Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) vs SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | QTWO | 14.1% revenue growth vs SSNC's 6.6% |
| Value | SSNC | Lower P/E (11.0x vs 16.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | SSNC | 13.9% net margin vs QTWO's 4.1% |
| Stability / Safety | SSNC | Beta 0.89 vs QTWO's 1.30, lower leverage |
| Dividends | SSNC | 1.3% yield; 12-year raise streak; QTWO pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | SSNC | -14.3% vs QTWO's -44.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SSNC | 4.4% ROA vs QTWO's 2.2%, ROIC 10.8% vs 4.5% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Q2 Holdings is a cloud-based digital banking platform provider for regional and community banks and credit unions in the United States. It generates revenue primarily through subscription fees for its software-as-a-service platform — which includes digital banking, lending, and account opening solutions — with additional income from professional services and transaction-based fees. The company's moat stems from its deep integration with core banking systems, regulatory compliance expertise, and the high switching costs for financial institutions once they adopt its comprehensive digital ecosystem.
SS&C Technologies is a financial technology company that provides specialized software and software-enabled services to the financial services and healthcare industries. It generates revenue primarily through recurring software licensing fees and service contracts — with its financial services segment contributing roughly 90% of revenue — while its healthcare solutions make up the remainder. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep domain expertise and comprehensive technology stack that creates high switching costs for clients who rely on its systems for mission-critical operations.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
SSNC leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Valuation Metrics and Profitability & Efficiency. 1 category is tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
SSNC is the larger business by revenue, generating $6.1B annually — 8.0x QTWO's $770M. SSNC is the more profitable business, keeping 13.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to QTWO's 4.1%. On growth, QTWO holds the edge at +15.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | QTWOQ2 Holdings, Inc. | SSNCSS&C Technologies… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $770M | $6.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $73M | $2.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $32M | $852M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $164M | $1.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +53.4% | +48.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +2.8% | +23.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.1% | +13.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +21.3% | +26.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.2% | +7.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.1% | +27.7% |
Valuation Metrics
At 23.9x trailing earnings, SSNC trades at a 60% valuation discount to QTWO's 60.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SSNC's 12.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than QTWO's 74.9x.
| Metric | QTWOQ2 Holdings, Inc. | SSNCSS&C Technologies… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.0B | $18.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.0B | $18.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 60.15x | 23.90x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.49x | 10.97x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.96x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 74.85x | 12.60x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.78x | 2.92x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.73x | 2.75x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.45x | 11.02x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SSNC delivers a 12.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $5 for QTWO. SSNC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to QTWO's 0.52x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), QTWO scores 7/9 vs SSNC's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | QTWOQ2 Holdings, Inc. | SSNCSS&C Technologies… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.1% | +12.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.2% | +4.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.5% | +10.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.9% | +9.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.52x | 0.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$22M | -$224M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $368M | $462M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $346M | $238M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 7.72x | 3.27x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SSNC five years ago would be worth $11,876 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,850 for QTWO. Over the past 12 months, SSNC leads with a -14.3% total return vs QTWO's -44.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors QTWO at 14.2% vs SSNC's 10.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | QTWOQ2 Holdings, Inc. | SSNCSS&C Technologies… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -30.7% | -12.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -44.9% | -14.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +49.1% | +33.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -61.5% | +18.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +137.4% | +179.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.2% | +10.0% |
Risk & Volatility
SSNC is the less volatile stock with a 0.89 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than QTWO's 1.30 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SSNC currently trades 82.7% from its 52-week high vs QTWO's 49.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | QTWOQ2 Holdings, Inc. | SSNCSS&C Technologies… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.30x | 0.89x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $96.68 | $91.07 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $46.16 | $69.00 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +49.8% | +82.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 25.1 | 47.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 705K | 1.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates QTWO as "Buy" and SSNC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 58.8% upside for QTWO (target: $76) vs 34.3% for SSNC (target: $101). SSNC is the only dividend payer here at 1.33% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | QTWOQ2 Holdings, Inc. | SSNCSS&C Technologies… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $76.40 | $101.14 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 32 | 24 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 12 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.2% | +5.7% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) | 100 | 77.62 | -22.4% |
| SS&C Technologies H… (SSNC) | 100 | 142.65 | +42.7% |
SS&C Technologies H… (SSNC) returned +19% over 5 years vs Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO)'s -62%. A $10,000 investment in SSNC 5 years ago would be worth $11,876 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) | $150M | $795M | +429.1% |
| SS&C Technologies H… (SSNC) | $1.5B | $6.3B | +323.4% |
Q2 Holdings, Inc.'s revenue grew from $150M (2016) to $795M (2025) — a 20.3% CAGR. SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.5B (2016) to $6.3B (2025) — a 17.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) | -24.2% | 6.5% | +127.0% |
| SS&C Technologies H… (SSNC) | 8.8% | 12.7% | +43.7% |
Q2 Holdings, Inc.'s net margin went from -24% (2016) to 7% (2025). SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.'s net margin went from 9% (2016) to 13% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS&C Technologies H… (SSNC) | 26.1 | 27.8 | +6.5% |
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. has traded in a 21x–107x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~24x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) | -0.92 | 0.8 | +187.0% |
| SS&C Technologies H… (SSNC) | 0.64 | 3.15 | +392.2% |
Q2 Holdings, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.92 (2016) to $0.80 (2025). SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.64 (2016) to $3.15 (2025) — a 19% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Q2 Holdings, Inc. generated $195M FCF in 2025 (+3457% vs 2021). SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. generated $2B FCF in 2025 (+29% vs 2021).
QTWO vs SSNC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is QTWO or SSNC a better buy right now?
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC) offers the better valuation at 23.9x trailing P/E (11.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) a "Buy" — based on 32 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 — QTWO or SSNC?
On trailing P/E, SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC) is the cheapest at 23.9x versus Q2 Holdings, Inc. at 60.1x. On forward P/E, SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11.0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — QTWO or SSNC?
Over the past 5 years, SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC) delivered a total return of +18.8%, compared to -61.5% for Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO). A $10,000 investment in SSNC five years ago would be worth approximately $12K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SSNC returned +179.4% versus QTWO's +137.4%. 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 — QTWO or SSNC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.89β versus Q2 Holdings, Inc.'s 1.30β — meaning QTWO is approximately 46% more volatile than SSNC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 52% for Q2 Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — QTWO or SSNC?
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC) is the more profitable company, earning 12.7% net margin versus 6.5% for Q2 Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SSNC leads at 22.9% versus 5.0% for QTWO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — QTWO leads at 54.1%, 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.
06Is QTWO or SSNC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC) trades at 11.0x forward P/E versus 16.5x for Q2 Holdings, Inc. — 5.5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for QTWO: 58.8% to $76.40.
07Which pays a better dividend — QTWO or SSNC?
In this comparison, SSNC (1.3% yield) pays a dividend. QTWO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is QTWO or SSNC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.89), 1.3% yield, +179.4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SSNC: +179.4%, QTWO: +137.4%), 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.
09What are the main differences between QTWO and SSNC?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. SSNC pays a dividend while QTWO does 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.
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