PLTR
Palantir Technologies Inc.
Software - Infrastructure
Market Cap$306.57B
5Y Perf.+1308.3%
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Stock Comparison
PLTR vs DDOG
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
DDOG
Datadog, Inc.
Software - Application
Market Cap$46.77B
5Y Perf.+40.7%
PLTR vs DDOG — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PLTR | DDOG |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Infrastructure | Software - Application |
| Market Cap | $306.57B | $46.77B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $5.22B | $3.43B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.28B | $108M |
| Gross Margin | 84.1% | 79.9% |
| Operating Margin | 38.1% | -1.3% |
| Forward P/E | 104.6x | 67.0x |
| Total Debt | $229M | $1.54B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.42B | $401M |
PLTR vs DDOG — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PLTR
DDOG
| Stock | Sep 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palantir Technologi… (PLTR) | 100 | 1408.3 | +1308.3% |
| Datadog, Inc. (DDOG) | 100 | 140.7 | +40.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PLTR vs DDOG
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: PLTR and DDOG are tied at the top with 3 categories each — the right choice depends on your priorities. Datadog, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
PLTR
Palantir Technologies Inc.
The Growth Play
PLTR has the current edge in this matchup, primarily because of its strength in growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 56.2%, EPS growth 231.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 32.9%
- 13.1% 10Y total return vs DDOG's 282.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.91, Low D/E 3.1%, current ratio 7.11x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
DDOG
Datadog, Inc.
The Income Pick
DDOG is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and defensive.
- beta 1.40
- Beta 1.40, current ratio 3.38x
- Lower P/E (67.0x vs 104.6x)
Best for: income & stability and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PLTR | 56.2% revenue growth vs DDOG's 27.7% |
| Value | DDOG | Lower P/E (67.0x vs 104.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | PLTR | 43.7% margin vs DDOG's 3.1% |
| Stability / Safety | DDOG | Beta 1.40 vs PLTR's 1.91 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | DDOG | +35.5% vs PLTR's +22.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PLTR | 26.4% ROA vs DDOG's 1.6%, ROIC 22.3% vs -0.8% |
PLTR vs DDOG — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
Segment breakdown not available.
PLTR vs DDOG — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLPLTRLAGGINGDDOG
DDOGDatadog, Inc.
2leads
PLTRPalantir Technologies…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs DDOGMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
PLTR6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
DDOG4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
PLTR8/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
PLTR4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
DDOG2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PLTR leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PLTR is the larger business by revenue, generating $5.2B annually — 1.5x DDOG's $3.4B. PLTR is the more profitable business, keeping 43.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to DDOG's 3.1%. On growth, PLTR holds the edge at +84.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PLTRPalantir Technolo… | DDOGDatadog, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.2B | $3.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.0B | $79M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.3B | $108M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.7B | $1.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +84.1% | +79.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +38.1% | -1.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +43.7% | +3.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +51.5% | +29.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +84.7% | +29.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.1% | 0.0% |
PLTR leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
DDOG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 212.4x trailing earnings, PLTR trades at a 56% valuation discount to DDOG's 479.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PLTR's 212.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than DDOG's 612.9x.
| Metric | PLTRPalantir Technolo… | DDOGDatadog, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $306.6B | $46.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $305.4B | $47.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 212.36x | 479.03x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 104.56x | 66.99x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 212.04x | 612.92x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 68.50x | 13.65x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 45.83x | 14.00x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 145.94x | 46.74x |
DDOG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PLTR leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PLTR delivers a 31.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $32 in annual profit, vs $3 for DDOG. PLTR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to DDOG's 0.41x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PLTR scores 8/9 vs DDOG's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | PLTRPalantir Technolo… | DDOGDatadog, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +31.7% | +2.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +26.4% | +1.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +22.3% | -0.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +21.6% | -1.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | 0.41x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$1.2B | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.4B | $401M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $229M | $1.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 4.47x |
PLTR leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PLTR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PLTR five years ago would be worth $66,594 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $20,139 for DDOG. Over the past 12 months, DDOG leads with a +35.5% total return vs PLTR's +22.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PLTR at 158.6% vs DDOG's 22.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PLTRPalantir Technolo… | DDOGDatadog, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -20.3% | +7.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +22.9% | +35.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1628.5% | +83.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +565.9% | +101.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1308.3% | +282.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +158.6% | +22.3% |
PLTR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
DDOG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
DDOG is the less volatile stock with a 1.40 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PLTR's 1.91 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. DDOG currently trades 71.3% from its 52-week high vs PLTR's 64.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PLTRPalantir Technolo… | DDOGDatadog, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.91x | 1.40x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $207.52 | $201.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $105.32 | $98.01 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +64.5% | +71.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.9 | 69.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 46.4M | 4.6M |
DDOG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PLTR as "Hold" and DDOG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 45.4% upside for PLTR (target: $195) vs 21.5% for DDOG (target: $175).
| Metric | PLTRPalantir Technolo… | DDOGDatadog, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $194.53 | $174.63 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 26 | 47 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
PLTR leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). DDOG leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Best OverallPalantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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PLTR vs DDOG: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PLTR or DDOG a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Palantir Technologies Inc.
(PLTR) is the stronger pick with 56. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 27. 7% for Datadog, Inc. (DDOG). Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) offers the better valuation at 212. 4x trailing P/E (104. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Datadog, Inc. (DDOG) a "Buy" — based on 47 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 — PLTR or DDOG?
On trailing P/E, Palantir Technologies Inc.
(PLTR) is the cheapest at 212. 4x versus Datadog, Inc. at 479. 0x. On forward P/E, Datadog, Inc. is actually cheaper at 67. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PLTR or DDOG?
Over the past 5 years, Palantir Technologies Inc.
(PLTR) delivered a total return of +565. 9%, compared to +101. 4% for Datadog, Inc. (DDOG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PLTR returned +1308% versus DDOG's +282. 7%. 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 — PLTR or DDOG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Datadog, Inc.
(DDOG) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 40β versus Palantir Technologies Inc. 's 1. 91β — meaning PLTR is approximately 36% more volatile than DDOG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 41% for Datadog, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PLTR or DDOG?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Palantir Technologies Inc.
(PLTR) is pulling ahead at 56. 2% versus 27. 7% for Datadog, Inc. (DDOG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Palantir Technologies Inc. grew EPS 231. 6% year-over-year, compared to -41. 2% for Datadog, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PLTR leads at 32. 9% 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 — PLTR or DDOG?
Palantir Technologies Inc.
(PLTR) is the more profitable company, earning 36. 3% net margin versus 3. 1% for Datadog, Inc. — meaning it keeps 36. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLTR leads at 31. 6% versus -1. 3% for DDOG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLTR leads at 82. 4%, 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 PLTR or DDOG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Datadog, Inc.
(DDOG) trades at 67. 0x forward P/E versus 104. 6x for Palantir Technologies Inc. — 37. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PLTR: 45. 4% to $194. 53.
08Which pays a better dividend — PLTR or DDOG?
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 PLTR or DDOG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Palantir Technologies Inc.
(PLTR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1308% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PLTR: +1308%, DDOG: +282. 7%), 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 PLTR and DDOG?
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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Revenue Growth>
%
(PLTR: 84.7% · DDOG: 29.2%)Net Margin>
%
(PLTR: 43.7% · DDOG: 3.1%)P/E Ratio<
x
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