Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) vs QXO, Inc. (QXO) 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 | QXO | 119.3% revenue growth vs APPF's 19.7% |
| Value | APPF | Lower P/E (27.1x vs 61.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | APPF | 14.8% net margin vs QXO's -4.1% |
| Stability / Safety | APPF | Beta 0.82 vs QXO's 1.25, lower leverage |
| Dividends | QXO | 71.4% yield; 2-year raise streak; APPF pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | QXO | +88.0% vs APPF's -17.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | APPF | 20.5% ROA vs QXO's -1.8%, ROIC 23.2% vs -3.1% |
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
AppFolio provides cloud-based software solutions for property management and real estate investment firms. It generates revenue primarily through subscription fees for its Property Manager platform — supplemented by value-added services like electronic payments, tenant screening, and insurance offerings. The company's competitive advantage lies in its specialized vertical software that deeply integrates with real estate workflows, creating switching costs through process automation and data centralization.
QXO is a business software and consulting firm that provides enterprise resource planning, accounting, and IT managed services to small and medium-sized businesses. It generates revenue through software licensing and subscriptions — primarily from its ERP and business management platforms — supplemented by consulting, training, and technical support services. The company's moat comes from its deep industry specialization in manufacturing and distribution sectors, where it offers integrated solutions that combine software with specialized consulting expertise.
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
APPF leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Profitability & Efficiency. 2 categories are tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
QXO is the larger business by revenue, generating $6.8B annually — 7.2x APPF's $951M. APPF is the more profitable business, keeping 14.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to QXO's -4.1%. On growth, QXO holds the edge at +147.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | APPFAppFolio, Inc. | QXOQXO, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $951M | $6.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $177M | $60M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $141M | -$279M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $238M | $183M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +63.1% | +23.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.1% | -3.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +14.8% | -4.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +25.0% | +2.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +21.9% | +147.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -60.6% | -7.5% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, APPF's 24.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than QXO's 107.3x.
| Metric | APPFAppFolio, Inc. | QXOQXO, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.3B | $17.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.3B | $19.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 45.81x | -38.02x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 27.11x | 61.60x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 24.22x | 107.27x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.55x | 2.48x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 11.90x | 0.02x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 18.10x | 92.62x |
Profitability & Efficiency
APPF delivers a 26.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $26 in annual profit, vs $-3 for QXO. APPF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.06x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to QXO's 0.46x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), APPF scores 6/9 vs QXO's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | APPFAppFolio, Inc. | QXOQXO, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +26.0% | -2.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +20.5% | -1.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +23.2% | -3.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +26.7% | -2.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.06x | 0.46x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$74M | $2.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $107M | $2.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $33M | $4.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -1.79x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in APPF five years ago would be worth $10,975 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,422 for QXO. Over the past 12 months, QXO leads with a +88.0% total return vs APPF's -17.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors APPF at 10.4% vs QXO's -38.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | APPFAppFolio, Inc. | QXOQXO, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -22.8% | +21.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -17.1% | +88.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +34.6% | -76.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +9.7% | -85.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1419.3% | -47.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +10.4% | -38.0% |
Risk & Volatility
APPF is the less volatile stock with a 0.82 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than QXO's 1.25 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. QXO currently trades 86.7% from its 52-week high vs APPF's 54.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | APPFAppFolio, Inc. | QXOQXO, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 1.25x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $326.04 | $27.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $161.13 | $11.97 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +54.5% | +86.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 40.5 | 47.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 312K | 7.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates APPF as "Buy" and QXO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 54.7% upside for APPF (target: $275) vs 25.3% for QXO (target: $30). QXO is the only dividend payer here at 71.38% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | APPFAppFolio, Inc. | QXOQXO, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $275.00 | $30.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 3 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +71.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $17.10 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.4% | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) | 100 | 158.02 | +58.0% |
| QXO, Inc. (QXO) | 100 | 11.62 | -88.4% |
AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) returned +10% over 5 years vs QXO, Inc. (QXO)'s -86%. A $10,000 investment in APPF 5 years ago would be worth $10,975 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) | $106M | $951M | +800.5% |
| QXO, Inc. (QXO) | $34M | $6.8B | +19952.2% |
AppFolio, Inc.'s revenue grew from $106M (2016) to $951M (2025) — a 27.7% CAGR. QXO, Inc.'s revenue grew from $34M (2016) to $6.8B (2025) — a 80.2% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) | -7.8% | 14.8% | +289.0% |
| QXO, Inc. (QXO) | 10.1% | -4.1% | -140.5% |
AppFolio, Inc.'s net margin went from -8% (2016) to 15% (2025). QXO, Inc.'s net margin went from 10% (2016) to -4% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 6 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) | 148.2 | 60 | -59.5% |
AppFolio, Inc. has traded in a 41x–148x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~46x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) | -0.25 | 3.88 | +1652.0% |
| QXO, Inc. (QXO) | 6.15 | -0.63 | -110.2% |
AppFolio, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.25 (2016) to $3.88 (2025). QXO, Inc.'s EPS grew from $6.15 (2016) to $-0.63 (2025) — a NaN% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
AppFolio, Inc. generated $239M FCF in 2025 (+8839% vs 2021). QXO, Inc. generated $183M FCF in 2025 (+164540% vs 2021).
APPF vs QXO: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is APPF or QXO a better buy right now?
AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) offers the better valuation at 45.8x trailing P/E (27.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) 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.
02Which has the better valuation — APPF or QXO?
On forward P/E, AppFolio, Inc. is actually cheaper at 27.1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — APPF or QXO?
Over the past 5 years, AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) delivered a total return of +9.7%, compared to -85.8% for QXO, Inc. (QXO). A $10,000 investment in APPF five years ago would be worth approximately $11K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: APPF returned +1419% versus QXO's -47.8%. 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 — APPF or QXO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) is the lower-risk stock at 0.82β versus QXO, Inc.'s 1.25β — meaning QXO is approximately 52% more volatile than APPF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 46% for QXO, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — APPF or QXO?
AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) is the more profitable company, earning 14.8% net margin versus -4.1% for QXO, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: APPF leads at 16.1% versus -3.6% for QXO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — APPF leads at 61.3%, 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 APPF or QXO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) trades at 27.1x forward P/E versus 61.6x for QXO, Inc. — 34.5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for APPF: 54.7% to $275.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — APPF or QXO?
In this comparison, QXO (71.4% yield) pays a dividend. APPF does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is APPF or QXO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.82), +1419% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (APPF: +1419%, QXO: -47.8%), 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 APPF and QXO?
These companies operate in different sectors (APPF (Technology) and QXO (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. In terms of investment character: APPF is a small-cap quality compounder stock; QXO is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. QXO pays a dividend while APPF 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.
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