Compare QXO, Inc. (QXO) vs Shopify Inc. (SHOP) Stock

Shopify Inc. (SHOP) offers the better valuation at 128.4x trailing P/E (65.9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate QXO, Inc. (QXO) a "Buy" — based on 3 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 forward P/E, QXO, Inc. is actually cheaper at 61.6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Shopify Inc. (SHOP) delivered a total return of -7.8%, compared to -85.8% for QXO, Inc. (QXO). A $10,000 investment in SHOP five years ago would be worth approximately $9K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SHOP returned +52.9% versus QXO's -47.8%. 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), QXO, Inc. (QXO) is the lower-risk stock at 1.25β versus Shopify Inc.'s 2.23β — meaning SHOP is approximately 79% more volatile than QXO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Shopify Inc. (SHOP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 46% for QXO, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

Shopify Inc. (SHOP) is the more profitable company, earning 10.7% net margin versus -4.1% for QXO, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SHOP leads at 12.7% versus -3.6% for QXO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SHOP leads at 48.1%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, QXO, Inc. (QXO) trades at 61.6x forward P/E versus 65.9x for Shopify Inc. — 4.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SHOP: 36.8% to $165.16.

In this comparison, QXO (71.4% yield) pays a dividend. SHOP does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, QXO, Inc. (QXO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.25), 71.4% yield). Shopify Inc. (SHOP) carries a higher beta of 2.23 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (QXO: -47.8%, SHOP: +52.9%), 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 (QXO (Industrials) and SHOP (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. In terms of investment character: QXO is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; SHOP is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. QXO pays a dividend while SHOP 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.