HubSpot ( HUBS ) is a marketing software as a service platform - competing with SalesForce ( CRM ). HUBS is down 53% YTD. Revenue up 23% YOY (5 Y CAGR 28%) and operating income up from -23M to +29M YOY (1Q2026). Asset/Liabilities is 2,1x and Income/Liabilities is 0,025.
HUBS trades at a fwd 2026
\- PE 50,
\- PB 4.2,
\- EV/FCF 10.3 and a
\- EV/EBITDA 8.5.
Analysts expects a 2028
\- PE 21,
\- PB 2.2,
\- EV/FCF 4.6 and a
\- EV/EBITDA 4.3.
(Marketscreener, 2026).
In short; HUBS recently went profitable and is growing revenue massively while expanding margins. HUBS is trading at a premium. Currently debt is not an issue; but income/liabilities has room for improvement.
HUBS differentiate from CRM by competing in the mid tier segment - with an intuitive plug and play solution. CRM is competing in the premium segment - with an highly customizable solution (often requiring consultancy).
HUBS has around 300,000 customers; twice of CRM's about 150.000 customers.
HUBS has 3Billion revenue. CRM has 40Billion revenue. CRM is more profitable; and will likely remain so, as their target audience is less price sensitive. HUBS has recently been upscalling and has it as part of their strategy - "scalling with their customers".
This makes them a more directly competitor to CRM; and will most likely increase margins in the long term. Moving up market increases CAC (longer time to setup); but increases CLV (less price sensitive). Furthermore, with SaaS the incremental costs of acquiring one customer falls relatively to revenue thus increasing margins with scale. It is thus likely that margins will increase over time, as HUBS expands. HUBS income margin >1%, CRM income margin 18%.
HUBS has been taking market share (revenue) from SalesForce; using a peer group consisting of Klaviyo, Hubspot, SalesForce, Twilio, Braze, Sprout Social & SprinklR.
Here HUBS marketshare grew from 4 to 6%; CRM fell from 83 to 78%. Note. CRM grew in this period. HUBS advantage is heavily nested in the low upfront cost compared to CRM; these costs might come down as AI makes industry wide changes (quicker and more efficient implementation). CRM might also make other product changes; that improves their competitive situation in the mid segment; potentially stealing market share or slowing growth.
Both HUBS and CRM offers the full marketing suite - but both allows for API's. These API's like Sprout Social and Braze; might capture a larger share of customer share of wallet - as technical superior features increases leverage. Though, they are not a 1:1 competitor.
What is your thoughts on the Customer Software As A Service market? What is your thoughts on CRM, HUBS or other marketing software?
Not financial advice. I can have made mistakes.
I have shares in CRM, HUBS, BRZE and SPT. Always do you own research.