Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) vs Teradata Corporation (TDC) 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 TDC's -4.5% |
| Value | TDC | Lower P/E (12.0x vs 61.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | TDC | 7.8% net margin vs CFLT's -25.3% |
| Stability / Safety | TDC | Beta 1.30 vs CFLT's 1.50 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | TDC | +32.1% vs CFLT's -3.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | TDC | 7.3% ROA vs CFLT's -9.9%, ROIC 54.2% 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.
Teradata provides a connected multi-cloud data platform for enterprise analytics, enabling companies to manage and analyze data across hybrid cloud environments. It generates revenue primarily through subscription-based software licenses for its Teradata Vantage platform — roughly 80% of total revenue — with the remainder coming from consulting and support services. The company's key advantage is its decades of expertise in enterprise-scale data warehousing and analytics, giving it deep relationships with large organizations that rely on its proven platform for mission-critical workloads.
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
TDC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). CFLT leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
TDC and CFLT operate at a comparable scale, with $1.7B and $1.2B in trailing revenue. TDC is the more profitable business, keeping 7.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CFLT's -25.3%. On growth, CFLT holds the edge at +20.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | TDCTeradata Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.2B | $1.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$358M | $274M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$295M | $130M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $50M | $305M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +74.3% | +59.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -32.6% | +12.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -25.3% | +7.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.3% | +18.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +20.5% | +2.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.8% | +46.2% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | TDCTeradata Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.5B | $3.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.3B | $3.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -35.66x | 27.15x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 61.51x | 11.98x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 10.19x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.29x | 1.71x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 9.02x | 23.25x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 24.76x | 10.80x |
Profitability & Efficiency
TDC delivers a 56.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $57 in annual profit, vs $-25 for CFLT. CFLT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.95x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to TDC's 4.33x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), TDC scores 7/9 vs CFLT's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | TDCTeradata Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -25.3% | +56.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -9.9% | +7.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -15.8% | +54.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -17.2% | +25.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.95x | 4.33x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $758M | $156M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $347M | $420M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.1B | $576M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -262.57x | 7.25x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in TDC five years ago would be worth $7,474 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,813 for CFLT. Over the past 12 months, TDC leads with a +32.1% total return vs CFLT's -3.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CFLT at 7.9% vs TDC's -8.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | TDCTeradata Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.9% | +6.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -3.4% | +32.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.7% | -22.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -31.9% | -25.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -31.9% | +26.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.9% | -8.2% |
Risk & Volatility
TDC is the less volatile stock with a 1.30 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CFLT's 1.50 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 TDC's 75.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | TDCTeradata Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.50x | 1.30x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $32.63 | $41.78 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.64 | $18.43 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.0% | +75.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 63.4 | 51.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 11.6M | 1.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CFLT as "Hold" and TDC as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 11.1% upside for TDC (target: $35) vs -3.2% for CFLT (target: $30).
| Metric | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | TDCTeradata Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $29.68 | $35.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 38 | 47 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +7.2% |
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% |
| Teradata Corporation (TDC) | 100 | 57.08 | -42.9% |
Teradata Corporation (TDC) returned -25% 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% |
| Teradata Corporation (TDC) | $2.3B | $1.8B | -24.6% |
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) | -63.4% | -25.3% | +60.1% |
| Teradata Corporation (TDC) | 5.4% | 6.5% | +21.0% |
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 6 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teradata Corporation (TDC) | 153.4 | 26.9 | -82.5% |
Teradata Corporation has traded in a 19x–153x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~27x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) | -0.38 | -0.86 | -126.3% |
| Teradata Corporation (TDC) | 0.95 | 1.16 | +22.1% |
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Confluent, Inc. generated $61M FCF in 2025 (+153% vs 2021). Teradata Corporation generated $277M FCF in 2024 (-36% vs 2021).
CFLT vs TDC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CFLT or TDC a better buy right now?
Teradata Corporation (TDC) offers the better valuation at 27.1x trailing P/E (12.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) a "Hold" — based on 38 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 — CFLT or TDC?
On forward P/E, Teradata Corporation is actually cheaper at 12.0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CFLT or TDC?
Over the past 5 years, Teradata Corporation (TDC) delivered a total return of -25.3%, compared to -31.9% for Confluent, Inc. (CFLT). A $10,000 investment in TDC five years ago would be worth approximately $7K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TDC returned +26.2% 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.
04Which is safer — CFLT or TDC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Teradata Corporation (TDC) is the lower-risk stock at 1.30β versus Confluent, Inc.'s 1.50β — meaning CFLT is approximately 16% more volatile than TDC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 95% versus 4% for Teradata Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CFLT or TDC?
Teradata Corporation (TDC) is the more profitable company, earning 6.5% net margin versus -25.3% for Confluent, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6.5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TDC leads at 11.9% 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.
06Is CFLT or TDC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Teradata Corporation (TDC) trades at 12.0x forward P/E versus 61.5x for Confluent, Inc. — 49.5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TDC: 11.1% to $35.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — CFLT or TDC?
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 CFLT or TDC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Teradata Corporation (TDC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. 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 (TDC: +26.2%, 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.
09What are the main differences between CFLT and TDC?
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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