Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited (KC) vs Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) 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 | SNOW | 29.2% revenue growth vs KC's 10.5% |
| Quality / Margins | KC | -10.8% net margin vs SNOW's -28.4% |
| Stability / Safety | SNOW | Beta 1.49 vs KC's 1.61 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | SNOW | -4.9% vs KC's -17.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | KC | -3.8% ROA vs SNOW's -14.6%, ROIC -17.7% vs -43.1% |
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
Kingsoft Cloud is a Chinese cloud service provider offering public cloud infrastructure and enterprise cloud solutions to businesses across various industries. It generates revenue primarily from public cloud services — including computing, storage, and content delivery — and enterprise cloud services for specific verticals like finance and healthcare. Its competitive advantage stems from its integration with the broader Kingsoft ecosystem — including gaming and office software — which creates cross-selling opportunities and customer stickiness.
Snowflake provides a cloud-native data platform that enables organizations to store, process, and analyze data across multiple cloud providers. It generates revenue primarily through consumption-based pricing for compute, storage, and data transfer services — with compute typically representing the largest portion. Its key advantage is a unique architecture that separates storage and compute, allowing customers to scale each independently while avoiding vendor lock-in through multi-cloud compatibility.
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
KC leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). SNOW leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
KC is the larger business by revenue, generating $9.0B annually — 1.9x SNOW's $4.7B. KC is the more profitable business, keeping -10.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SNOW's -28.4%. On growth, KC holds the edge at +33.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | KCKingsoft Cloud Ho… | SNOWSnowflake Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $9.0B | $4.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.3B | -$1.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$971M | -$1.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$343M | $1.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +16.2% | +67.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -8.3% | -30.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -10.8% | -28.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -3.8% | +23.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +33.7% | +30.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +99.6% | +9.1% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | KCKingsoft Cloud Ho… | SNOWSnowflake Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $49.7B | $57.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $50.1B | $57.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -11.42x | -42.64x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 95.01x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 43.80x | 12.31x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.12x | 28.15x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 51.48x |
Profitability & Efficiency
KC delivers a -13.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-14 in annual profit, vs $-66 for SNOW. KC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.94x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SNOW's 1.36x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SNOW scores 5/9 vs KC's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | KCKingsoft Cloud Ho… | SNOWSnowflake Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -13.7% | -65.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -3.8% | -14.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -17.7% | -43.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -20.9% | -27.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.94x | 1.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.5B | -$87M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.6B | $2.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5.2B | $2.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -1.40x | -115.44x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SNOW five years ago would be worth $6,188 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,210 for KC. Over the past 12 months, SNOW leads with a -4.9% total return vs KC's -17.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KC at 51.8% vs SNOW's 2.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | KCKingsoft Cloud Ho… | SNOWSnowflake Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +23.3% | -22.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -17.5% | -4.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +250.1% | +9.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -77.9% | -38.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -43.5% | -33.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +51.8% | +2.9% |
Risk & Volatility
SNOW is the less volatile stock with a 1.49 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KC's 1.61 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. KC currently trades 68.9% from its 52-week high vs SNOW's 60.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | KCKingsoft Cloud Ho… | SNOWSnowflake Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.61x | 1.49x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $19.57 | $280.67 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $10.29 | $120.10 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +68.9% | +60.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.8 | 43.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.1M | 4.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KC as "Buy" and SNOW as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 49.4% upside for SNOW (target: $252) vs 35.8% for KC (target: $18).
| Metric | KCKingsoft Cloud Ho… | SNOWSnowflake Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $18.30 | $251.60 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 10 | 49 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.2% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Oct 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsoft Cloud Hold… (KC) | 100 | 45.69 | -54.3% |
| Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) | 95.88 | 75.09 | -21.7% |
Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) returned -38% over 5 years vs Kingsoft Cloud Hold… (KC)'s -78%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsoft Cloud Hold… (KC) | $2.3B | $7.8B | +237.8% |
| Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) | $97M | $4.7B | +4745.5% |
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsoft Cloud Hold… (KC) | -45.4% | -25.3% | +44.3% |
| Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) | -184.2% | -28.4% | +84.6% |
Chart 4EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsoft Cloud Hold… (KC) | -33.23 | -8.1 | +75.6% |
| Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) | -0.75 | -3.95 | -426.7% |
Chart 5Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited generated $-3B FCF in 2024 (-112% vs 2021). Snowflake Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2026 (+1407% vs 2021).
KC vs SNOW: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KC or SNOW a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited (KC) a "Buy" — based on 10 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 is the better long-term investment — KC or SNOW?
Over the past 5 years, Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) delivered a total return of -38.1%, compared to -77.9% for Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited (KC). A $10,000 investment in SNOW five years ago would be worth approximately $6K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SNOW returned -33.7% versus KC's -43.5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — KC or SNOW?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) is the lower-risk stock at 1.49β versus Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited's 1.61β — meaning KC is approximately 8% more volatile than SNOW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited (KC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 94% versus 136% for Snowflake Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — KC or SNOW?
Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited (KC) is the more profitable company, earning -25.3% net margin versus -28.4% for Snowflake Inc. — meaning it keeps -25.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KC leads at -22.3% versus -30.6% for SNOW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SNOW leads at 67.2%, 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.
05Is KC or SNOW more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SNOW: 49.4% to $251.60.
06Which pays a better dividend — KC or SNOW?
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.
07Is KC or SNOW better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited (KC) carries a higher beta of 1.61 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SNOW: -33.7%, KC: -43.5%), 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.
08What are the main differences between KC and SNOW?
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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