GDS vs. GRAB: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at GDS and GRAB, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
GDS trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors a convenient way to access its foreign-listed shares. In contrast, GRAB is a standard domestic listing.
| Symbol | GDS | GRAB |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | GDS Holdings Limited | Grab Holdings Limited |
| Country | China | Singapore |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | IT Services | Ground Transportation |
| Market Capitalization | 6.76 billion USD | 20.51 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGM | NasdaqGS |
| Listing Date | November 2, 2016 | December 1, 2020 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of GDS and GRAB by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | GDS | GRAB |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -4.28% | -1.95% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 11.79% | -0.98% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -4.13% | 1.41% |
| 52-Week Price Return | -19.97% | 51.05% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -11.83% | 2.86% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 37.28% | 6.57% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 10.23M | 25.62M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 8.68M | 35.00M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 62.39% | 39.13% |
| Beta | 1.54 | 0.86 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
GDS
19.12%
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 29.51%
- Q3
- 16.98%
- Median
- 13.47%
- Q1
- 7.93%
- Min
- -3.97%
In the upper quartile for the IT Services industry, GDS’s Return on Equity of 19.12% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
GRAB
1.73%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 22.11%
- Q3
- 13.84%
- Median
- 9.66%
- Q1
- 7.55%
- Min
- 0.36%
GRAB’s Return on Equity of 1.73% is in the lower quartile for the Ground Transportation industry. This indicates a less efficient generation of profit from its equity base when compared to its competitors.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
GDS
41.75%
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 19.82%
- Q3
- 11.49%
- Median
- 6.67%
- Q1
- 3.61%
- Min
- -4.62%
GDS’s Net Profit Margin of 41.75% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the IT Services industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.
GRAB
3.61%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 32.20%
- Q3
- 18.59%
- Median
- 7.11%
- Q1
- 4.13%
- Min
- -10.38%
Falling into the lower quartile for the Ground Transportation industry, GRAB’s Net Profit Margin of 3.61% indicates weaker profitability. This means the company retains a smaller portion of each dollar in sales as profit compared to its competitors.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
GDS
21.69%
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 21.69%
- Q3
- 14.50%
- Median
- 10.06%
- Q1
- 6.98%
- Min
- 0.06%
An Operating Profit Margin of 21.69% places GDS in the upper quartile for the IT Services industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
GRAB
-1.63%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 41.31%
- Q3
- 23.16%
- Median
- 11.33%
- Q1
- 6.82%
- Min
- -12.08%
GRAB has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -1.63%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | GDS | GRAB |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 19.12% | 1.73% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 5.88% | 1.13% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 41.75% | 3.61% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 21.69% | -1.63% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 21.12% | 42.87% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
GDS
1.47
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 2.42
- Q3
- 1.81
- Median
- 1.47
- Q1
- 1.09
- Min
- 0.44
GDS’s Current Ratio of 1.47 aligns with the median group of the IT Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
GRAB
1.88
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 2.03
- Q3
- 1.26
- Median
- 0.89
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.38
GRAB’s Current Ratio of 1.88 is in the upper quartile for the Ground Transportation industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
GDS
1.75
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.54
- Q1
- 0.15
- Min
- 0.00
GDS’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the IT Services industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.75. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
GRAB
0.30
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 2.51
- Q3
- 1.51
- Median
- 1.06
- Q1
- 0.47
- Min
- 0.00
Falling into the lower quartile for the Ground Transportation industry, GRAB’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.30 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
GDS
0.66
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 144.50
- Q3
- 84.49
- Median
- 13.76
- Q1
- 2.59
- Min
- -28.13
GDS’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 0.66 is a critical concern. A value below 1.0 means operating earnings are insufficient to cover interest expenses, indicating severe financial strain and high default risk.
GRAB
-3.80
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 51.07
- Q3
- 22.54
- Median
- 7.94
- Q1
- 2.72
- Min
- -24.57
GRAB has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -3.80. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | GDS | GRAB |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.47 | 1.88 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.29 | 1.82 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.75 | 0.30 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 0.66 | -3.80 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
GDS
0.00%
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 2.80%
- Q3
- 1.74%
- Median
- 0.62%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GDS currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
GRAB
0.00%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 5.44%
- Q3
- 2.49%
- Median
- 1.53%
- Q1
- 0.39%
- Min
- 0.00%
GRAB currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
GDS
0.00%
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 147.75%
- Q3
- 63.58%
- Median
- 24.63%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GDS has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
GRAB
0.00%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 137.07%
- Q3
- 74.71%
- Median
- 41.16%
- Q1
- 15.12%
- Min
- 0.00%
GRAB has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | GDS | GRAB |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
GDS
10.47
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 41.55
- Q3
- 31.54
- Median
- 23.25
- Q1
- 18.12
- Min
- 6.57
In the lower quartile for the IT Services industry, GDS’s P/E Ratio of 10.47 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
GRAB
184.71
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 42.59
- Q3
- 24.86
- Median
- 16.38
- Q1
- 12.79
- Min
- 4.37
At 184.71, GRAB’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Ground Transportation industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
GDS
4.37
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 6.61
- Q3
- 4.37
- Median
- 2.02
- Q1
- 1.20
- Min
- 0.19
GDS’s P/S Ratio of 4.37 is in the upper echelon for the IT Services industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
GRAB
6.67
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 4.02
- Q3
- 2.20
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.87
- Min
- 0.22
With a P/S Ratio of 6.67, GRAB trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Ground Transportation industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
GDS
1.41
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 11.19
- Q3
- 6.38
- Median
- 3.47
- Q1
- 2.31
- Min
- 0.96
GDS’s P/B Ratio of 1.41 is in the lower quartile for the IT Services industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
GRAB
3.22
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 4.95
- Q3
- 2.78
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 1.17
- Min
- 0.64
GRAB’s P/B Ratio of 3.22 is in the upper tier for the Ground Transportation industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | GDS | GRAB |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 10.47 | 184.71 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 4.37 | 6.67 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 1.41 | 3.22 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | -- | 33.67 |