Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) vs Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) 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
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.
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.
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 | LYFTLyft, Inc. | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.3B | $1.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$57M | $146M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.8B | $414M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.1B | $377M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +41.5% | +72.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -3.0% | +13.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +45.0% | +39.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +18.2% | +36.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.7% | +35.0% |
| 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 | LYFTLyft, Inc. | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.5B | $4.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.1B | $3.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 2.03x | 13.32x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.45x | 23.41x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 27.79x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.88x | 4.54x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.77x | 3.50x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 4.97x | 12.14x |
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 | LYFTLyft, Inc. | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +86.9% | +30.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +31.5% | +20.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -7.1% | +40.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -6.2% | +8.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.41x | 0.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$1.6B | -$943M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.8B | $1.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.4B | $94M |
| 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 | LYFTLyft, Inc. | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -30.1% | -42.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +3.7% | -67.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +38.4% | +11.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -75.9% | -27.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -82.3% | -27.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +11.4% | +3.6% |
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 | LYFTLyft, Inc. | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.40x | 1.52x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $25.54 | $544.93 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $9.66 | $91.99 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +54.2% | +18.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.8 | 40.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 12.9M | 1.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LYFT as "Hold" and DUOL as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 132.7% upside for DUOL (target: $235) vs 43.4% for LYFT (target: $20).
| Metric | LYFTLyft, Inc. | DUOLDuolingo, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $19.85 | $235.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 59 | 21 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +9.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Aug 21 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) | 100 | 30.82 | -69.2% |
| Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) | 103.45 | 94.91 | -8.3% |
Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) returned -27% over 5 years vs Lyft, Inc. (LYFT)'s -76%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) | $343M | $6.3B | +1739.9% |
| Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) | $71M | $1.0B | +1366.3% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) | -198.9% | 45.0% | +122.6% |
| Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) | -19.2% | 39.9% | +308.3% |
Lyft, Inc.'s net margin went from -199% (2016) to 45% (2025).
Chart 4EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) | -2.87 | 6.81 | +337.3% |
| Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) | -0.41 | 7.58 | +1948.8% |
Lyft, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-2.87 (2016) to $6.81 (2025).
Chart 5Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Lyft, Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2025 (+717% vs 2021). Duolingo, Inc. generated $388M FCF in 2025 (+12984% vs 2021).
LYFT vs DUOL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LYFT or DUOL 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 Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) a "Hold" — based on 59 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 — LYFT or DUOL?
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 — LYFT or DUOL?
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 — LYFT or DUOL?
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 — LYFT or DUOL?
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 LYFT or DUOL 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 — LYFT or DUOL?
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 LYFT or DUOL 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 LYFT and DUOL?
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.