Software - Infrastructure
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Stock Comparison
TENB vs VRNS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Software - Infrastructure
TENB vs VRNS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Infrastructure | Software - Infrastructure |
| Market Cap | $2.42B | $3.24B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.02B | $660M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-12M | $-137M |
| Gross Margin | 78.2% | 78.1% |
| Operating Margin | 2.9% | -21.9% |
| Forward P/E | 10.9x | 233.2x |
| Total Debt | $466M | $572M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $188M | $202M |
TENB vs VRNS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenable Holdings, I… (TENB) | 100 | 67.7 | -32.3% |
| Varonis Systems, In… (VRNS) | 100 | 98.2 | -1.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: TENB vs VRNS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
TENB carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 11.0%, EPS growth 3.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 13.5%
- Lower P/E (10.9x vs 233.2x)
- -1.2% margin vs VRNS's -20.7%
VRNS is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- beta 0.95
- 303.7% 10Y total return vs TENB's -30.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.95, Low D/E 95.5%, current ratio 1.97x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 13.2% revenue growth vs TENB's 11.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (10.9x vs 233.2x) | |
| Quality / Margins | -1.2% margin vs VRNS's -20.7% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.95 vs TENB's 1.12, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | -32.0% vs VRNS's -37.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -0.7% ROA vs VRNS's -8.2%, ROIC 0.2% vs -11.0% |
TENB vs VRNS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
TENB vs VRNS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TENB leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TENB is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.0B annually — 1.5x VRNS's $660M. TENB is the more profitable business, keeping -1.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VRNS's -20.7%. On growth, VRNS holds the edge at +26.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.0B | $660M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $72M | -$135M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$12M | -$137M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $263M | $120M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +78.2% | +78.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +2.9% | -21.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -1.2% | -20.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +25.7% | +18.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.6% | +26.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +106.3% | 0.0% |
Valuation Metrics
TENB leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.4B | $3.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.7B | $3.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -70.53x | -24.43x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.86x | 233.19x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 62.59x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.42x | 5.20x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.79x | 5.96x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 9.52x | 24.06x |
Profitability & Efficiency
TENB leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
TENB delivers a -3.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-4 in annual profit, vs $-27 for VRNS. VRNS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.96x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to TENB's 1.43x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -3.7% | -27.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.7% | -8.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +0.2% | -11.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +0.1% | -14.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.43x | 0.96x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $278M | $369M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $188M | $202M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $466M | $572M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.02x | -9.01x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
VRNS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in VRNS five years ago would be worth $5,856 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,739 for TENB. Over the past 12 months, TENB leads with a -32.0% total return vs VRNS's -37.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VRNS at 6.0% vs TENB's -16.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -6.9% | -13.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -32.0% | -37.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -42.2% | +19.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -42.6% | -41.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -30.0% | +303.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -16.7% | +6.0% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — TENB and VRNS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VRNS is the less volatile stock with a 0.95 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TENB's 1.12 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. TENB currently trades 59.3% from its 52-week high vs VRNS's 43.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.12x | 0.95x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $35.69 | $63.90 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.73 | $19.70 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +59.3% | +43.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 59.2 | 65.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.0M | 2.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates TENB as "Buy" and VRNS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 32.0% upside for TENB (target: $28) vs 30.4% for VRNS (target: $36).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $27.94 | $36.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 28 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +10.2% | +3.5% |
TENB leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). VRNS leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
TENB vs VRNS: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is TENB or VRNS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Varonis Systems, Inc.
(VRNS) is the stronger pick with 13. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 11. 0% for Tenable Holdings, Inc. (TENB). Analysts rate Tenable Holdings, Inc. (TENB) a "Buy" — based on 28 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 — TENB or VRNS?
Over the past 5 years, Varonis Systems, Inc.
(VRNS) delivered a total return of -41. 4%, compared to -42. 6% for Tenable Holdings, Inc. (TENB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VRNS returned +303. 7% versus TENB's -30. 0%. 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 — TENB or VRNS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Varonis Systems, Inc.
(VRNS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 95β versus Tenable Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 12β — meaning TENB is approximately 19% more volatile than VRNS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Varonis Systems, Inc. (VRNS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 96% versus 143% for Tenable Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — TENB or VRNS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Varonis Systems, Inc.
(VRNS) is pulling ahead at 13. 2% versus 11. 0% for Tenable Holdings, Inc. (TENB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Tenable Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 3. 2% year-over-year, compared to -31. 4% for Varonis Systems, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TENB leads at 13. 5% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — TENB or VRNS?
Tenable Holdings, Inc.
(TENB) is the more profitable company, earning -3. 6% net margin versus -20. 7% for Varonis Systems, Inc. — meaning it keeps -3. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TENB leads at 0. 1% versus -23. 5% for VRNS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VRNS leads at 79. 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.
06Is TENB or VRNS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Tenable Holdings, Inc.
(TENB) trades at 10. 9x forward P/E versus 233. 2x for Varonis Systems, Inc. — 222. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TENB: 32. 0% to $27. 94.
07Which pays a better dividend — TENB or VRNS?
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.
08Is TENB or VRNS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Varonis Systems, Inc.
(VRNS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 95), +303. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VRNS: +303. 7%, TENB: -30. 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.
09What are the main differences between TENB and VRNS?
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 outperform both.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.