UPLD vs MANH vs HUBS vs NCNO vs AMZN

For growth investors, HubSpot, Inc.

(HUBS) is the stronger pick with 19. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -21. 1% for Upland Software, Inc. (UPLD). Amazon. com, Inc. (AMZN) offers the better valuation at 37. 8x trailing P/E (34. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Manhattan Associates, Inc. (MANH) a "Buy" — based on 15 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.

On trailing P/E, Amazon.

com, Inc. (AMZN) is the cheapest at 37. 8x versus HubSpot, Inc. at 284. 1x. On forward P/E, HubSpot, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Amazon. com, Inc. wins at 1. 24x versus Manhattan Associates, Inc. 's 1. 25x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Amazon.

com, Inc. (AMZN) delivered a total return of +64. 8%, compared to -97. 8% for Upland Software, Inc. (UPLD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AMZN returned +697. 8% versus UPLD's -86. 1%. 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), Manhattan Associates, Inc.

(MANH) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 10β versus Upland Software, Inc. 's 1. 88β — meaning UPLD is approximately 71% more volatile than MANH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, nCino, Inc. (NCNO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 22% versus 3% for Upland Software, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(HUBS) is pulling ahead at 19. 2% versus -21. 1% for Upland Software, Inc. (UPLD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: HubSpot, Inc. grew EPS 863. 0% year-over-year, compared to 2. 6% for Manhattan Associates, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NCNO leads at 25. 4% 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.

Manhattan Associates, Inc.

(MANH) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 3% net margin versus -17. 9% for Upland Software, Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MANH leads at 26. 1% versus -3. 4% for NCNO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HUBS leads at 83. 8%, 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.

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, Amazon. com, Inc. (AMZN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 24x versus Manhattan Associates, Inc. 's 1. 25x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, HubSpot, Inc. (HUBS) trades at 19. 6x forward P/E versus 34. 8x for Amazon. com, Inc. — 15. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NCNO: 81. 8% to $32. 33.

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, HubSpot, Inc.

(HUBS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 18), +469. 1% 10Y return). Upland Software, Inc. (UPLD) carries a higher beta of 1. 88 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HUBS: +469. 1%, UPLD: -86. 1%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (UPLD (Technology) and MANH (Technology) and HUBS (Technology) and NCNO (Technology) and AMZN (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: UPLD is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MANH is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HUBS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; NCNO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AMZN is a mega-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.