MANH vs WMS vs NCNO vs ORCL vs AMZN

For growth investors, nCino, Inc.

(NCNO) is the stronger pick with 13. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 0% for Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (WMS). Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (WMS) offers the better valuation at 25. 0x trailing P/E (23. 7x 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, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.

(WMS) is the cheapest at 25. 0x versus Oracle Corporation at 44. 8x. On forward P/E, nCino, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 6x — 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: Amazon. com, Inc. wins at 1. 24x versus Oracle Corporation's 3. 66x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) delivered a total return of +151.

8%, compared to -68. 6% for nCino, Inc. (NCNO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AMZN returned +697. 8% versus NCNO's -80. 6%. 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), Manhattan Associates, Inc.

(MANH) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 10β versus Oracle Corporation's 1. 59β — meaning ORCL is approximately 44% more volatile than MANH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, nCino, Inc. (NCNO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 22% versus 5% for Oracle Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(NCNO) is pulling ahead at 13. 5% versus 1. 0% for Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (WMS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Amazon. com, Inc. grew EPS 29. 7% year-over-year, compared to -10. 7% for Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NCNO leads at 25. 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.

Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the more profitable company, earning 21.

7% net margin versus -7. 0% for nCino, Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ORCL leads at 30. 8% versus -3. 4% for NCNO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ORCL leads at 70. 5%, 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, Amazon. com, Inc. (AMZN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 24x versus Oracle Corporation's 3. 66x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, nCino, Inc. (NCNO) trades at 19. 6x forward P/E versus 34. 8x for Amazon. com, Inc. — 15. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NCNO: 81. 8% to $32. 33.

In this comparison, ORCL (0.

9% yield), WMS (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. MANH, NCNO, AMZN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0.

9% yield, +425. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ORCL: +425. 1%, NCNO: -80. 6%), 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 WMS (Industrials) and NCNO (Technology) and ORCL (Technology) and AMZN (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

ORCL pays a dividend while MANH, WMS, NCNO, AMZN do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.