Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) vs Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) 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 | DUOL | 38.7% revenue growth vs LYFT's 9.2% |
| Value | LYFT | Lower P/E (21.5x vs 23.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | LYFT | 45.0% net margin vs DUOL's 39.9% |
| Stability / Safety | LYFT | Beta 1.40 vs DUOL's 1.52 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LYFT | +3.7% vs DUOL's -67.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LYFT | 31.5% ROA vs DUOL's 20.8%, ROIC -7.1% vs 40.8% |
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
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.
Lyft operates a digital ridesharing platform connecting passengers with drivers through a mobile app. It generates revenue primarily from taking a commission — typically 20-25% — on each ride fare, supplemented by subscription fees from its Lyft Pink membership program and enterprise transportation solutions. Its competitive advantage lies in its established two-sided network effect — a large driver base attracts more riders, which in turn attracts more drivers — and its brand recognition in North America.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
LYFT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). DUOL leads in 2 (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
LYFT is the larger business by revenue, generating $6.3B annually — 6.1x DUOL's $1.0B. LYFT is the more profitable business, keeping 45.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to DUOL's 39.9%. On growth, DUOL holds the edge at +35.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. | LYFTLyft, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.0B | $6.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $146M | -$57M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $414M | $2.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $377M | $1.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +72.2% | +41.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.1% | -3.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +39.9% | +45.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +36.3% | +18.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +35.0% | +2.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -100.0% | -100.0% |
Valuation Metrics
At 2.0x trailing earnings, LYFT trades at a 85% valuation discount to DUOL's 13.3x P/E.
| Metric | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. | LYFTLyft, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.7B | $5.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.8B | $5.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.32x | 2.03x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 23.41x | 21.45x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 27.79x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.54x | 0.88x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.50x | 1.77x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 12.14x | 4.97x |
Profitability & Efficiency
LYFT delivers a 86.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $87 in annual profit, vs $31 for DUOL. DUOL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LYFT's 0.41x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), DUOL scores 5/9 vs LYFT's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. | LYFTLyft, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +30.7% | +86.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +20.8% | +31.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +40.8% | -7.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.0% | -6.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.07x | 0.41x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$943M | -$1.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.0B | $1.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $94M | $1.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 80.43x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in DUOL five years ago would be worth $7,266 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,414 for LYFT. Over the past 12 months, LYFT leads with a +3.7% total return vs DUOL's -67.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LYFT at 11.4% vs DUOL's 3.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. | LYFTLyft, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -42.8% | -30.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -67.6% | +3.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +11.2% | +38.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -27.3% | -75.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -27.3% | -82.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +3.6% | +11.4% |
Risk & Volatility
LYFT is the less volatile stock with a 1.40 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. LYFT currently trades 54.2% from its 52-week high vs DUOL's 18.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. | LYFTLyft, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.52x | 1.40x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $544.93 | $25.54 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $91.99 | $9.66 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +18.5% | +54.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 40.8 | 38.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.9M | 12.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates DUOL as "Hold" and LYFT as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 132.7% upside for DUOL (target: $235) vs 43.4% for LYFT (target: $20).
| Metric | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. | LYFTLyft, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $235.00 | $19.85 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 21 | 59 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +9.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Jul 21 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) | 100 | 94.91 | -5.1% |
| Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) | 100 | 30.82 | -69.2% |
Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) returned -27% over 5 years vs Lyft, Inc. (LYFT)'s -76%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) | $71M | $1.0B | +1366.3% |
| Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) | $343M | $6.3B | +1739.9% |
Lyft, Inc.'s revenue grew from $343M (2016) to $6.3B (2025) — a 38.2% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) | -19.2% | 39.9% | +308.3% |
| Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) | -198.9% | 45.0% | +122.6% |
Lyft, Inc.'s net margin went from -199% (2016) to 45% (2025).
Chart 4EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) | -0.41 | 7.58 | +1948.8% |
| Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) | -2.87 | 6.81 | +337.3% |
Lyft, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-2.87 (2016) to $6.81 (2025).
Chart 5Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Duolingo, Inc. generated $388M FCF in 2025 (+12984% vs 2021). Lyft, Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2025 (+717% vs 2021).
DUOL vs LYFT: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DUOL or LYFT a better buy right now?
Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) offers the better valuation at 2.0x trailing P/E (21.5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) a "Hold" — based on 21 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 — DUOL or LYFT?
On trailing P/E, Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) is the cheapest at 2.0x versus Duolingo, Inc. at 13.3x. On forward P/E, Lyft, Inc. is actually cheaper at 21.5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — DUOL or LYFT?
Over the past 5 years, Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) delivered a total return of -27.3%, compared to -75.9% for Lyft, Inc. (LYFT). 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 LYFT's -82.3%. 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 — DUOL or LYFT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) is the lower-risk stock at 1.40β versus Duolingo, Inc.'s 1.52β — meaning DUOL is approximately 8% more volatile than LYFT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 41% for Lyft, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — DUOL or LYFT?
Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) is the more profitable company, earning 45.0% net margin versus 39.9% for Duolingo, Inc. — meaning it keeps 45.0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DUOL leads at 13.1% versus -3.0% for LYFT. 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 DUOL or LYFT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) trades at 21.5x forward P/E versus 23.4x for Duolingo, Inc. — 2.0x 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 — DUOL or LYFT?
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 DUOL or LYFT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) carries a higher beta of 1.52 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LYFT: -82.3%, DUOL: -27.3%), 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 DUOL and LYFT?
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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.