SPT vs MANH vs HUBS vs WMS

For growth investors, HubSpot, Inc.

(HUBS) is the stronger pick with 19. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 0% for Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (WMS). Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (WMS) offers the better valuation at 25. 0x trailing P/E (23. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sprout Social, Inc. (SPT) a "Buy" — based on 16 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, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.

(WMS) is the cheapest at 25. 0x versus HubSpot, Inc. at 284. 1x. On forward P/E, Sprout Social, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.

(WMS) delivered a total return of +27. 2%, compared to -89. 3% for Sprout Social, Inc. (SPT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WMS returned +549. 9% versus SPT's -59. 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), Manhattan Associates, Inc.

(MANH) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 10β versus Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. 's 1. 32β — meaning WMS is approximately 21% more volatile than MANH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, HubSpot, Inc. (HUBS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 88% for Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(HUBS) is pulling ahead at 19. 2% versus 1. 0% for Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (WMS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: HubSpot, Inc. grew EPS 863. 0% year-over-year, compared to -10. 7% for Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HUBS leads at 21. 8% 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.

Manhattan Associates, Inc.

(MANH) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 3% net margin versus -9. 5% for Sprout Social, Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MANH leads at 26. 1% versus -9. 5% for SPT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HUBS leads at 83. 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, Sprout Social, Inc.

(SPT) trades at 7. 4x forward P/E versus 26. 8x for Manhattan Associates, Inc. — 19. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SPT: 744. 1% to $57. 40.

In this comparison, WMS (0.

4% yield) pays a dividend. SPT, MANH, HUBS do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, HubSpot, Inc.

(HUBS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 18), +469. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HUBS: +469. 1%, SPT: -59. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (SPT (Technology) and MANH (Technology) and HUBS (Technology) and WMS (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: SPT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MANH is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HUBS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; WMS 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.