Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Bumble Inc. (BMBL) vs Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) 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 | DUOL | 38.7% revenue growth vs BMBL's 1.9% |
| Value | BMBL | Lower P/E (3.9x vs 23.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | DUOL | 39.9% net margin vs BMBL's -19.8% |
| Stability / Safety | BMBL | Beta 1.49 vs DUOL's 1.52 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | BMBL | -41.5% vs DUOL's -67.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | DUOL | 20.8% ROA vs BMBL's -9.1%, ROIC 40.8% vs -23.9% |
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
Bumble operates a dating app ecosystem where women must initiate conversations, creating a safer environment for online dating. It generates revenue primarily through subscription tiers — Bumble Premium and Bumble Boost — along with in-app purchases for features like Spotlight and SuperSwipes. Its key advantage is the women-first brand positioning that differentiates it in the crowded dating app market and attracts a more intentional user base.
Duolingo operates a freemium language-learning platform that makes acquiring new languages accessible through gamified lessons. It generates revenue primarily through subscription fees for its premium Duolingo Super service — which removes ads and offers additional features — along with advertising and its English proficiency testing product. The company's key advantage is its massive user base and data-driven approach to optimizing engagement, creating network effects that make its platform increasingly effective for learners.
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
DUOL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). BMBL leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
DUOL and BMBL operate at a comparable scale, with $1.0B and $1.0B in trailing revenue. DUOL is the more profitable business, keeping 39.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BMBL's -19.8%. On growth, DUOL holds the edge at +35.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BMBLBumble Inc. | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.0B | $1.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$154M | $146M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$199M | $414M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $174M | $377M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.6% | +72.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -19.2% | +13.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -19.8% | +39.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +17.3% | +36.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -10.0% | +35.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +107.0% | -100.0% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BMBLBumble Inc. | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $61 | $4.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $425M | $3.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.66x | 13.32x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 3.86x | 23.41x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 27.79x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.00x | 4.54x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.27x | 3.50x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 0.00x | 12.14x |
Profitability & Efficiency
DUOL delivers a 30.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $31 in annual profit, vs $-19 for BMBL. DUOL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BMBL's 0.47x.
| Metric | BMBLBumble Inc. | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -19.2% | +30.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -9.1% | +20.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -23.9% | +40.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -24.3% | +8.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.47x | 0.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $425M | -$943M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $204M | $1.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $630M | $94M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -4.71x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in DUOL five years ago would be worth $7,266 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $408 for BMBL. Over the past 12 months, BMBL leads with a -41.5% total return vs DUOL's -67.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors DUOL at 3.6% vs BMBL's -49.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BMBLBumble Inc. | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -16.0% | -42.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -41.5% | -67.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -87.4% | +11.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -95.9% | -27.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -95.7% | -27.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -49.9% | +3.6% |
Risk & Volatility
BMBL is the less volatile stock with a 1.49 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than DUOL's 1.52 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BMBL currently trades 35.2% from its 52-week high vs DUOL's 18.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BMBLBumble Inc. | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.49x | 1.52x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $8.64 | $544.93 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.61 | $91.99 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +35.2% | +18.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.1 | 40.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.3M | 1.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BMBL as "Hold" and DUOL as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 132.7% upside for DUOL (target: $235) vs 64.5% for BMBL (target: $5).
| Metric | BMBLBumble Inc. | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $5.00 | $235.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 23 | 21 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +100.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Aug 21 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bumble Inc. (BMBL) | 100 | 6.65 | -93.3% |
| Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) | 103.45 | 94.91 | -8.3% |
Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) returned -27% over 5 years vs Bumble Inc. (BMBL)'s -96%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bumble Inc. (BMBL) | $360M | $1.1B | +197.6% |
| Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) | $71M | $1.0B | +1366.3% |
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bumble Inc. (BMBL) | -6.0% | -52.0% | -769.8% |
| Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) | -19.2% | 39.9% | +308.3% |
Chart 4EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bumble Inc. (BMBL) | -0.19 | -4.61 | -2326.3% |
| Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) | -0.41 | 7.58 | +1948.8% |
Chart 5Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Bumble Inc. generated $97M FCF in 2024 (+6% vs 2021). Duolingo, Inc. generated $388M FCF in 2025 (+12984% vs 2021).
BMBL vs DUOL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BMBL or DUOL a better buy right now?
Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) offers the better valuation at 13.3x trailing P/E (23.4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Bumble Inc. (BMBL) a "Hold" — based on 23 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 — BMBL or DUOL?
On forward P/E, Bumble Inc. is actually cheaper at 3.9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BMBL or DUOL?
Over the past 5 years, Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) delivered a total return of -27.3%, compared to -95.9% for Bumble Inc. (BMBL). A $10,000 investment in DUOL five years ago would be worth approximately $7K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DUOL returned -27.3% versus BMBL's -95.7%. 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 — BMBL or DUOL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Bumble Inc. (BMBL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.49β versus Duolingo, Inc.'s 1.52β — meaning DUOL is approximately 2% more volatile than BMBL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 47% for Bumble Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — BMBL or DUOL?
Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) is the more profitable company, earning 39.9% net margin versus -52.0% for Bumble Inc. — meaning it keeps 39.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DUOL leads at 13.1% versus -65.4% for BMBL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DUOL leads at 72.2%, 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 BMBL or DUOL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Bumble Inc. (BMBL) trades at 3.9x forward P/E versus 23.4x for Duolingo, Inc. — 19.6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DUOL: 132.7% to $235.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — BMBL or DUOL?
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.
08Is BMBL or DUOL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Both have compounded well over 10 years (DUOL: -27.3%, BMBL: -95.7%), 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 BMBL and DUOL?
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: BMBL is a small-cap quality compounder stock; DUOL 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.
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