EXFY vs CWAN vs APPF vs HUBS

For growth investors, Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc.

(CWAN) is the stronger pick with 61. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 1% for Expensify, Inc. (EXFY). AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) offers the better valuation at 42. 9x trailing P/E (24. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Expensify, Inc. (EXFY) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, AppFolio, Inc.

(APPF) is the cheapest at 42. 9x versus HubSpot, Inc. at 229. 5x. On forward P/E, HubSpot, Inc. is actually cheaper at 15. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, AppFolio, Inc.

(APPF) delivered a total return of +30. 8%, compared to -97. 5% for Expensify, Inc. (EXFY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: APPF returned +1249% versus EXFY's -97. 5%. 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), AppFolio, Inc.

(APPF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 64β versus HubSpot, Inc. 's 1. 01β — meaning HUBS is approximately 57% more volatile than APPF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Expensify, Inc. (EXFY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 43% for Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc.

(CWAN) is pulling ahead at 61. 9% versus 2. 1% for Expensify, Inc. (EXFY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: HubSpot, Inc. grew EPS 863. 0% year-over-year, compared to -108. 3% for Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CWAN leads at 34. 1% 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.

AppFolio, Inc.

(APPF) is the more profitable company, earning 14. 8% net margin versus -15. 1% for Expensify, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: APPF leads at 16. 1% versus -12. 7% for EXFY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HUBS leads at 83. 8%, 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, HubSpot, Inc.

(HUBS) trades at 15. 2x forward P/E versus 34. 7x for Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. — 19. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EXFY: 1241. 5% to $13. 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, AppFolio, Inc.

(APPF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 64), +1249% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (APPF: +1249%, EXFY: -97. 5%), 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.

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: EXFY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CWAN is a small-cap high-growth stock; APPF is a small-cap high-growth stock; HUBS 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.