HPE vs HPQ

For growth investors, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE) is the stronger pick with 14.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 2% for HP Inc. (HPQ). HP Inc. (HPQ) offers the better valuation at 7. 9x trailing P/E (7. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE) a "Hold" — based on 37 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 forward P/E, HP Inc.

is actually cheaper at 7. 3x.

Over the past 5 years, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE) delivered a total return of +95.

5%, compared to -26. 1% for HP Inc. (HPQ). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HPE returned +269. 0% versus HPQ's +157. 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), HP Inc.

(HPQ) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 02β versus Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company's 1. 62β — meaning HPE is approximately 59% more volatile than HPQ relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE) is pulling ahead at 14.

1% versus 3. 2% for HP Inc. (HPQ). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: HP Inc. grew EPS -5. 7% year-over-year, compared to -102. 3% for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, HPE leads at 6. 9% 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.

HP Inc.

(HPQ) is the more profitable company, earning 4. 6% net margin versus 0. 2% for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company — meaning it keeps 4. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HPQ leads at 6. 6% versus 4. 8% for HPE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HPE leads at 28. 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, HP Inc.

(HPQ) trades at 7. 3x forward P/E versus 12. 3x for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company — 5. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HPE: -3. 3% to $28. 71.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

HP Inc. (HPQ) offers the highest yield at 5. 4%, versus 2. 0% for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, HP Inc.

(HPQ) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 02), 5. 4% yield, +157. 9% 10Y return). Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE) carries a higher beta of 1. 62 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HPQ: +157. 9%, HPE: +269. 0%), 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: HPE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; HPQ is a mid-cap deep-value 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.