QLYS vs RPD

For growth investors, Qualys, Inc.

(QLYS) is the stronger pick with 10. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 9% for Rapid7, Inc. (RPD). Qualys, Inc. (QLYS) offers the better valuation at 16. 7x trailing P/E (12. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Qualys, Inc. (QLYS) a "Hold" — based on 48 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, Qualys, Inc.

(QLYS) is the cheapest at 16. 7x versus Rapid7, Inc. at 18. 3x. On forward P/E, Rapid7, Inc. is actually cheaper at 4. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Qualys, Inc.

(QLYS) delivered a total return of -7. 5%, compared to -91. 1% for Rapid7, Inc. (RPD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: QLYS returned +252. 6% versus RPD's -42. 4%. 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), Qualys, Inc.

(QLYS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 53β versus Rapid7, Inc. 's 0. 92β — meaning RPD is approximately 74% more volatile than QLYS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Qualys, Inc. (QLYS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 7% for Rapid7, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(QLYS) is pulling ahead at 10. 1% versus 1. 9% for Rapid7, Inc. (RPD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Qualys, Inc. grew EPS 17. 0% year-over-year, compared to -10. 0% for Rapid7, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, QLYS leads at 11. 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.

Qualys, Inc.

(QLYS) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 6% net margin versus 2. 7% for Rapid7, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: QLYS leads at 33. 2% versus 1. 3% for RPD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — QLYS leads at 82. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Rapid7, Inc.

(RPD) trades at 4. 2x forward P/E versus 12. 3x for Qualys, Inc. — 8. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RPD: 49. 5% to $9. 82.

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, Qualys, Inc.

(QLYS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 53), +252. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (QLYS: +252. 6%, RPD: -42. 4%), 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.

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: QLYS is a small-cap deep-value stock; RPD is a small-cap quality compounder 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.