UPLD vs ALKT vs HUBS

For growth investors, Alkami Technology, Inc.

(ALKT) is the stronger pick with 32. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -21. 1% for Upland Software, Inc. (UPLD). HubSpot, Inc. (HUBS) offers the better valuation at 284. 1x trailing P/E (19. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alkami Technology, Inc. (ALKT) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, HubSpot, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 19. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, HubSpot, Inc.

(HUBS) delivered a total return of -52. 1%, compared to -97. 8% for Upland Software, Inc. (UPLD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HUBS returned +469. 1% versus UPLD's -86. 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), HubSpot, Inc.

(HUBS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 18β versus Upland Software, Inc. 's 1. 88β — meaning UPLD is approximately 58% more volatile than HUBS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, HubSpot, Inc. (HUBS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 3% for Upland Software, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Alkami Technology, Inc.

(ALKT) is pulling ahead at 32. 9% versus -21. 1% for Upland Software, Inc. (UPLD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: HubSpot, Inc. grew EPS 863. 0% year-over-year, compared to -12. 2% for Alkami Technology, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ALKT leads at 29. 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.

HubSpot, Inc.

(HUBS) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 5% net margin versus -17. 9% for Upland Software, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UPLD leads at 7. 7% versus -12. 1% for ALKT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HUBS leads at 83. 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, HubSpot, Inc.

(HUBS) trades at 19. 6x forward P/E versus 21. 7x for Alkami Technology, Inc. — 2. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HUBS: 47. 7% to $360. 89.

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, HubSpot, Inc.

(HUBS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 18), +469. 1% 10Y return). Upland Software, Inc. (UPLD) carries a higher beta of 1. 88 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HUBS: +469. 1%, UPLD: -86. 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.

In terms of investment character: UPLD is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ALKT is a small-cap high-growth stock; HUBS is a mid-cap high-growth 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.