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GWRE vs. WDAY: Guidewire Software vs. Workday Stock Comparison

How do Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Workday (WDAY) 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

Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Workday (WDAY) 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 Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Workday (WDAY)
Profile ItemGWREWDAY
NameGuidewire Software Inc.Workday 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 Capitalization13.34 billion USD46.49 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 25, 2012October 12, 2012
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWRE
WDAY
GSPC
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Workday (WDAY), 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 Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Workday (WDAY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Workday (WDAY). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricGWREWDAY
Total Return (1Y)-25.97%-14.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)21.68%-5.22%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)4.78%-8.14%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GWRE
WDAY
GSPC
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Workday (WDAY), 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 Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Workday (WDAY). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricGWREWDAY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)62.03%54.35%
Beta (5Y)0.991.01
Max Drawdown (5Y)-60.79%-63.38%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.29M3.14M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GWRE and WDAY 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 Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricGWREWDAY
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.49-0.35
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.68-0.54

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 10.51% and Workday (WDAY) at 16.01% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

10.51%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
GWRE
10.51%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

16.01%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
WDAY
16.01%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 9.44% and Workday (WDAY) at 12.32% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

9.44%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
GWRE
9.44%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

12.32%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
WDAY
12.32%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 15.16% and Workday (WDAY) at 11.82% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

15.16%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
GWRE
15.16%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

11.82%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
WDAY
11.82%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricGWREWDAY
ROE (TTM)10.51%16.01%
ROA (TTM)3.54%4.51%
Net Margin (TTM)9.44%12.32%
Operating Margin (TTM)15.16%11.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)64.21%75.80%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 22.70% and Workday (WDAY) at 13.10% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 101.23% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Workday (WDAY) at 32.82% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for GWRE.

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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricGWREWDAY
Revenue Growth (YoY)22.70%13.10%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)17.68%15.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)101.23%32.82%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 1.79 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Workday (WDAY) at 0.91 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WDAY.

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

1.79

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
GWRE
1.79
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

0.91

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
WDAY
0.91
Min
0.03
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 0.60 and Workday (WDAY) at 0.58 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

0.60

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
GWRE
0.60
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

0.58

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
WDAY
0.58
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricGWREWDAY
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.790.91
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.600.58
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.380.23

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Guidewire Software (GWRE) nor Workday (WDAY) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

GWRE
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

WDAY
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Guidewire Software (GWRE) nor Workday (WDAY) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

GWRE
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

WDAY
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricGWREWDAY
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Workday (WDAY) at 39.29 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 99.02 sits in the richer quartile — GWRE needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

99.02

Max
112.94
GWRE
99.02
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

39.29

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
WDAY
39.29
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Workday (WDAY) at 4.58 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 9.04 sits in the pricier quartile — GWRE costs more per dollar of sales.

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

9.04

Max
17.91
GWRE
9.04
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

4.58

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
WDAY
4.58
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Workday (WDAY) at 7.20 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 11.09 carries an above-peer premium to book — GWRE is pricier on assets.

GWRE

Software & Services industry group

11.09

Max
16.63
GWRE
11.09
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90

WDAY

Software & Services industry group

7.20

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
WDAY
7.20
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricGWREWDAY
P/E Ratio (TTM)99.0239.29
P/S Ratio (TTM)9.044.58
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.097.20
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.57%6.55%