Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare BlackLine, Inc. (BL) vs Intuit Inc. (INTU) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | INTU | 15.6% revenue growth vs BL's 10.7% |
| Value | BL | Lower P/E (14.7x vs 17.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | INTU | 21.6% net margin vs BL's 3.5% |
| Stability / Safety | INTU | Beta 0.93 vs BL's 0.97, lower leverage |
| Dividends | INTU | 1.0% yield; 14-year raise streak; BL pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | BL | -27.0% vs INTU's -32.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | INTU | 12.7% ROA vs BL's 1.4%, ROIC 16.5% vs 1.4% |
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
BlackLine is a cloud-based software company that automates accounting and financial close processes for enterprises. It generates revenue primarily through subscription fees for its SaaS platform — which includes financial close management, account reconciliation, and accounts receivable automation modules — with over 90% of revenue coming from recurring subscriptions. The company's competitive moat lies in its deep domain expertise in complex accounting workflows and its established position as a market leader in financial close automation, creating high switching costs for enterprise customers.
Intuit is a financial technology company that provides software and services for small businesses, self-employed individuals, and consumers to manage their finances and taxes. It generates revenue primarily through subscription software—QuickBooks for small businesses (~60% of revenue) and TurboTax for consumer tax preparation (~30%)—plus payment processing and credit services. Its competitive moat comes from deep integration across its ecosystem—linking accounting, payroll, payments, and tax filing—which creates high switching costs for its millions of small business and individual customers.
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
INTU leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). BL leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
INTU is the larger business by revenue, generating $20.1B annually — 28.7x BL's $700M. INTU is the more profitable business, keeping 21.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BL's 3.5%. On growth, INTU holds the edge at +17.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BLBlackLine, Inc. | INTUIntuit Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $700M | $20.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $60M | $5.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $25M | $4.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $153M | $6.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +75.2% | +81.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.6% | +27.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.5% | +21.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +21.9% | +34.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.1% | +17.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -89.9% | +47.9% |
Valuation Metrics
At 24.3x trailing earnings, BL trades at a 19% valuation discount to INTU's 29.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, INTU's 20.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than BL's 32.6x.
| Metric | BLBlackLine, Inc. | INTUIntuit Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.2B | $114.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.2B | $117.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 24.31x | 29.92x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.68x | 17.64x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.05x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 32.59x | 20.57x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.39x | 6.06x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 5.36x | 5.87x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.73x | 18.77x |
Profitability & Efficiency
INTU delivers a 22.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $23 in annual profit, vs $7 for BL. INTU carries lower financial leverage with a 0.34x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BL's 1.90x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), INTU scores 9/9 vs BL's 8/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | BLBlackLine, Inc. | INTUIntuit Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.6% | +22.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.4% | +12.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.4% | +16.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.3% | +19.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 9 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.90x | 0.34x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $31M | $3.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $886M | $2.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $917M | $6.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.79x | 428.27x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in INTU five years ago would be worth $10,487 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,763 for BL. Over the past 12 months, BL leads with a -27.0% total return vs INTU's -32.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors INTU at 1.1% vs BL's -19.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BLBlackLine, Inc. | INTUIntuit Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -34.5% | -34.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -27.0% | -32.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -48.4% | +3.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -72.4% | +4.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +48.7% | +350.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -19.8% | +1.1% |
Risk & Volatility
INTU is the less volatile stock with a 0.93 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BL's 0.97 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BL currently trades 59.2% from its 52-week high vs INTU's 50.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BLBlackLine, Inc. | INTUIntuit Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.97x | 0.93x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $59.57 | $813.70 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $31.75 | $349.00 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +59.2% | +50.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 29.6 | 33.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 903K | 2.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BL as "Hold" and INTU as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 78.0% upside for INTU (target: $728) vs 51.1% for BL (target: $53). INTU is the only dividend payer here at 1.03% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | BLBlackLine, Inc. | INTUIntuit Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $53.25 | $728.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 25 | 42 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $4.20 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.8% | +2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BlackLine, Inc. (BL) | 100 | 74.61 | -25.4% |
| Intuit Inc. (INTU) | 100 | 173.24 | +73.2% |
Intuit Inc. (INTU) returned +5% over 5 years vs BlackLine, Inc. (BL)'s -72%. A $10,000 investment in INTU 5 years ago would be worth $10,487 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BlackLine, Inc. (BL) | $123M | $653M | +430.6% |
| Intuit Inc. (INTU) | $4.7B | $18.8B | +301.2% |
Intuit Inc.'s revenue grew from $4.7B (2016) to $18.8B (2025) — a 16.7% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BlackLine, Inc. (BL) | -31.8% | 24.7% | +177.6% |
| Intuit Inc. (INTU) | 20.9% | 20.5% | -1.5% |
Intuit Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 21% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intuit Inc. (INTU) | 42.4 | 48.5 | +14.4% |
Intuit Inc. has traded in a 39x–85x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~30x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BlackLine, Inc. (BL) | -0.92 | 1.45 | +257.6% |
| Intuit Inc. (INTU) | 3.04 | 13.67 | +349.7% |
Intuit Inc.'s EPS grew from $3.04 (2016) to $13.67 (2025) — a 18% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
BlackLine, Inc. generated $189M FCF in 2024 (+232% vs 2021). Intuit Inc. generated $6B FCF in 2025 (+95% vs 2021).
BL vs INTU: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BL or INTU a better buy right now?
BlackLine, Inc. (BL) offers the better valuation at 24.3x trailing P/E (14.7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Intuit Inc. (INTU) a "Buy" — based on 42 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 — BL or INTU?
On trailing P/E, BlackLine, Inc. (BL) is the cheapest at 24.3x versus Intuit Inc. at 29.9x. On forward P/E, BlackLine, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14.7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BL or INTU?
Over the past 5 years, Intuit Inc. (INTU) delivered a total return of +4.9%, compared to -72.4% for BlackLine, Inc. (BL). A $10,000 investment in INTU five years ago would be worth approximately $10K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: INTU returned +350.0% versus BL's +48.7%. 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 — BL or INTU?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Intuit Inc. (INTU) is the lower-risk stock at 0.93β versus BlackLine, Inc.'s 0.97β — meaning BL is approximately 5% more volatile than INTU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Intuit Inc. (INTU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 34% versus 190% for BlackLine, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — BL or INTU?
BlackLine, Inc. (BL) is the more profitable company, earning 24.7% net margin versus 20.5% for Intuit Inc. — meaning it keeps 24.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: INTU leads at 26.1% versus 2.8% for BL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — INTU leads at 80.8%, 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.
06Is BL or INTU more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, BlackLine, Inc. (BL) trades at 14.7x forward P/E versus 17.6x for Intuit Inc. — 3.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for INTU: 78.0% to $728.11.
07Which pays a better dividend — BL or INTU?
In this comparison, INTU (1.0% yield) pays a dividend. BL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is BL or INTU better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Intuit Inc. (INTU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.93), 1.0% yield, +350.0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (INTU: +350.0%, BL: +48.7%), 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 BL and INTU?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. INTU pays a dividend while BL 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.