Z vs COMP

For growth investors, Compass, Inc.

(COMP) is the stronger pick with 23. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 15. 5% for Zillow Group, Inc. Class C (Z). Zillow Group, Inc. Class C (Z) offers the better valuation at 483. 8x trailing P/E (19. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Compass, Inc. (COMP) a "Buy" — based on 10 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, Zillow Group, Inc.

Class C is actually cheaper at 19. 7x.

Over the past 5 years, Compass, Inc.

(COMP) delivered a total return of -57. 5%, compared to -61. 7% for Zillow Group, Inc. Class C (Z). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: Z returned +62. 9% versus COMP's -64. 0%. 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), Zillow Group, Inc.

Class C (Z) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 32β versus Compass, Inc. 's 1. 79β — meaning COMP is approximately 36% more volatile than Z relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Zillow Group, Inc. Class C (Z) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 58% for Compass, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(COMP) is pulling ahead at 23. 7% versus 15. 5% for Zillow Group, Inc. Class C (Z). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Zillow Group, Inc. Class C grew EPS 118. 8% year-over-year, compared to 67. 7% for Compass, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, Z leads at 9. 7% 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.

Zillow Group, Inc.

Class C (Z) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 9% net margin versus -0. 8% for Compass, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: COMP leads at -0. 4% versus -1. 3% for Z. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — Z leads at 74. 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, Zillow Group, Inc.

Class C (Z) trades at 19. 7x forward P/E versus 44. 4x for Compass, Inc. — 24. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COMP: 96. 8% to $14. 29.

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, Zillow Group, Inc.

Class C (Z) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Compass, Inc. (COMP) carries a higher beta of 1. 79 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (Z: +62. 9%, COMP: -64. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (Z (Communication Services) and COMP (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.