SE vs CPNG

For growth investors, Sea Limited (SE) is the stronger pick with 28.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 14. 1% for Coupang, Inc. (CPNG). Sea Limited (SE) offers the better valuation at 121. 5x trailing P/E (25. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sea Limited (SE) a "Buy" — based on 44 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, Sea Limited (SE) is the cheapest at 121.

5x versus Coupang, Inc. at 156. 5x. On forward P/E, Sea Limited is actually cheaper at 25. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Coupang, Inc.

(CPNG) delivered a total return of -55. 8%, compared to -63. 1% for Sea Limited (SE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SE returned +455. 5% versus CPNG's -65. 0%. 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), Coupang, Inc.

(CPNG) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 27β versus Sea Limited's 1. 45β — meaning SE is approximately 13% more volatile than CPNG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Sea Limited (SE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 49% versus 100% for Coupang, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Sea Limited (SE) is pulling ahead at 28.

8% versus 14. 1% for Coupang, Inc. (CPNG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sea Limited grew EPS 192. 0% year-over-year, compared to 30. 5% for Coupang, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SE leads at 19. 1% 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.

Sea Limited (SE) is the more profitable company, earning 2.

6% net margin versus 0. 6% for Coupang, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SE leads at 3. 9% versus 1. 4% for CPNG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SE leads at 42. 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, Sea Limited (SE) trades at 25.

1x forward P/E versus 292. 4x for Coupang, Inc. — 267. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SE: 66. 5% to $147. 67.

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, Sea Limited (SE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+455.

5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SE: +455. 5%, CPNG: -65. 0%), 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 Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: SE is a mid-cap high-growth stock; CPNG is a mid-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.