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NOW vs. ORCL: ServiceNow vs. Oracle Stock Comparison

How do ServiceNow (NOW) and Oracle (ORCL) 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

ServiceNow (NOW) and Oracle (ORCL) are both classified in the Systems Software sub-industry within the broader Software industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for ServiceNow (NOW) and Oracle (ORCL)
Profile ItemNOWORCL
NameServiceNow Inc.Oracle Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustrySystems SoftwareSystems Software
Market Capitalization145.07 billion USD416.50 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 29, 2012March 12, 1986
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NOW
ORCL
GSPC
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ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Oracle (ORCL), 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 ServiceNow (NOW) and Oracle (ORCL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for ServiceNow (NOW) and Oracle (ORCL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricNOWORCL
Total Return (1Y)-22.89%-54.45%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)9.02%9.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)2.18%8.97%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NOW
ORCL
GSPC
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ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Oracle (ORCL), 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 ServiceNow (NOW) and Oracle (ORCL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricNOWORCL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)57.44%56.66%
Beta (5Y)0.971.78
Max Drawdown (5Y)-64.54%-64.58%
Avg. Volume (3M)17.32M31.18M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NOW and ORCL 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 ServiceNow (NOW) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricNOWORCL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.48-1.04
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.67-1.46

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Oracle (ORCL) at 41.19% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 14.24% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ORCL.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

14.24%

Max
62.27%
Q3
18.32%
NOW
14.24%
Median
5.48%
Q1
-13.62%
Min
-59.77%

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

41.19%

Max
62.27%
ORCL
41.19%
Q3
18.32%
Median
5.48%
Q1
-13.62%
Min
-59.77%
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ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Oracle (ORCL) at 26.36% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of ServiceNow (NOW) at 11.34%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

11.34%

Max
41.43%
Q3
14.96%
NOW
11.34%
Median
4.26%
Q1
-5.85%
Min
-30.95%

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

26.36%

Max
41.43%
ORCL
26.36%
Q3
14.96%
Median
4.26%
Q1
-5.85%
Min
-30.95%
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ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Oracle (ORCL) at 35.63% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of ServiceNow (NOW) at 4.06%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

4.06%

Max
47.12%
Q3
15.51%
Median
4.87%
NOW
4.06%
Q1
-6.45%
Min
-39.13%

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

35.63%

Max
47.12%
ORCL
35.63%
Q3
15.51%
Median
4.87%
Q1
-6.45%
Min
-39.13%
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ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricNOWORCL
ROE (TTM)14.24%41.19%
ROA (TTM)4.25%6.36%
Net Margin (TTM)11.34%26.36%
Operating Margin (TTM)4.06%35.63%
Gross Margin (TTM)74.77%63.96%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ServiceNow (NOW) at 20.88% and Oracle (ORCL) at 17.35% 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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ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both ServiceNow (NOW) at 22.08% and Oracle (ORCL) at 34.33% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricNOWORCL
Revenue Growth (YoY)20.88%17.35%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)22.38%10.48%
EPS Growth (YoY)22.08%34.33%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)73.46%23.84%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Oracle (ORCL) at 1.17 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 0.70 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NOW.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

0.70

Max
5.11
Q3
2.74
Median
1.63
Q1
1.02
NOW
0.70
Min
0.03

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

1.17

Max
5.11
Q3
2.74
Median
1.63
ORCL
1.17
Q1
1.02
Min
0.03
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ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

ServiceNow (NOW) at 0.68 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Oracle (ORCL) at 2.52 uses more debt funding than most peers.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

0.68

Max
2.52
Q3
1.10
NOW
0.68
Median
0.35
Q1
0.06
Min
0.00

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

2.52

ORCL
2.52
Max
2.52
Q3
1.10
Median
0.35
Q1
0.06
Min
0.00
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ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricNOWORCL
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.701.17
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.682.52
Net Debt / EBITDA1.313.84

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

ServiceNow (NOW) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Oracle (ORCL) reports a yield of 1.41%, ranking against industry peers normally.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

NOW
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

1.41%

ORCL
1.41%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

ServiceNow (NOW) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Oracle (ORCL) reports a payout of 31.35%, ranking against industry peers normally.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

NOW
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

31.35%

ORCL
31.35%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricNOWORCL
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%1.41%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%31.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Oracle (ORCL) at 21.53 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 87.70 sits in the richer quartile — NOW needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

87.70

Max
121.09
NOW
87.70
Q3
60.42
Median
31.84
Q1
17.70
Min
6.45

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

21.53

Max
121.09
Q3
60.42
Median
31.84
ORCL
21.53
Q1
17.70
Min
6.45
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ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Oracle (ORCL) at 5.80 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 9.85 sits in the pricier quartile — NOW costs more per dollar of sales.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

9.85

Max
19.98
NOW
9.85
Q3
9.41
Median
4.36
Q1
2.30
Min
0.02

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

5.80

Max
19.98
Q3
9.41
ORCL
5.80
Median
4.36
Q1
2.30
Min
0.02
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ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Oracle (ORCL) at 6.72 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 11.59 carries an above-peer premium to book — NOW is pricier on assets.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

11.59

Max
19.30
NOW
11.59
Q3
9.10
Median
4.43
Q1
1.98
Min
-3.90

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

6.72

Max
19.30
Q3
9.10
ORCL
6.72
Median
4.43
Q1
1.98
Min
-3.90
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ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricNOWORCL
P/E Ratio (TTM)87.7021.53
P/S Ratio (TTM)9.855.80
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.596.72
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.55%-11.01%