Datadog (DDOG) vs ServiceNow (NOW)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Datadog (DDOG) has outperformed ServiceNow (NOW) over the past year, gaining 75.6% versus a loss of 23.8%. Over five years, DDOG leads with a +75.6% price change compared with +3.9% for NOW. ServiceNow is the larger company by market cap ($141.56 billion vs $99.86 billion), about 1.4 times the size, while Datadog is growing revenue faster (+27.7% vs +20.9%).
On valuation, ServiceNow trades at a lower forward P/E (27.4x vs 93.5x for Datadog). ServiceNow converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 13.2% versus 3.1%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | DDOG | NOW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $278.11 | $136.93 |
| Market cap | $99.86B | $141.56B |
| 1-day change | +2.50% | -0.69% |
| YTD return | +99.53% | -10.00% |
| 1-year return | +75.60% | -23.76% |
| 5-year return | +75.65% | +3.95% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 556.22 | 85.58 |
| Forward P/E | 93.50 | 27.35 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.50 | $1.60 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.43B | $13.28B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +27.68% | +20.88% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $107.74M | $1.75B |
| Gross margin | 79.96% | 77.53% |
| Operating margin | -1.29% | 13.74% |
| Net margin | 3.14% | 13.16% |
| 52-week high | $292.72 | $192.97 |
| 52-week low | $98.01 | $81.24 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -4.99% | -29.04% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +3.23% | +7.16% |
| Average volume | 4.10M | 17.76M |
| Shares outstanding | 334.90M | 1.03B |
| Employees | 8,100 | 29,187 |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | Computer Software: Prepackaged Software | Computer Software: Prepackaged Software |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- DDOG has outperformed NOW by 99.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Datadog trades at a higher earnings multiple (556.2x vs 85.6x trailing P/E).
- ServiceNow is more profitable, keeping 13.2 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 3.1 cents for Datadog.
- Datadog grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+27.68% vs +20.88%).
About Datadog
DDOG stock →Datadog, Inc. operates an observability and security platform for cloud applications in the United States and internationally.
Technology · Computer Software: Prepackaged Software · 8,100 employees
About ServiceNow
NOW stock →ServiceNow, Inc. provides cloud-based solution for digital workflows in the North America, Brazil, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, and internationally.
Technology · Computer Software: Prepackaged Software · 29,187 employees
DDOG vs NOW FAQ
Which is bigger, Datadog or ServiceNow?
ServiceNow (NOW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $141.56B compared with $99.86B for Datadog (DDOG).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, DDOG or NOW?
DDOG returned +75.60% over the past 12 months, compared with -23.76% for NOW (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, DDOG or NOW?
NOW has the lower trailing P/E at 85.6, versus 556.2 for DDOG. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are Datadog and ServiceNow in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Computer Software: Prepackaged Software industry within the Technology sector.