ServiceNow, Inc. (NOW)
ServiceNow runs a cloud workflow platform that automates IT, HR, and customer-service processes for large organizations. It has emerged as a prominent vendor of enterprise AI-driven workflow automation.
Information Technology stock comparison
NOW vs PLTR: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare ServiceNow, Inc. with Palantir Technologies Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
- Sector
- Information
- Industry
- Same SIC
- Shared themes
- 1
- Updated
- 2026-02-17
NOW vs PLTR: quick comparison
| Company fact | NOW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Company | ServiceNow, Inc. | Palantir Technologies Inc. |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| Headquarters | Santa Clara, California | Denver, Colorado |
| Founded | 2004 | 2003 |
| SEC industry | Services-Prepackaged Software | Services-Prepackaged Software |
| Fiscal year-end | December 31 | December 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-01-29 | 10-K · 2026-02-17 |
NOW vs PLTR: audited financials
NOW reported about 3.0× the revenue of PLTR in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, PLTR converted a larger share of revenue into net income (36.3% versus 13.2%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.
| Metric | NOW | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $13.3B | $4.5B |
| Net income | $1.7B | $1.6B |
| Operating cash flow | $5.4B | $2.1B |
| Diluted EPS | $1.67 | $0.63 |
| Net margin | 13.2% | 36.3% |
NOW: FY ending 2025-12-31 · PLTR: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
How the businesses differ
Why this pair belongs in the comparison set
NOW and PLTR share the SEC industry classification “Services-Prepackaged Software,” giving the comparison a primary-source operating relationship. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.
Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR)
Palantir builds data-integration and analytics platforms used by defense agencies, intelligence services, and commercial enterprises. Its AI platform for operational decision-making has driven rapid growth in its commercial business.
The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. NOW is classified by the SEC as Services-Prepackaged Software, while PLTR is classified as Services-Prepackaged Software. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.
Members-only research
What members are reading this month
Sep 22, 2026
Meta jumped 11%. What must happen next to justify the price?A member research report on Meta’s AI rally: Muse, subscription economics, the cash-flow burden, legal costs and the earnings assumptions behind the new price.
Feb 23, 2026
Newmont and the gap between a gold rally and shareholder cashA February 23, 2026 historical cutoff tests whether portfolio simplification and cost control could turn stronger gold economics into cash.
The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.
Read the full researchWhich thesis does each company fit?
Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.
Study NOW when…
- Subscription revenue growth and remaining performance obligations
- Adoption of Now Assist and consumption-priced AI offerings
- Expansion of large customers with annual contract value above $5 million
- Public-sector and regulated-industry sales cycles
Study PLTR when…
- Growth and renewal of US and allied government contracts, including defense and intelligence work
- Adoption speed of the Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) among commercial customers
- Commercial revenue mix shift and net dollar retention outside of government
- Valuation relative to growth, given the stock's premium multiple versus software peers
Shared research themes
Artificial intelligence
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.NOW's fiscal year ends December 31, while PLTR's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 37matched transaction rows for NOWand 50 for PLTR. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
NOW primary filings
PLTR primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
NOW vs PLTR FAQs
Are NOW and PLTR direct competitors?
ServiceNow, Inc. and Palantir Technologies Inc. share the SEC industry classification “Services-Prepackaged Software.” That makes the operating comparison relevant, but it does not prove that every product, customer, or revenue stream competes directly.
Which is better, NOW or PLTR?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this NOW vs PLTR comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers ServiceNow, Inc. and Palantir Technologies Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.
NOW vs PLTR shows how the businesses differ. Membership is the monthly sourced view of who could benefit, what could break, and what evidence matters next. $15/month or $150/year.
Members-only research
$15/mo or $150/yr · cancel future renewals anytime · sources included