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GWRE vs. ZM: Guidewire Software vs. Zoom Communications Stock Comparison

How do Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Zoom Communications (ZM) 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 Zoom Communications (ZM) 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 Zoom Communications (ZM)
Profile ItemGWREZM
NameGuidewire Software Inc.Zoom Communications, 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 USD26.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 25, 2012April 18, 2019
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GWRE
ZM
GSPC
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM), 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 Zoom Communications (ZM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricGWREZM
Total Return (1Y)-25.97%12.58%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)21.68%14.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)4.78%-18.67%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricGWREZM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)62.03%45.03%
Beta (5Y)0.990.99
Max Drawdown (5Y)-60.79%-79.08%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.29M2.88M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GWRE and ZM 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 Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricGWREZM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.490.18
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.680.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 32.14% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 10.51% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ZM.

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%

ZM

Software & Services industry group

32.14%

Max
53.85%
ZM
32.14%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 65.19% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 9.44% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

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%

ZM

Software & Services industry group

65.19%

ZM
65.19%
Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 24.61% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 15.16%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

ZM

Software & Services industry group

24.61%

Max
46.89%
ZM
24.61%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricGWREZM
ROE (TTM)10.51%32.14%
ROA (TTM)3.54%6.11%
Net Margin (TTM)9.44%65.19%
Operating Margin (TTM)15.16%24.61%
Gross Margin (TTM)64.21%77.66%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 22.70% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Zoom Communications (ZM) at 4.36% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 101.23% and Zoom Communications (ZM) at 92.52% sit in the top peer quartile for EPS growth, so each is compounding per-share earnings faster than typical industry peers.

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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricGWREZM
Revenue Growth (YoY)22.70%4.36%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)17.68%3.49%
EPS Growth (YoY)101.23%92.52%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--162.93%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 1.79 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Zoom Communications (ZM) at 3.83 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

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

ZM

Software & Services industry group

3.83

Max
5.11
ZM
3.83
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 0.01 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 0.60 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

ZM

Software & Services industry group

0.01

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
ZM
0.01
Min
0.00
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): 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 Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricGWREZM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.793.83
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.600.01
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.38-5.39

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Guidewire Software (GWRE) nor Zoom Communications (ZM) 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%

ZM

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

ZM
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. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Guidewire Software (GWRE) nor Zoom Communications (ZM) 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%

ZM

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

ZM
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. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricGWREZM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 8.34 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 99.02 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

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

ZM

Software & Services industry group

8.34

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
ZM
8.34
Min
6.69
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 5.25 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

ZM

Software & Services industry group

5.25

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
ZM
5.25
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 2.32 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

ZM

Software & Services industry group

2.32

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
ZM
2.32
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Guidewire Software (GWRE) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Guidewire Software (GWRE) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricGWREZM
P/E Ratio (TTM)99.028.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)9.045.25
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.092.32
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.57%7.53%