UDMY vs SKIL

For growth investors, Udemy, Inc.

(UDMY) is the stronger pick with 0. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 0% for Skillsoft Corp. (SKIL). Udemy, Inc. (UDMY) offers the better valuation at 195. 7x trailing P/E (10. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Udemy, Inc. (UDMY) a "Hold" — based on 12 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.

Over the past 5 years, Udemy, Inc.

(UDMY) delivered a total return of -81. 7%, compared to -95. 9% for Skillsoft Corp. (SKIL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UDMY returned -81. 7% versus SKIL's -95. 8%. 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), Udemy, Inc.

(UDMY) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 21β versus Skillsoft Corp. 's 1. 69β — meaning SKIL is approximately 39% more volatile than UDMY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Udemy, Inc. (UDMY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 6% for Skillsoft Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(UDMY) is pulling ahead at 0. 4% versus -4. 0% for Skillsoft Corp. (SKIL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Udemy, Inc. grew EPS 104. 6% year-over-year, compared to 65. 7% for Skillsoft Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, UDMY leads at 7. 9% 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.

Udemy, Inc.

(UDMY) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 5% net margin versus -23. 0% for Skillsoft Corp. — meaning it keeps 0. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UDMY leads at -0. 3% versus -13. 1% for SKIL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SKIL leads at 74. 6%, 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.

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, Udemy, Inc.

(UDMY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 21)). Skillsoft Corp. (SKIL) carries a higher beta of 1. 69 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (UDMY: -81. 7%, SKIL: -95. 8%), 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 Defensive 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.