NOW vs. U: ServiceNow vs. Unity Software Stock Comparison
How do ServiceNow (NOW) and Unity Software (U) 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 Unity Software (U) both belong to the Software industry, though NOW is classified under Systems Software while U falls under Application Software.
| Profile Item | NOW | U |
|---|---|---|
| Name | ServiceNow Inc. | Unity Software Inc. |
| 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 | 105.84 billion USD | 22.85 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 29, 2012 | September 18, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | NOW | U |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -39.72% | 30.56% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -5.71% | 27.46% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -5.55% | -21.16% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | NOW | U |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 64.49% | 71.11% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.98 | 1.97 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -64.54% | -93.07% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 15.74M | 10.92M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | NOW | U |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.68 | 0.37 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.89 | 0.51 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Unity Software (U) reports a negative ROE of -9.66%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile ServiceNow (NOW) reports 11.85%, ranking against industry peers normally.
NOW
Software & Services industry group
11.85%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- NOW
- 11.85%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
U
Software & Services industry group
-9.66%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- U
- -9.66%
- Min
- -50.52%
Net Margin (TTM)
Unity Software (U) reports a negative net margin of -15.60%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile ServiceNow (NOW) reports 9.36%, ranking against industry peers normally.
NOW
Software & Services industry group
9.36%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- NOW
- 9.36%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
U
Software & Services industry group
-15.60%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- U
- -15.60%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both ServiceNow (NOW) at 17.39% and Unity Software (U) at 16.95% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
NOW
Software & Services industry group
17.39%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- NOW
- 17.39%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
U
Software & Services industry group
16.95%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- U
- 16.95%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | NOW | U |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 11.85% | -9.66% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.59% | -0.45% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 9.36% | -15.60% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 17.39% | 16.95% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 73.08% | 78.49% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
ServiceNow (NOW) at 20.88% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Unity Software (U) at 2.01% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: ServiceNow (NOW) reports EPS growth of 22.08%, ranked against its industry; Unity Software (U) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | NOW | U |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 20.88% | 2.01% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 22.38% | 9.96% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 22.08% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 73.46% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Unity Software (U) at 2.17 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 0.72 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NOW.
NOW
Software & Services industry group
0.72
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- NOW
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.03
U
Software & Services industry group
2.17
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- U
- 2.17
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both ServiceNow (NOW) at 0.64 and Unity Software (U) at 0.66 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
NOW
Software & Services industry group
0.64
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- NOW
- 0.64
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
U
Software & Services industry group
0.66
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- U
- 0.66
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | NOW | U |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.72 | 2.17 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.64 | 0.66 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.18 | -0.86 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither ServiceNow (NOW) nor Unity Software (U) 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%
U
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- U
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither ServiceNow (NOW) nor Unity Software (U) 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%
U
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- U
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | NOW | U |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: ServiceNow (NOW) trades at 73.36 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Unity Software (U) has no P/E ratio this period.
NOW
Software & Services industry group
73.36
- Max
- 112.94
- NOW
- 73.36
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
U
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
- U
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
ServiceNow (NOW) at 6.86 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Unity Software (U) at 10.48 sits in the pricier quartile — U costs more per dollar of sales.
NOW
Software & Services industry group
6.86
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- NOW
- 6.86
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
U
Software & Services industry group
10.48
- Max
- 17.91
- U
- 10.48
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both ServiceNow (NOW) at 8.08 and Unity Software (U) at 7.03 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
NOW
Software & Services industry group
8.08
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- NOW
- 8.08
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
U
Software & Services industry group
7.03
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- U
- 7.03
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | NOW | U |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 73.36 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.86 | 10.48 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 8.08 | 7.03 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.44% | 2.76% |