XRX vs HPQ

For growth investors, Xerox Holdings Corporation (XRX) is the stronger pick with 12.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 2% for HP Inc. (HPQ). HP Inc. (HPQ) offers the better valuation at 8. 1x trailing P/E (7. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HP Inc. (HPQ) a "Hold" — based on 52 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 forward P/E, Xerox Holdings Corporation is actually cheaper at 5.

7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, HP Inc.

(HPQ) delivered a total return of -23. 6%, compared to -72. 9% for Xerox Holdings Corporation (XRX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HPQ returned +158. 0% versus XRX's -42. 2%. 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), HP Inc.

(HPQ) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 02β versus Xerox Holdings Corporation's 2. 68β — meaning XRX is approximately 163% more volatile than HPQ relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Xerox Holdings Corporation (XRX) is pulling ahead at 12.

9% versus 3. 2% for HP Inc. (HPQ). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Xerox Holdings Corporation grew EPS 23. 3% year-over-year, compared to -5. 7% for HP Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, XRX leads at -0. 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.

HP Inc.

(HPQ) is the more profitable company, earning 4. 6% net margin versus -14. 7% for Xerox Holdings Corporation — meaning it keeps 4. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HPQ leads at 6. 6% versus -0. 8% for XRX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — XRX leads at 27. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Xerox Holdings Corporation (XRX) trades at 5.

7x forward P/E versus 7. 5x for HP Inc. — 1. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for XRX: 291. 2% to $10. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Xerox Holdings Corporation (XRX) offers the highest yield at 21. 4%, versus 5. 3% for HP Inc. (HPQ).

For long-horizon retirement investors, HP Inc.

(HPQ) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 02), 5. 3% yield, +158. 0% 10Y return). Xerox Holdings Corporation (XRX) carries a higher beta of 2. 68 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HPQ: +158. 0%, XRX: -42. 2%), 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 Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: XRX is a small-cap income-oriented stock; HPQ is a mid-cap deep-value 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.