NOW vs. PLTR: ServiceNow vs. Palantir Stock Comparison

October 14, 2026

How do ServiceNow (NOW) 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

ServiceNow (NOW) and Palantir (PLTR) both belong to the Software industry, though NOW is classified under Systems Software while PLTR falls under Application Software.

Company profile comparison for ServiceNow (NOW) and Palantir (PLTR)
Profile Item	NOW	PLTR
Name	ServiceNow Inc.	Palantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Software & Services	Software & Services
GICS Industry	Software	Software
GICS Sub-Industry	Systems Software	Application Software
Market Capitalization	145.07 billion USD	502.24 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	June 29, 2012	September 30, 2020
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NOW

PLTR

GSPC

ServiceNow (NOW) 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 ServiceNow (NOW) and Palantir (PLTR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	NOW	PLTR
Total Return (1Y)	-22.89%	17.08%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	9.02%	128.63%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	2.18%	53.77%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NOW

PLTR

GSPC

ServiceNow (NOW) 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 ServiceNow (NOW) and Palantir (PLTR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	NOW	PLTR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	57.44%	60.08%
Beta (5Y)	0.97	1.64
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-64.54%	-77.57%
Avg. Volume (3M)	17.32M	33.01M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

NOW 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 ServiceNow (NOW) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	NOW	PLTR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.48	0.21
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.67	0.34

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 38.10% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 14.24% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for PLTR.

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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

38.10%

Max: 62.27%
PLTR: 38.10%
Q3: 18.32%
Median: 5.48%
Q1: -13.62%
Min: -59.77%

ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 49.01% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 11.34% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

49.01%

PLTR: 49.01%
Max: 41.43%
Q3: 14.96%
Median: 4.26%
Q1: -5.85%
Min: -30.95%

ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 47.12% 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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

47.12%

PLTR: 47.12%
Max: 47.12%
Q3: 15.51%
Median: 4.87%
Q1: -6.45%
Min: -39.13%

ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	NOW	PLTR
ROE (TTM)	14.24%	38.10%
ROA (TTM)	4.25%	17.29%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.34%	49.01%
Operating Margin (TTM)	4.06%	47.12%
Gross Margin (TTM)	74.77%	84.80%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than ServiceNow (NOW) at 20.88%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

ServiceNow (NOW) 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 ServiceNow (NOW) at 22.08%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	NOW	PLTR
Revenue Growth (YoY)	20.88%	56.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	22.38%	32.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)	22.08%	231.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	73.46%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) at 7.23 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 0.70 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

7.23

PLTR: 7.23
Max: 5.11
Q3: 2.74
Median: 1.63
Q1: 1.02
Min: 0.03

ServiceNow (NOW) 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 ServiceNow (NOW) at 0.68 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.02

Max: 2.52
Q3: 1.10
Median: 0.35
Q1: 0.06
PLTR: 0.02
Min: 0.00

ServiceNow (NOW) 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 ServiceNow (NOW) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	NOW	PLTR
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.70	7.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.68	0.02
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.31	-3.45

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither ServiceNow (NOW) nor Palantir (PLTR) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

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%

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%

ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither ServiceNow (NOW) nor Palantir (PLTR) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

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%

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%

ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	NOW	PLTR
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on trailing earnings: ServiceNow (NOW) at 87.70 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 180.17 is richer still, above its industry range.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

180.17

PLTR: 180.17
Max: 121.09
Q3: 60.42
Median: 31.84
Q1: 17.70
Min: 6.45

ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: ServiceNow (NOW) at 9.85 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 81.59 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

81.59

PLTR: 81.59
Max: 19.98
Q3: 9.41
Median: 4.36
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.02

ServiceNow (NOW) 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: ServiceNow (NOW) at 11.59 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 51.38 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

51.38

PLTR: 51.38
Max: 19.30
Q3: 9.10
Median: 4.43
Q1: 1.98
Min: -3.90

ServiceNow (NOW) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	NOW	PLTR
P/E Ratio (TTM)	87.70	180.17
P/S Ratio (TTM)	9.85	81.59
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	11.59	51.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.55%	0.43%