Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare MicroStrategy Incorporated Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock (STRC) vs Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SNOW | 29.2% revenue growth vs STRC's -6.6% |
| Value | STRC | Lower P/E (1.4x vs 95.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | STRC | 16.7% net margin vs SNOW's -28.4% |
| Stability / Safety | STRC | Beta 0.57 vs SNOW's 1.49, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | STRC | +19.8% vs SNOW's -4.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | STRC | 10.8% ROA vs SNOW's -14.6%, ROIC -9.3% vs -43.1% |
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
MicroStrategy is an enterprise analytics and mobility software company that provides business intelligence platforms to help organizations analyze and visualize their data. It generates revenue primarily through software licensing (~60%) and cloud-based subscription services (~40%), supplemented by related consulting and support services. The company's key advantage is its long-standing expertise in enterprise analytics — particularly its HyperIntelligence platform — and its strategic pivot to become a major corporate holder of Bitcoin, which has created significant brand recognition and financial optionality.
Snowflake provides a cloud-native data platform that enables organizations to store, process, and analyze data across multiple cloud providers. It generates revenue primarily through consumption-based pricing for compute, storage, and data transfer services — with compute typically representing the largest portion. Its key advantage is a unique architecture that separates storage and compute, allowing customers to scale each independently while avoiding vendor lock-in through multi-cloud compatibility.
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
STRC leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Valuation Metrics.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
SNOW is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.7B annually — 9.9x STRC's $475M. STRC is the more profitable business, keeping 16.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SNOW's -28.4%. On growth, SNOW holds the edge at +30.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | STRCMicroStrategy Inc… | SNOWSnowflake Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $475M | $4.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $11.0B | -$1.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $7.9B | -$1.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$18.1B | $1.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.1% | +67.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +23.1% | -30.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +16.7% | -28.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -38.2% | +23.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +10.9% | +30.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.9% | +9.1% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | STRCMicroStrategy Inc… | SNOWSnowflake Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.4B | $57.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $10.6B | $57.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -16.50x | -42.64x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 1.38x | 95.01x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 7.31x | 12.31x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.06x | 28.15x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 51.48x |
Profitability & Efficiency
STRC delivers a 13.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $-66 for SNOW. STRC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.40x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SNOW's 1.36x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SNOW scores 5/9 vs STRC's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | STRCMicroStrategy Inc… | SNOWSnowflake Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +13.6% | -65.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +10.8% | -14.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -9.3% | -43.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -12.4% | -27.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.40x | 1.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $7.2B | -$87M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $38M | $2.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $7.3B | $2.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 156.03x | -115.44x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in STRC five years ago would be worth $11,977 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,188 for SNOW. Over the past 12 months, STRC leads with a +19.8% total return vs SNOW's -4.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors STRC at 6.2% vs SNOW's 2.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | STRCMicroStrategy Inc… | SNOWSnowflake Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +2.2% | -22.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +19.8% | -4.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.8% | +9.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.8% | -38.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.8% | -33.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.2% | +2.9% |
Risk & Volatility
STRC is the less volatile stock with a 0.57 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SNOW's 1.49 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. STRC currently trades 99.6% from its 52-week high vs SNOW's 60.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | STRCMicroStrategy Inc… | SNOWSnowflake Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.57x | 1.49x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $100.42 | $280.67 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $88.00 | $120.10 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.6% | +60.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.2 | 43.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 971K | 4.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates STRC as "Hold" and SNOW as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 152.0% upside for STRC (target: $252) vs 49.4% for SNOW (target: $252).
| Metric | STRCMicroStrategy Inc… | SNOWSnowflake Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $252.00 | $251.60 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 1 | 49 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.2% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| MicroStrategy Incor… (STRC) | $504M | $463M | -8.0% |
| Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) | $97M | $4.7B | +4745.5% |
Chart 2Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| MicroStrategy Incor… (STRC) | 3.6% | -2.5% | -169.7% |
| Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) | -184.2% | -28.4% | +84.6% |
Chart 3EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| MicroStrategy Incor… (STRC) | 0.16 | -6.06 | -3887.5% |
| Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) | -0.75 | -3.95 | -426.7% |
Chart 4Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
MicroStrategy Incorporated Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock generated $-22B FCF in 2024 (-773% vs 2021). Snowflake Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2026 (+1407% vs 2021).
STRC vs SNOW: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is STRC or SNOW a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) a "Buy" — based on 49 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 is the better long-term investment — STRC or SNOW?
Over the past 5 years, MicroStrategy Incorporated Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock (STRC) delivered a total return of +19.8%, compared to -38.1% for Snowflake Inc. (SNOW). A $10,000 investment in STRC five years ago would be worth approximately $12K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STRC returned +19.8% versus SNOW's -33.7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — STRC or SNOW?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), MicroStrategy Incorporated Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock (STRC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.57β versus Snowflake Inc.'s 1.49β — meaning SNOW is approximately 163% more volatile than STRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, MicroStrategy Incorporated Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock (STRC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 40% versus 136% for Snowflake Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — STRC or SNOW?
Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) is the more profitable company, earning -28.4% net margin versus -251.7% for MicroStrategy Incorporated Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock — meaning it keeps -28.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SNOW leads at -30.6% versus -399.8% for STRC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — STRC leads at 72.1%, 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.
05Is STRC or SNOW more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, MicroStrategy Incorporated Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock (STRC) trades at 1.4x forward P/E versus 95.0x for Snowflake Inc. — 93.6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for STRC: 152.0% to $252.00.
06Which pays a better dividend — STRC or SNOW?
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.
07Is STRC or SNOW better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, MicroStrategy Incorporated Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock (STRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.57)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (STRC: +19.8%, SNOW: -33.7%), 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.
08What are the main differences between STRC and SNOW?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.