CMPR vs SHOP

For growth investors, Shopify Inc.

(SHOP) is the stronger pick with 30. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 4% for Cimpress plc (CMPR). Shopify Inc. (SHOP) offers the better valuation at 118. 9x trailing P/E (60. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Shopify Inc. (SHOP) a "Buy" — based on 63 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.

On trailing P/E, Shopify Inc.

(SHOP) is the cheapest at 118. 9x versus Cimpress plc at 158. 6x. On forward P/E, Cimpress plc is actually cheaper at 28. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Shopify Inc.

(SHOP) delivered a total return of +0. 8%, compared to -9. 4% for Cimpress plc (CMPR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SHOP returned +41. 2% versus CMPR's -1. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cimpress plc (CMPR) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

25β versus Shopify Inc. 's 2. 64β — meaning SHOP is approximately 111% more volatile than CMPR relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Shopify Inc.

(SHOP) is pulling ahead at 30. 1% versus 3. 4% for Cimpress plc (CMPR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Shopify Inc. grew EPS -39. 4% year-over-year, compared to -91. 0% for Cimpress plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, SHOP leads at 27. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Shopify Inc.

(SHOP) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 7% net margin versus 0. 4% for Cimpress plc — meaning it keeps 10. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SHOP leads at 12. 7% versus 6. 6% for CMPR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SHOP leads at 48. 1%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Cimpress plc (CMPR) trades at 28.

0x forward P/E versus 60. 9x for Shopify Inc. — 33. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SHOP: 47. 4% to $164. 75.

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.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cimpress plc (CMPR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

25)). Shopify Inc. (SHOP) carries a higher beta of 2. 64 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CMPR: -1. 9%, SHOP: +41. 2%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CMPR (Communication Services) and SHOP (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CMPR is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SHOP is a mid-cap high-growth 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.