Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) vs SAP SE (SAP) vs Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) 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 | CRM | 9.6% revenue growth vs SAP's 3.4% |
| Value | CRM | Lower P/E (16.5x vs 27.8x), PEG 1.35 vs 4.20 |
| Quality / Margins | SAP | 19.9% net margin vs UPBD's 1.8% |
| Stability / Safety | SAP | Beta 0.86 vs UPBD's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | UPBD | 6.9% yield, vs SAP's 1.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | UPBD | -10.9% vs CRM's -34.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SAP | 10.4% ROA vs UPBD's 2.6%, ROIC 16.1% vs 10.4% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Upbound Group operates an omni-channel lease-to-own platform for household durable goods like furniture, electronics, and appliances. It generates revenue primarily through lease-to-own agreements — with its Rent-A-Center and Acima segments driving most of its business — plus franchise fees and installment sales. The company's competitive advantage lies in its dual-channel approach combining physical stores with virtual platforms, serving credit-constrained customers that traditional retailers often overlook.
SAP is a global enterprise software company that provides business applications, technology platforms, and cloud services for organizations worldwide. It generates revenue primarily through software licenses and cloud subscriptions — with cloud services now representing over 40% of total revenue — along with consulting and support services. The company's key advantage is its deep integration across business functions — from finance to supply chain to HR — creating switching costs and network effects within its large enterprise customer base.
Salesforce is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) software company that helps businesses manage sales, service, marketing, and commerce operations. It generates revenue primarily through subscription fees for its SaaS platform—with sales cloud (~30%), service cloud (~25%), and platform/other (~45%) being its main segments. Its competitive moat lies in its massive ecosystem of integrated applications, enterprise data architecture, and high switching costs for customers deeply embedded in its platform.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 3 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
SAP leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). CRM leads in 1 (Financial Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CRM is the larger business by revenue, generating $41.5B annually — 9.1x UPBD's $4.6B. SAP is the more profitable business, keeping 19.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to UPBD's 1.8%. On growth, CRM holds the edge at +12.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | UPBDUpbound Group, In… | SAPSAP SE | CRMSalesforce, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.6B | $36.7B | $41.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $981M | $11.5B | $11.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $84M | $7.3B | $7.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $197M | $8.4B | $14.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +47.9% | +73.3% | +77.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.4% | +27.0% | +21.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.8% | +19.9% | +18.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.3% | +22.9% | +34.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.0% | +2.3% | +12.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -60.0% | +14.7% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 9.7x trailing earnings, UPBD trades at a 66% valuation discount to SAP's 28.5x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), CRM offers better value at 2.04x vs SAP's 4.32x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | UPBDUpbound Group, In… | SAPSAP SE | CRMSalesforce, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.2B | $234.7B | $187.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.8B | $234.5B | $186.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 9.71x | 28.52x | 24.97x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 5.11x | 27.77x | 16.54x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.32x | 2.04x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.07x | 17.84x | 20.95x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.29x | 5.63x | 4.51x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.91x | 4.44x | 3.15x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 25.64x | 25.07x | 13.01x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SAP delivers a 16.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $16 in annual profit, vs $12 for UPBD. CRM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.11x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to UPBD's 2.52x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SAP scores 9/9 vs UPBD's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | UPBDUpbound Group, In… | SAPSAP SE | CRMSalesforce, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.3% | +16.2% | +12.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.6% | +10.4% | +6.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.4% | +16.1% | +10.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +13.7% | +18.3% | +11.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.52x | 0.18x | 0.11x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.5B | -$149M | -$590M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $61M | $8.2B | $7.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.6B | $8.1B | $6.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.20x | 8.94x | 44.14x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SAP five years ago would be worth $17,166 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,789 for UPBD. Over the past 12 months, UPBD leads with a -10.9% total return vs CRM's -34.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SAP at 22.4% vs UPBD's -1.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | UPBDUpbound Group, In… | SAPSAP SE | CRMSalesforce, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +23.6% | -14.9% | -23.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -10.9% | -25.8% | -34.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -3.5% | +83.4% | +21.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -52.1% | +71.7% | -9.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +140.6% | +193.8% | +192.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -1.2% | +22.4% | +6.6% |
Risk & Volatility
SAP is the less volatile stock with a 0.86 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than UPBD's 1.28 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. UPBD currently trades 76.5% from its 52-week high vs CRM's 64.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | UPBDUpbound Group, In… | SAPSAP SE | CRMSalesforce, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.28x | 0.86x | 1.04x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $28.03 | $313.28 | $303.07 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.82 | $189.22 | $174.57 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +76.5% | +64.3% | +64.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.0 | 45.3 | 47.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 587K | 2.4M | 8.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: UPBD as "Buy", SAP as "Buy", CRM as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 106.1% upside for SAP (target: $415) vs 53.5% for CRM (target: $299). For income investors, UPBD offers the higher dividend yield at 6.86% vs CRM's 0.85%.
| Metric | UPBDUpbound Group, In… | SAPSAP SE | CRMSalesforce, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $39.67 | $415.33 | $299.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 43 | 97 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +6.9% | +1.3% | +0.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.47 | $2.24 | $1.66 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.9% | +6.7% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) | 100 | 89.95 | -10.1% |
| SAP SE (SAP) | 100 | 163.78 | +63.8% |
| Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) | 100 | 119.26 | +19.3% |
SAP SE (SAP) returned +72% over 5 years vs Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD)'s -52%. A $10,000 investment in SAP 5 years ago would be worth $17,166 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) | $2.7B | $4.3B | +59.9% |
| SAP SE (SAP) | $23.5B | $35.3B | +50.7% |
| Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) | $8.4B | $41.5B | +394.8% |
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) | 0.2% | 2.9% | +1060.8% |
| SAP SE (SAP) | 17.1% | 19.9% | +16.5% |
| Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) | 3.8% | 18.0% | +366.6% |
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) | 92.5 | 13.2 | -85.7% |
| SAP SE (SAP) | 33.5 | 40.6 | +21.2% |
| Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) | 393.2 | 25 | -93.6% |
Upbound Group, Inc. has traded in a 9x–107x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~10x. SAP SE has traded in a 29x–93x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~29x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) | 0.12 | 2.21 | +1741.7% |
| SAP SE (SAP) | 3.35 | 5.99 | +78.8% |
| Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) | 0.26 | 7.8 | +2900.0% |
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Upbound Group, Inc. generated $48M FCF in 2024 (-85% vs 2021). SAP SE generated $8B FCF in 2025 (+44% vs 2021).
UPBD vs SAP vs CRM: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is UPBD or SAP or CRM a better buy right now?
Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) offers the better valuation at 9.7x trailing P/E (5.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) a "Buy" — based on 20 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 — UPBD or SAP or CRM?
On trailing P/E, Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) is the cheapest at 9.7x versus SAP SE at 28.5x. On forward P/E, Upbound Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 5.1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Salesforce, Inc. wins at 1.35x versus SAP SE's 4.20x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — UPBD or SAP or CRM?
Over the past 5 years, SAP SE (SAP) delivered a total return of +71.7%, compared to -52.1% for Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD). A $10,000 investment in SAP five years ago would be worth approximately $17K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SAP returned +193.8% versus UPBD's +140.6%. 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 — UPBD or SAP or CRM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), SAP SE (SAP) is the lower-risk stock at 0.86β versus Upbound Group, Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning UPBD is approximately 50% more volatile than SAP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 3% for Upbound Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — UPBD or SAP or CRM?
SAP SE (SAP) is the more profitable company, earning 19.9% net margin versus 2.9% for Upbound Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SAP leads at 28.0% versus 6.7% for UPBD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CRM leads at 77.7%, 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 UPBD or SAP or CRM more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1.35x versus SAP SE's 4.20x. A PEG below 1.5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) trades at 5.1x forward P/E versus 27.8x for SAP SE — 22.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SAP: 106.1% to $415.33.
07Which pays a better dividend — UPBD or SAP or CRM?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Upbound Group, Inc. (UPBD) offers the highest yield at 6.9%, versus 0.9% for Salesforce, Inc. (CRM).
08Is UPBD or SAP or CRM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, SAP SE (SAP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.86), 1.3% yield, +193.8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SAP: +193.8%, UPBD: +140.6%), 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 UPBD and SAP and CRM?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. In terms of investment character: UPBD is a small-cap deep-value stock; SAP is a large-cap quality compounder stock; CRM 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.
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