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PATH vs NICE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Software - Application
PATH vs NICE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Infrastructure | Software - Application |
| Market Cap | $5.99B | $7.72B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.61B | $2.95B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $282M | $613M |
| Gross Margin | 83.2% | 66.4% |
| Operating Margin | 3.5% | 21.9% |
| Forward P/E | 15.9x | 11.4x |
| Total Debt | $71M | $164M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $871M | $379M |
PATH vs NICE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Apr 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| UiPath Inc. (PATH) | 100 | 14.9 | -85.1% |
| NICE Ltd. (NICE) | 100 | 51.8 | -48.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PATH vs NICE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
PATH is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth 12.7%, EPS growth 5.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 15.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.34, Low D/E 3.4%, current ratio 2.48x
- 12.7% revenue growth vs NICE's 8.5%
NICE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.72
- 96.6% 10Y total return vs PATH's -84.5%
- Beta 0.72, current ratio 1.55x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 12.7% revenue growth vs NICE's 8.5% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (11.4x vs 15.9x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 20.8% margin vs PATH's 17.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.72 vs PATH's 1.34 | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | -9.1% vs NICE's -20.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 12.0% ROA vs PATH's 10.0%, ROIC 13.5% vs 3.9% |
PATH vs NICE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
PATH vs NICE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — PATH and NICE each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NICE is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.0B annually — 1.8x PATH's $1.6B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 20.8% (NICE) to 17.5% (PATH). On growth, PATH holds the edge at +13.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.6B | $3.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $74M | $846M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $282M | $613M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $352M | $665M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +83.2% | +66.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.5% | +21.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +17.5% | +20.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +21.9% | +22.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +13.6% | +9.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +111.1% | +57.8% |
Valuation Metrics
NICE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 12.8x trailing earnings, NICE trades at a 38% valuation discount to PATH's 20.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NICE's 8.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PATH's 66.6x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $6.0B | $7.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.2B | $7.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 20.58x | 12.82x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.89x | 11.42x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.48x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 66.62x | 8.72x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.72x | 2.60x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.80x | 2.04x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 17.01x | 10.98x |
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — PATH and NICE each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NICE delivers a 15.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $16 in annual profit, vs $15 for PATH. PATH carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NICE's 0.04x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PATH scores 8/9 vs NICE's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.3% | +15.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +10.0% | +12.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.9% | +13.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.8% | +16.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | 0.04x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$800M | -$216M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $871M | $379M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $71M | $164M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — PATH and NICE each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NICE five years ago would be worth $5,301 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,510 for PATH. Over the past 12 months, PATH leads with a -9.1% total return vs NICE's -20.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PATH at -6.0% vs NICE's -12.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -32.6% | +11.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -9.1% | -20.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -16.9% | -33.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -84.9% | -47.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -84.5% | +96.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -6.0% | -12.6% |
Risk & Volatility
NICE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NICE is the less volatile stock with a 0.72 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PATH's 1.34 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NICE currently trades 69.2% from its 52-week high vs PATH's 53.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.34x | 0.72x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $19.84 | $180.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $9.28 | $94.89 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +53.9% | +69.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.9 | 70.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 30.9M | 588K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PATH as "Hold" and NICE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 47.9% upside for PATH (target: $16) vs 20.7% for NICE (target: $151).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $15.82 | $150.88 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 24 | 23 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +5.5% | +6.4% |
NICE leads in 2 of 6 categories — strongest in Valuation Metrics and Risk & Volatility. 3 categories are tied.
PATH vs NICE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PATH or NICE a better buy right now?
For growth investors, UiPath Inc.
(PATH) is the stronger pick with 12. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 5% for NICE Ltd. (NICE). NICE Ltd. (NICE) offers the better valuation at 12. 8x trailing P/E (11. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate NICE Ltd. (NICE) a "Buy" — based on 23 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 — PATH or NICE?
On trailing P/E, NICE Ltd.
(NICE) is the cheapest at 12. 8x versus UiPath Inc. at 20. 6x. On forward P/E, NICE Ltd. is actually cheaper at 11. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PATH or NICE?
Over the past 5 years, NICE Ltd.
(NICE) delivered a total return of -47. 0%, compared to -84. 9% for UiPath Inc. (PATH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NICE returned +96. 6% versus PATH's -84. 5%. 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 — PATH or NICE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), NICE Ltd.
(NICE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 72β versus UiPath Inc. 's 1. 34β — meaning PATH is approximately 85% more volatile than NICE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, UiPath Inc. (PATH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 4% for NICE Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PATH or NICE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), UiPath Inc.
(PATH) is pulling ahead at 12. 7% versus 8. 5% for NICE Ltd. (NICE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: UiPath Inc. grew EPS 500. 0% year-over-year, compared to 44. 2% for NICE Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PATH leads at 15. 0% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — PATH or NICE?
NICE Ltd.
(NICE) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 8% net margin versus 17. 5% for UiPath Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NICE leads at 22. 2% versus 3. 8% for PATH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PATH leads at 83. 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.
07Is PATH or NICE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, NICE Ltd.
(NICE) trades at 11. 4x forward P/E versus 15. 9x for UiPath Inc. — 4. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PATH: 47. 9% to $15. 82.
08Which pays a better dividend — PATH or NICE?
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.
09Is PATH or NICE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, NICE Ltd.
(NICE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 72)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NICE: +96. 6%, PATH: -84. 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.
10What are the main differences between PATH and NICE?
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: PATH is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NICE is a small-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.
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