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BSY vs. PLTR: Bentley Systems vs. Palantir Stock Comparison

How do Bentley Systems (BSY) and Palantir (PLTR) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Bentley Systems (BSY) and Palantir (PLTR) are both classified in the Application Software sub-industry within the broader Software industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Palantir (PLTR)
Profile ItemBSYPLTR
NameBentley Systems, Incorporated Class B Common StockPalantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareApplication Software
Market Capitalization13.50 billion USD386.44 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateSeptember 23, 2020September 30, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BSY
PLTR
GSPC
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Palantir (PLTR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Palantir (PLTR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Palantir (PLTR). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBSYPLTR
Total Return (1Y)-2.57%-4.94%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-3.01%109.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.13%47.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BSY
PLTR
GSPC
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Palantir (PLTR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Palantir (PLTR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBSYPLTR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.49%60.50%
Beta (5Y)0.921.63
Max Drawdown (5Y)-53.94%-75.26%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.67M27.20M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BSY and PLTR are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBSYPLTR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.17-0.15
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.25-0.24

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 26.03% and Palantir (PLTR) at 40.91% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

26.03%

Max
53.85%
BSY
26.03%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

40.91%

Max
53.85%
PLTR
40.91%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 50.34% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Bentley Systems (BSY) at 19.57% also retains a top-quartile share.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

19.57%

Max
41.17%
BSY
19.57%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

50.34%

PLTR
50.34%
Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Bentley Systems (BSY) at 29.81% and Palantir (PLTR) at 46.89% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

29.81%

Max
46.89%
BSY
29.81%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

46.89%

PLTR
46.89%
Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBSYPLTR
ROE (TTM)26.03%40.91%
ROA (TTM)7.73%19.31%
Net Margin (TTM)19.57%50.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)29.81%46.89%
Gross Margin (TTM)82.37%84.74%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Bentley Systems (BSY) at 10.99%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 231.06% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Bentley Systems (BSY) at 18.06%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBSYPLTR
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.99%56.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.97%32.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)18.06%231.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)15.62%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) at 7.10 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Bentley Systems (BSY) at 0.65 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

0.65

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
BSY
0.65
Min
0.03

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

7.10

PLTR
7.10
Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Bentley Systems (BSY) at 0.94 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

0.94

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
BSY
0.94
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.02

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
PLTR
0.02
Min
0.00
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBSYPLTR
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.657.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.940.02
Net Debt / EBITDA2.12-3.08

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Bentley Systems (BSY) reports a yield of 0.62%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

0.62%

BSY
0.62%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

PLTR
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Bentley Systems (BSY) reports a payout of 27.72%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

27.72%

BSY
27.72%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

PLTR
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBSYPLTR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.62%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)27.72%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Bentley Systems (BSY) at 44.21 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 112.94 sits in the richer quartile — PLTR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

44.21

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
BSY
44.21
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

112.94

PLTR
112.94
Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Bentley Systems (BSY) at 8.19 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 clears its benchmark range — PLTR looks notably rich on sales.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

8.19

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
BSY
8.19
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

53.02

PLTR
53.02
Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Bentley Systems (BSY) at 10.79 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 34.41 prices even higher, above its industry range.

BSY

Software & Services industry group

10.79

Max
16.63
BSY
10.79
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

34.41

PLTR
34.41
Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Bentley Systems (BSY) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Bentley Systems (BSY) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBSYPLTR
P/E Ratio (TTM)44.21112.94
P/S Ratio (TTM)8.1953.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)10.7934.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.74%0.69%