Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC) vs Guidewire Software, Inc. (GWRE) 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 | GWRE | 22.6% revenue growth vs SSNC's 6.6% |
| Value | SSNC | Lower P/E (11.0x vs 49.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | SSNC | 13.9% net margin vs GWRE's 7.2% |
| Stability / Safety | GWRE | Beta 0.88 vs SSNC's 0.89 |
| Dividends | SSNC | 1.3% yield; 12-year raise streak; GWRE pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | SSNC | -14.3% vs GWRE's -27.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SSNC | 4.4% ROA vs GWRE's 3.5%, ROIC 10.8% vs 2.3% |
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
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.
Guidewire Software is a provider of core software systems for property and casualty insurers worldwide. It generates revenue primarily through software licenses, cloud subscriptions, and implementation services — with its InsuranceSuite platform being the main offering. The company's moat comes from deep industry-specific expertise, high switching costs for insurers, and a comprehensive product ecosystem that creates vendor lock-in.
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 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). GWRE leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
SSNC is the larger business by revenue, generating $6.1B annually — 4.8x GWRE's $1.3B. SSNC is the more profitable business, keeping 13.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GWRE's 7.2%. On growth, GWRE holds the edge at +26.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SSNCSS&C Technologies… | GWREGuidewire Softwar… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.1B | $1.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.1B | $89M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $852M | $92M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.6B | $286M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +48.6% | +63.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +23.2% | +5.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.9% | +7.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +26.4% | +22.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.0% | +26.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +27.7% | +2.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 23.9x trailing earnings, SSNC trades at a 87% valuation discount to GWRE's 179.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SSNC's 12.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GWRE's 189.7x.
| Metric | SSNCSS&C Technologies… | GWREGuidewire Softwar… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $18.3B | $12.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $18.1B | $12.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 23.90x | 179.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.97x | 49.27x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 3.96x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.60x | 189.75x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.92x | 10.22x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.75x | 8.57x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.02x | 41.62x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SSNC delivers a 12.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $6 for GWRE. SSNC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GWRE's 0.49x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GWRE scores 7/9 vs SSNC's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SSNCSS&C Technologies… | GWREGuidewire Softwar… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.2% | +6.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.4% | +3.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.8% | +2.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.5% | +2.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | 0.49x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$224M | $17M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $462M | $699M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $238M | $716M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.27x | 5.92x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in GWRE five years ago would be worth $12,565 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,876 for SSNC. Over the past 12 months, SSNC leads with a -14.3% total return vs GWRE's -27.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GWRE at 27.4% vs SSNC's 10.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SSNCSS&C Technologies… | GWREGuidewire Softwar… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -12.2% | -22.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -14.3% | -27.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +33.2% | +107.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.8% | +25.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +179.4% | +195.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +10.0% | +27.4% |
Risk & Volatility
GWRE is the less volatile stock with a 0.88 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SSNC's 0.89 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 GWRE's 53.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SSNCSS&C Technologies… | GWREGuidewire Softwar… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.89x | 0.88x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $91.07 | $272.60 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $69.00 | $120.75 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +82.7% | +53.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 47.7 | 52.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.6M | 1.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SSNC as "Buy" and GWRE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 74.4% upside for GWRE (target: $254) 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 | SSNCSS&C Technologies… | GWREGuidewire Softwar… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $101.14 | $253.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 24 | 26 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.3% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 12 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.00 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +5.7% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS&C Technologies H… (SSNC) | 100 | 148.13 | +48.1% |
| Guidewire Software,… (GWRE) | 100 | 126.74 | +26.7% |
Guidewire Software,… (GWRE) returned +26% over 5 years vs SS&C Technologies H… (SSNC)'s +19%. A $10,000 investment in GWRE 5 years ago would be worth $12,565 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS&C Technologies H… (SSNC) | $1.5B | $6.3B | +323.4% |
| Guidewire Software,… (GWRE) | $424M | $1.2B | +183.3% |
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.5B (2016) to $6.3B (2025) — a 17.4% CAGR. Guidewire Software, Inc.'s revenue grew from $424M (2016) to $1.2B (2025) — a 12.3% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS&C Technologies H… (SSNC) | 8.8% | 12.7% | +43.7% |
| Guidewire Software,… (GWRE) | 3.5% | 5.8% | +64.5% |
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.'s net margin went from 9% (2016) to 13% (2025). Guidewire Software, Inc.'s net margin went from 4% (2016) to 6% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS&C Technologies H… (SSNC) | 26.1 | 27.8 | +6.5% |
| Guidewire Software,… (GWRE) | 309.4 | 248.2 | -19.8% |
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. has traded in a 21x–107x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~24x. Guidewire Software, Inc. has traded in a 248x–439x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~179x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS&C Technologies H… (SSNC) | 0.64 | 3.15 | +392.2% |
| Guidewire Software,… (GWRE) | 0.2 | 0.81 | +305.0% |
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.64 (2016) to $3.15 (2025) — a 19% CAGR. Guidewire Software, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.20 (2016) to $0.81 (2025) — a 17% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. generated $2B FCF in 2025 (+29% vs 2021). Guidewire Software, Inc. generated $295M FCF in 2025 (+257% vs 2021).
SSNC vs GWRE: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SSNC or GWRE 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 SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC) a "Buy" — based on 24 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 — SSNC or GWRE?
On trailing P/E, SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC) is the cheapest at 23.9x versus Guidewire Software, Inc. at 179.4x. On forward P/E, SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11.0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SSNC or GWRE?
Over the past 5 years, Guidewire Software, Inc. (GWRE) delivered a total return of +25.7%, compared to +18.8% for SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC). A $10,000 investment in GWRE five years ago would be worth approximately $13K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GWRE returned +195.2% versus SSNC's +179.4%. 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 — SSNC or GWRE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Guidewire Software, Inc. (GWRE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.88β versus SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.'s 0.89β — meaning SSNC is approximately 1% more volatile than GWRE 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 49% for Guidewire Software, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SSNC or GWRE?
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC) is the more profitable company, earning 12.7% net margin versus 5.8% for Guidewire Software, 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 3.4% for GWRE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GWRE leads at 62.5%, 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 SSNC or GWRE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC) trades at 11.0x forward P/E versus 49.3x for Guidewire Software, Inc. — 38.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GWRE: 74.4% to $253.50.
07Which pays a better dividend — SSNC or GWRE?
In this comparison, SSNC (1.3% yield) pays a dividend. GWRE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is SSNC or GWRE 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%, GWRE: +195.2%), 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 SSNC and GWRE?
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 GWRE 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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