MANH vs VEEV vs HUBS vs DSGX vs NOW

For growth investors, ServiceNow, Inc.

(NOW) is the stronger pick with 20. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 7% for Manhattan Associates, Inc. (MANH). Veeva Systems Inc. (VEEV) offers the better valuation at 30. 6x trailing P/E (18. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Manhattan Associates, Inc. (MANH) a "Buy" — based on 15 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, Veeva Systems Inc.

(VEEV) is the cheapest at 30. 6x 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. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: ServiceNow, Inc. wins at 0. 32x versus The Descartes Systems Group Inc. 's 1. 51x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, The Descartes Systems Group Inc.

(DSGX) delivered a total return of +20. 0%, compared to -80. 5% for ServiceNow, Inc. (NOW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VEEV returned +512. 1% versus NOW's +35. 2%. 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), The Descartes Systems Group Inc.

(DSGX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 65β versus ServiceNow, Inc. 's 1. 39β — meaning NOW is approximately 113% more volatile than DSGX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Descartes Systems Group Inc. (DSGX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 36% for Manhattan Associates, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), ServiceNow, Inc.

(NOW) is pulling ahead at 20. 9% versus 3. 7% for Manhattan Associates, Inc. (MANH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: HubSpot, Inc. grew EPS 863. 0% year-over-year, compared to 2. 6% for Manhattan Associates, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NOW leads at 22. 4% 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.

Veeva Systems Inc.

(VEEV) is the more profitable company, earning 28. 4% net margin versus 1. 5% for HubSpot, Inc. — meaning it keeps 28. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DSGX leads at 32. 3% versus 0. 4% for HUBS. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, ServiceNow, Inc. (NOW) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 32x versus The Descartes Systems Group Inc. 's 1. 51x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, HubSpot, Inc. (HUBS) trades at 15. 2x forward P/E versus 38. 8x for The Descartes Systems Group Inc. — 23. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NOW: 69. 0% to $154. 08.

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, Veeva Systems Inc.

(VEEV) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 72), +512. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VEEV: +512. 1%, NOW: +35. 2%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (MANH (Technology) and VEEV (Healthcare) and HUBS (Technology) and DSGX (Technology) and NOW (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: MANH is a small-cap quality compounder stock; VEEV is a mid-cap high-growth stock; HUBS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; DSGX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NOW 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.