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PLTR vs. WDAY: Palantir vs. Workday Stock Comparison

How do Palantir (PLTR) 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

Palantir (PLTR) 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 Palantir (PLTR) and Workday (WDAY)
Profile ItemPLTRWDAY
NamePalantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common StockWorkday 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 Capitalization386.44 billion USD46.49 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateSeptember 30, 2020October 12, 2012
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PLTR
WDAY
GSPC
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Palantir (PLTR) 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 Palantir (PLTR) and Workday (WDAY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Palantir (PLTR) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricPLTRWDAY
Total Return (1Y)-4.94%-14.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)109.97%-5.22%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)47.47%-8.14%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Palantir (PLTR) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricPLTRWDAY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)60.50%54.35%
Beta (5Y)1.631.01
Max Drawdown (5Y)-75.26%-63.38%
Avg. Volume (3M)27.20M3.14M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PLTR 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 Palantir (PLTR) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricPLTRWDAY
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.15-0.35
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.24-0.54

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 40.91% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Workday (WDAY) at 16.01% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for PLTR.

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

40.91%

Max
53.85%
PLTR
40.91%
Q3
17.90%
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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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 50.34% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Workday (WDAY) at 12.32% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

50.34%

PLTR
50.34%
Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
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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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 46.89% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Workday (WDAY) at 11.82%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

46.89%

PLTR
46.89%
Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
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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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Palantir (PLTR) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricPLTRWDAY
ROE (TTM)40.91%16.01%
ROA (TTM)19.31%4.51%
Net Margin (TTM)50.34%12.32%
Operating Margin (TTM)46.89%11.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)84.74%75.80%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Workday (WDAY) at 13.10%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Workday (WDAY): 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 Workday (WDAY) at 32.82%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Palantir (PLTR) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricPLTRWDAY
Revenue Growth (YoY)56.18%13.10%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)32.92%15.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)231.06%32.82%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) at 7.10 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Workday (WDAY) at 0.91 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

7.10

PLTR
7.10
Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
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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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Workday (WDAY): 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 Workday (WDAY) at 0.58 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.02

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
PLTR
0.02
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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Palantir (PLTR) 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 Palantir (PLTR) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricPLTRWDAY
Current Ratio (MRQ)7.100.91
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.020.58
Net Debt / EBITDA-3.080.23

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

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

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%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

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

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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Palantir (PLTR) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricPLTRWDAY
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 Palantir (PLTR) at 112.94 sits in the richer quartile — PLTR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

112.94

PLTR
112.94
Max
112.94
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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Palantir (PLTR) 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 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 clears its benchmark range — PLTR looks notably rich on sales.

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

53.02

PLTR
53.02
Max
17.91
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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Palantir (PLTR) 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 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 34.41 prices above its benchmark range — PLTR looks rich relative to book.

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

34.41

PLTR
34.41
Max
16.63
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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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Workday (WDAY): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Palantir (PLTR) and Workday (WDAY)
MetricPLTRWDAY
P/E Ratio (TTM)112.9439.29
P/S Ratio (TTM)53.024.58
P/B Ratio (MRQ)34.417.20
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.69%6.55%