% |
SAP SE's net margin went from 17% (2016) to 20% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) | 92.5 | 13.2 | -85.7% |
| SAP SE (SAP) | 33.5 | 40.6 | +21.2% |
Upbound Group, Inc. has traded in a 9x–107x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~10x. SAP SE has traded in a 29x–93x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~29x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) | -2.13 | 2.21 | +203.8% |
| SAP SE (SAP) | 3.03 | 5.99 | +97.7% |
SAP SE's EPS grew from $3.03 (2016) to $5.99 (2025) — a 8% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Upbound Group, Inc. generated $48M FCF in 2024 (-85% vs 2021). SAP SE generated $8B FCF in 2025 (+44% vs 2021).
UPBD vs SAP: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is UPBD or SAP a better buy right now?
Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) offers the better valuation at 9.7x trailing P/E (5.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) a "Buy" — based on 20 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 — UPBD or SAP?
On trailing P/E, Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) is the cheapest at 9.7x versus SAP SE at 28.5x. On forward P/E, Upbound Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 5.1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — UPBD or SAP?
Over the past 5 years, SAP SE (SAP) delivered a total return of +71.7%, compared to -52.1% for Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD). A $10,000 investment in SAP five years ago would be worth approximately $17K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SAP returned +193.8% versus UPBD's +140.6%. 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 — UPBD or SAP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), SAP SE (SAP) is the lower-risk stock at 0.86β versus Upbound Group, Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning UPBD is approximately 50% more volatile than SAP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, SAP SE (SAP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 3% for Upbound Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — UPBD or SAP?
SAP SE (SAP) is the more profitable company, earning 19.9% net margin versus 2.9% for Upbound Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SAP leads at 28.0% versus 6.7% for UPBD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SAP leads at 73.5%, 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 UPBD or SAP more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) trades at 5.1x forward P/E versus 27.8x for SAP SE — 22.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SAP: 106.1% to $415.33.
07Which pays a better dividend — UPBD or SAP?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) offers the highest yield at 6.9%, versus 1.3% for SAP SE (SAP).
08Is UPBD or SAP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, SAP SE (SAP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.86), 1.3% yield, +193.8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SAP: +193.8%, UPBD: +140.6%), 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 UPBD and SAP?
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: UPBD is a small-cap deep-value stock; SAP is a large-cap quality compounder 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.
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