NTAP vs DELL

For growth investors, Dell Technologies Inc.

(DELL) is the stronger pick with 18. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 9% for NetApp, Inc. (NTAP). NetApp, Inc. (NTAP) offers the better valuation at 19. 7x trailing P/E (14. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL) a "Buy" — based on 43 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.

On forward P/E, NetApp, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 14. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, Dell Technologies Inc.

(DELL) delivered a total return of +386. 8%, compared to +56. 5% for NetApp, Inc. (NTAP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DELL returned +1938% versus NTAP's +456. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), NetApp, Inc.

(NTAP) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 34β versus Dell Technologies Inc. 's 1. 62β — meaning DELL is approximately 21% more volatile than NTAP relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Dell Technologies Inc.

(DELL) is pulling ahead at 18. 8% versus 4. 9% for NetApp, Inc. (NTAP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NetApp, Inc. grew EPS 22. 5% year-over-year, compared to -100. 0% for Dell Technologies Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, DELL leads at 3. 5% 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.

NetApp, Inc.

(NTAP) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 0% net margin versus 5. 2% for Dell Technologies Inc. — meaning it keeps 18. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NTAP leads at 20. 3% versus 7. 2% for DELL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NTAP leads at 70. 2%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, NetApp, Inc.

(NTAP) trades at 14. 0x forward P/E versus 23. 9x for Dell Technologies Inc. — 9. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NTAP: 7. 8% to $120. 50.

In this comparison, NTAP (1.

8% yield) pays a dividend. DELL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, NetApp, Inc.

(NTAP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 8% yield, +456. 8% 10Y return). Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL) carries a higher beta of 1. 62 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NTAP: +456. 8%, DELL: +1938%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: NTAP is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; DELL is a mid-cap high-growth stock. NTAP pays a dividend while DELL does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.