Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) vs Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | TTD | 18.5% revenue growth vs CRM's 9.6% |
| Value | CRM | Lower P/E (16.5x vs 21.1x), PEG 1.35 vs 1.60 |
| Quality / Margins | CRM | 18.0% net margin vs TTD's 15.3% |
| Stability / Safety | CRM | Beta 1.04 vs TTD's 1.67, lower leverage |
| Dividends | CRM | 0.9% yield; 2-year raise streak; TTD pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CRM | -34.0% vs TTD's -66.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | TTD | 7.2% ROA vs CRM's 6.6%, ROIC 21.3% vs 10.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
The Trade Desk operates a cloud-based platform that enables advertisers to programmatically buy and manage digital ad campaigns across channels like connected TV, display, and video. It generates revenue primarily from platform fees—typically a percentage of media spend—with nearly all income coming from its core self-service advertising platform. Its key advantage is its independent, transparent position in the ad tech ecosystem—unlike walled gardens—which attracts major agencies and brands seeking unbiased campaign optimization.
Salesforce is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) software company that helps businesses manage sales, service, marketing, and commerce operations. It generates revenue primarily through subscription fees for its SaaS platform—with sales cloud (~30%), service cloud (~25%), and platform/other (~45%) being its main segments. Its competitive moat lies in its massive ecosystem of integrated applications, enterprise data architecture, and high switching costs for customers deeply embedded in its platform.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CRM leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). TTD leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CRM is the larger business by revenue, generating $41.5B annually — 14.3x TTD's $2.9B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 18.0% (CRM) to 15.3% (TTD).
| Metric | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… | CRMSalesforce, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.9B | $41.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $673M | $11.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $443M | $7.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $787M | $14.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +78.6% | +77.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +20.3% | +21.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +15.3% | +18.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +27.2% | +34.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.3% | +12.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.1% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 25.0x trailing earnings, CRM trades at a 5% valuation discount to TTD's 26.2x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), TTD offers better value at 1.99x vs CRM's 2.04x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… | CRMSalesforce, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $11.5B | $187.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $11.3B | $186.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 26.18x | 24.97x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.13x | 16.54x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.99x | 2.04x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 21.02x | 20.95x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.99x | 4.51x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.63x | 3.15x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.51x | 13.01x |
Profitability & Efficiency
TTD delivers a 17.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $18 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 TTD's 0.18x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CRM scores 8/9 vs TTD's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… | CRMSalesforce, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +17.8% | +12.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.2% | +6.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +21.3% | +10.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +19.2% | +11.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.18x | 0.11x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$222M | -$590M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $658M | $7.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $436M | $6.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 985.25x | 44.14x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CRM five years ago would be worth $9,104 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,862 for TTD. Over the past 12 months, CRM leads with a -34.0% total return vs TTD's -66.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CRM at 6.6% vs TTD's -24.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… | CRMSalesforce, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -36.8% | -23.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -66.1% | -34.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -57.4% | +21.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -71.4% | -9.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +691.4% | +192.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -24.8% | +6.6% |
Risk & Volatility
CRM is the less volatile stock with a 1.04 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TTD's 1.67 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CRM currently trades 64.3% from its 52-week high vs TTD's 26.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… | CRMSalesforce, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.67x | 1.04x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $91.45 | $303.07 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $21.08 | $174.57 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +26.0% | +64.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 25.4 | 47.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 10.7M | 8.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates TTD as "Buy" and CRM as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 95.8% upside for TTD (target: $47) vs 53.5% for CRM (target: $299). CRM is the only dividend payer here at 0.85% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | TTDThe Trade Desk, I… | CRMSalesforce, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $46.65 | $299.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 46 | 97 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.66 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +12.0% | +6.7% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) | 100 | 103.55 | +3.6% |
| Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) | 100 | 123.71 | +23.7% |
Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) returned -9% over 5 years vs The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD)'s -71%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) | $308M | $2.9B | +839.7% |
| Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) | $8.4B | $41.5B | +394.8% |
Salesforce, Inc.'s revenue grew from $8.4B (2017) to $41.5B (2026) — a 19.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) | 16.5% | 15.3% | -7.1% |
| Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) | 3.8% | 18.0% | +366.6% |
Salesforce, Inc.'s net margin went from 4% (2017) to 18% (2026).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) | 38.1 | 41.7 | +9.4% |
| Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) | 393.2 | 25 | -93.6% |
The Trade Desk, Inc. has traded in a 38x–408x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~26x. Salesforce, Inc. has traded in a 25x–393x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~25x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) | 0.12 | 0.91 | +658.3% |
| Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) | 0.26 | 7.8 | +2900.0% |
Salesforce, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.26 (2017) to $7.80 (2026) — a 46% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
The Trade Desk, Inc. generated $796M FCF in 2025 (+150% vs 2021). Salesforce, Inc. generated $14B FCF in 2026 (+252% vs 2021).
TTD vs CRM: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is TTD or CRM a better buy right now?
Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) offers the better valuation at 25.0x trailing P/E (16.5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) a "Buy" — based on 46 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 — TTD or CRM?
On trailing P/E, Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) is the cheapest at 25.0x versus The Trade Desk, Inc. at 26.2x. On forward P/E, Salesforce, Inc. is actually cheaper at 16.5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Salesforce, Inc. wins at 1.35x versus The Trade Desk, Inc.'s 1.60x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — TTD or CRM?
Over the past 5 years, Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) delivered a total return of -9.0%, compared to -71.4% for The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD). A $10,000 investment in CRM five years ago would be worth approximately $9K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TTD returned +691.4% versus CRM's +192.3%. 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 — TTD or CRM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) is the lower-risk stock at 1.04β versus The Trade Desk, Inc.'s 1.67β — meaning TTD is approximately 62% 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 The Trade Desk, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — TTD or CRM?
Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) is the more profitable company, earning 18.0% net margin versus 15.3% for The Trade Desk, Inc. — meaning it keeps 18.0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CRM leads at 21.5% versus 20.3% for TTD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TTD leads at 78.6%, 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.
06Is TTD or CRM 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 1.35x versus The Trade Desk, Inc.'s 1.60x. A PEG below 1.5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) trades at 16.5x forward P/E versus 21.1x for The Trade Desk, Inc. — 4.6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TTD: 95.8% to $46.65.
07Which pays a better dividend — TTD or CRM?
In this comparison, CRM (0.9% yield) pays a dividend. TTD does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is TTD or CRM 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 1.04), 0.9% yield, +192.3% 10Y return). The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) carries a higher beta of 1.67 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CRM: +192.3%, TTD: +691.4%), 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.
09What are the main differences between TTD and CRM?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. CRM pays a dividend while TTD 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.
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