CRM
Salesforce, Inc.
Software - Application
Market Cap$179.88B
5Y Perf.+7.0%
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Stock Comparison
CRM vs SAP
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
SAP
SAP SE
Software - Application
Market Cap$200.87B
5Y Perf.+34.6%
CRM vs SAP — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CRM | SAP |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Application | Software - Application |
| Market Cap | $179.88B | $200.87B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $41.52B | $36.80B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $7.46B | $7.04B |
| Gross Margin | 77.7% | 73.8% |
| Operating Margin | 21.5% | 26.7% |
| Forward P/E | 15.9x | 23.5x |
| Total Debt | $6.74B | $8.07B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $7.33B | $8.22B |
CRM vs SAP — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CRM
SAP
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) | 100 | 107.0 | +7.0% |
| SAP SE (SAP) | 100 | 134.6 | +34.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CRM vs SAP
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CRM leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. SAP SE is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CRM
Salesforce, Inc.
The Income Pick
CRM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.82, yield 0.9%
- Rev growth 9.6%, EPS growth 22.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 9.8%
- 158.4% 10Y total return vs SAP's 152.2%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
SAP
SAP SE
The Defensive Pick
SAP is the clearest fit if your priority is defensive.
- Beta 0.89, yield 1.5%, current ratio 1.17x
- 19.1% margin vs CRM's 18.0%
- 1.5% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs CRM's 0.9%
Best for: defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CRM | 9.6% revenue growth vs SAP's 7.7% |
| Value | CRM | Lower P/E (15.9x vs 23.5x), PEG 1.30 vs 3.55 |
| Quality / Margins | SAP | 19.1% margin vs CRM's 18.0% |
| Stability / Safety | CRM | Beta 0.82 vs SAP's 0.89, lower leverage |
| Dividends | SAP | 1.5% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs CRM's 0.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CRM | -30.8% vs SAP's -41.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SAP | 9.7% ROA vs CRM's 6.6%, ROIC 16.0% vs 10.9% |
CRM vs SAP — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CRM vs SAP — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCRMLAGGINGSAP
SAPSAP SE
2leads
CRMSalesforce, Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs SAPMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CRM4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CRM6/7
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SAP5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CRM2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
SAP1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CRM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CRM and SAP operate at a comparable scale, with $41.5B and $36.8B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 19.1% (SAP) to 18.0% (CRM). On growth, CRM holds the edge at +12.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CRMSalesforce, Inc. | SAPSAP SE |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $41.5B | $36.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $11.4B | $11.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $7.5B | $7.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $14.4B | $8.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +77.7% | +73.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +21.5% | +26.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +18.0% | +19.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +34.7% | +22.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.1% | +3.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +18.3% | +15.4% |
CRM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CRM leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 24.0x trailing earnings, CRM trades at a 3% valuation discount to SAP's 24.6x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), CRM offers better value at 1.96x vs SAP's 3.73x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | CRMSalesforce, Inc. | SAPSAP SE |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $179.9B | $200.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $179.3B | $200.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 23.97x | 24.63x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.88x | 23.47x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.96x | 3.73x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 20.11x | 15.42x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.33x | 4.67x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.02x | 3.83x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 12.49x | 21.66x |
CRM leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SAP leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SAP delivers a 15.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $16 in annual profit, vs $13 for CRM. CRM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.11x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SAP's 0.18x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SAP scores 9/9 vs CRM's 8/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CRMSalesforce, Inc. | SAPSAP SE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.6% | +15.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.6% | +9.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.9% | +16.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.9% | +18.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 9 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.11x | 0.18x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$590M | -$149M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $7.3B | $8.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6.7B | $8.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 44.14x | 8.49x |
SAP leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — CRM and SAP each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SAP five years ago would be worth $13,505 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,853 for CRM. Over the past 12 months, CRM leads with a -30.8% total return vs SAP's -41.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SAP at 10.5% vs CRM's -1.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CRMSalesforce, Inc. | SAPSAP SE |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -26.1% | -26.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -30.8% | -41.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -3.5% | +34.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -11.5% | +35.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +158.4% | +152.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -1.2% | +10.5% |
Evenly matched — CRM and SAP each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CRM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CRM is the less volatile stock with a 0.82 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SAP's 0.89 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CRM currently trades 63.2% from its 52-week high vs SAP's 55.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CRMSalesforce, Inc. | SAPSAP SE |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 0.89x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $296.05 | $313.28 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $163.52 | $160.68 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +63.2% | +55.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 52.6 | 46.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 12.7M | 3.2M |
CRM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
SAP leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CRM as "Buy" and SAP as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 127.2% upside for SAP (target: $392) vs 53.5% for CRM (target: $287). For income investors, SAP offers the higher dividend yield at 1.52% vs CRM's 0.89%.
| Metric | CRMSalesforce, Inc. | SAPSAP SE |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $287.00 | $391.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 97 | 43 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.9% | +1.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.66 | $2.24 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +7.0% | +1.1% |
SAP leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
CRM leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). SAP leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallSalesforce, Inc. (CRM)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CRM vs SAP: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CRM or SAP a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Salesforce, Inc.
(CRM) is the stronger pick with 9. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 7% for SAP SE (SAP). Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) offers the better valuation at 24. 0x trailing P/E (15. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) a "Buy" — based on 97 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — CRM or SAP?
On trailing P/E, Salesforce, Inc.
(CRM) is the cheapest at 24. 0x versus SAP SE at 24. 6x. On forward P/E, Salesforce, Inc. is actually cheaper at 15. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Salesforce, Inc. wins at 1. 30x versus SAP SE's 3. 55x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CRM or SAP?
Over the past 5 years, SAP SE (SAP) delivered a total return of +35.
0%, compared to -11. 5% for Salesforce, Inc. (CRM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRM returned +158. 4% versus SAP's +152. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CRM or SAP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Salesforce, Inc.
(CRM) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 82β versus SAP SE's 0. 89β — meaning SAP is approximately 9% more volatile than CRM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 18% for SAP SE — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CRM or SAP?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Salesforce, Inc.
(CRM) is pulling ahead at 9. 6% versus 7. 7% for SAP SE (SAP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: SAP SE grew EPS 126. 0% year-over-year, compared to 22. 6% for Salesforce, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CRM leads at 9. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — CRM or SAP?
SAP SE (SAP) is the more profitable company, earning 19.
1% net margin versus 18. 0% for Salesforce, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SAP leads at 26. 7% versus 21. 5% for CRM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CRM leads at 77. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is CRM or SAP more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.
By this metric, Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 30x versus SAP SE's 3. 55x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) trades at 15. 9x forward P/E versus 23. 5x for SAP SE — 7. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SAP: 127. 2% to $391. 67.
08Which pays a better dividend — CRM or SAP?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
SAP SE (SAP) offers the highest yield at 1. 5%, versus 0. 9% for Salesforce, Inc. (CRM).
09Is CRM or SAP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Salesforce, Inc.
(CRM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 82), 0. 9% yield, +158. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CRM: +158. 4%, SAP: +152. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between CRM and SAP?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(CRM: 12.1% · SAP: 3.3%)Net Margin>
%
(CRM: 18.0% · SAP: 19.1%)P/E Ratio<
x
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