Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) vs MongoDB, Inc. (MDB) 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 | CFLT | 21.1% revenue growth vs MDB's 19.2% |
| Value | CFLT | Lower P/E (61.5x vs 68.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | MDB | -3.1% net margin vs CFLT's -25.3% |
| Stability / Safety | CFLT | Beta 1.50 vs MDB's 1.68 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | MDB | +22.8% vs CFLT's -3.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MDB | -2.0% ROA vs CFLT's -9.9%, ROIC -8.6% vs -15.8% |
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
Confluent is a data streaming platform company that helps organizations process and analyze real-time data streams. It generates revenue primarily through its Confluent Cloud managed service — a cloud-native platform — and Confluent Platform enterprise software, with additional income from training and professional services. The company's key advantage is its deep expertise with Apache Kafka — the open-source streaming standard — which it commercializes with enterprise-grade features, management tools, and cloud scalability.
MongoDB is a modern database platform company that offers a flexible, document-based database system as an alternative to traditional relational databases. It generates revenue primarily through its cloud-based MongoDB Atlas service — which accounts for over 60% of total revenue — along with its on-premise Enterprise Advanced licenses and professional services. The company's key advantage is its developer-friendly document model that enables faster application development and its first-mover position in the NoSQL database market.
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
MDB leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). CFLT leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
MDB is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.3B annually — 2.0x CFLT's $1.2B. MDB is the more profitable business, keeping -3.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CFLT's -25.3%.
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | MDBMongoDB, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.2B | $2.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$358M | -$121M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$295M | -$71M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $50M | $355M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +74.3% | +71.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -32.6% | -6.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -25.3% | -3.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.3% | +15.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +20.5% | +18.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.8% | +81.0% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | MDBMongoDB, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.5B | $26.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.3B | $26.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -35.66x | -189.87x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 61.51x | 68.24x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.29x | 13.32x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 9.02x | 8.80x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 24.76x | 221.51x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MDB delivers a -2.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-2 in annual profit, vs $-25 for CFLT. MDB carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CFLT's 0.95x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CFLT scores 6/9 vs MDB's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | MDBMongoDB, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -25.3% | -2.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -9.9% | -2.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -15.8% | -8.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -17.2% | -8.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.95x | 0.01x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $758M | -$454M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $347M | $490M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.1B | $37M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -262.57x | -9.95x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in MDB five years ago would be worth $8,315 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,813 for CFLT. Over the past 12 months, MDB leads with a +22.8% total return vs CFLT's -3.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MDB at 16.2% vs CFLT's 7.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | MDBMongoDB, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.9% | -17.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -3.4% | +22.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.7% | +56.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -31.9% | -16.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -31.9% | +924.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.9% | +16.2% |
Risk & Volatility
CFLT is the less volatile stock with a 1.50 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MDB's 1.68 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CFLT currently trades 94.0% from its 52-week high vs MDB's 73.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | MDBMongoDB, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.50x | 1.68x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $32.63 | $444.72 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.64 | $140.78 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.0% | +73.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 63.4 | 43.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 11.6M | 1.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CFLT as "Hold" and MDB as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 33.1% upside for MDB (target: $437) vs -3.2% for CFLT (target: $30).
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | MDBMongoDB, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $29.68 | $437.20 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 38 | 44 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Jun 21 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) | 100 | 67.84 | -32.2% |
| MongoDB, Inc. (MDB) | 100 | 104.12 | +4.1% |
MongoDB, Inc. (MDB) returned -17% over 5 years vs Confluent, Inc. (CFLT)'s -32%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) | $150M | $1.2B | +678.8% |
| MongoDB, Inc. (MDB) | $65M | $2.0B | +2974.0% |
MongoDB, Inc.'s revenue grew from $65M (2016) to $2.0B (2025) — a 46.3% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) | -63.4% | -25.3% | +60.1% |
| MongoDB, Inc. (MDB) | -112.6% | -6.4% | +94.3% |
MongoDB, Inc.'s net margin went from -113% (2016) to -6% (2025).
Chart 4EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) | -0.38 | -0.86 | -126.3% |
| MongoDB, Inc. (MDB) | -6.34 | -1.73 | +72.7% |
MongoDB, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-6.34 (2016) to $-1.73 (2025).
Chart 5Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Confluent, Inc. generated $61M FCF in 2025 (+153% vs 2021). MongoDB, Inc. generated $121M FCF in 2025 (+322% vs 2021).
CFLT vs MDB: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CFLT or MDB a better buy right now?
Analysts rate MongoDB, Inc. (MDB) a "Buy" — based on 44 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 is the better long-term investment — CFLT or MDB?
Over the past 5 years, MongoDB, Inc. (MDB) delivered a total return of -16.9%, compared to -31.9% for Confluent, Inc. (CFLT). A $10,000 investment in MDB five years ago would be worth approximately $8K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MDB returned +924.2% versus CFLT's -31.9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — CFLT or MDB?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) is the lower-risk stock at 1.50β versus MongoDB, Inc.'s 1.68β — meaning MDB is approximately 12% more volatile than CFLT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, MongoDB, Inc. (MDB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 95% for Confluent, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — CFLT or MDB?
MongoDB, Inc. (MDB) is the more profitable company, earning -6.4% net margin versus -25.3% for Confluent, Inc. — meaning it keeps -6.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MDB leads at -10.8% versus -32.6% for CFLT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CFLT leads at 74.3%, 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.
05Is CFLT or MDB more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) trades at 61.5x forward P/E versus 68.2x for MongoDB, Inc. — 6.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MDB: 33.1% to $437.20.
06Which pays a better dividend — CFLT or MDB?
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.
07Is CFLT or MDB better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, MongoDB, Inc. (MDB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+924.2% 10Y return). Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) carries a higher beta of 1.50 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MDB: +924.2%, CFLT: -31.9%), 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.
08What are the main differences between CFLT and MDB?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. 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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