Software - Application
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CRM vs WDAY
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Software - Application
CRM vs WDAY — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Application | Software - Application |
| Market Cap | $179.88B | $33.95B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $41.52B | $9.55B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $7.46B | $693M |
| Gross Margin | 77.7% | 75.7% |
| Operating Margin | 21.5% | 8.9% |
| Forward P/E | 15.9x | 12.3x |
| Total Debt | $6.74B | $834M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $7.33B | $1.50B |
CRM vs WDAY — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) | 100 | 107.0 | +7.0% |
| Workday, Inc. (WDAY) | 100 | 70.3 | -29.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CRM vs WDAY
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
CRM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding.
- 158.4% 10Y total return vs WDAY's 80.2%
- 18.0% margin vs WDAY's 7.3%
- 0.9% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend
WDAY is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 0.71
- Rev growth 13.1%, EPS growth 32.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 15.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.71, Low D/E 10.7%, current ratio 1.32x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 13.1% revenue growth vs CRM's 9.6% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (12.3x vs 15.9x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 18.0% margin vs WDAY's 7.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.71 vs CRM's 0.82, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 0.9% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | -30.8% vs WDAY's -48.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 6.6% ROA vs WDAY's 3.8%, ROIC 10.9% vs 8.5% |
CRM vs WDAY — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
CRM vs WDAY — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CRM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CRM is the larger business by revenue, generating $41.5B annually — 4.3x WDAY's $9.6B. CRM is the more profitable business, keeping 18.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WDAY's 7.3%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $41.5B | $9.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $11.4B | $1.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $7.5B | $693M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $14.4B | $2.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +77.7% | +75.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +21.5% | +8.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +18.0% | +7.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +34.7% | +29.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.1% | +14.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +18.3% | +57.1% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — CRM and WDAY each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 24.0x trailing earnings, CRM trades at a 52% valuation discount to WDAY's 50.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CRM's 20.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WDAY's 24.3x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $179.9B | $33.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $179.3B | $33.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 23.97x | 49.95x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.88x | 12.29x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.96x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 20.11x | 24.27x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.33x | 3.55x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.02x | 4.35x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 12.49x | 12.22x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CRM leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CRM delivers a 12.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $9 for WDAY. WDAY carries lower financial leverage with a 0.11x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CRM's 0.11x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.6% | +8.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.6% | +3.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.9% | +8.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.9% | +8.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.11x | 0.11x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$590M | -$667M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $7.3B | $1.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6.7B | $834M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 44.14x | 12.60x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CRM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CRM five years ago would be worth $8,853 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,462 for WDAY. Over the past 12 months, CRM leads with a -30.8% total return vs WDAY's -48.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CRM at -1.2% vs WDAY's -10.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -26.1% | -37.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -30.8% | -48.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -3.5% | -29.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -11.5% | -45.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +158.4% | +80.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -1.2% | -10.8% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CRM and WDAY each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WDAY is the less volatile stock with a 0.71 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CRM's 0.82 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 WDAY's 46.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 0.71x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $296.05 | $276.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $163.52 | $110.39 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +63.2% | +46.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 52.6 | 52.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 12.7M | 5.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CRM as "Buy" and WDAY as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 53.6% upside for WDAY (target: $198) vs 53.5% for CRM (target: $287). CRM is the only dividend payer here at 0.89% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $287.00 | $197.90 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 97 | 80 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.9% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.66 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +7.0% | +8.5% |
CRM leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 2 categories are tied.
CRM vs WDAY: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CRM or WDAY a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Workday, Inc.
(WDAY) is the stronger pick with 13. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 6% for Salesforce, Inc. (CRM). 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 WDAY?
On trailing P/E, Salesforce, Inc.
(CRM) is the cheapest at 24. 0x versus Workday, Inc. at 50. 0x. On forward P/E, Workday, Inc. is actually cheaper at 12. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CRM or WDAY?
Over the past 5 years, Salesforce, Inc.
(CRM) delivered a total return of -11. 5%, compared to -45. 4% for Workday, Inc. (WDAY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRM returned +158. 4% versus WDAY's +80. 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 WDAY?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Workday, Inc.
(WDAY) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 71β versus Salesforce, Inc. 's 0. 82β — meaning CRM is approximately 16% more volatile than WDAY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Workday, Inc. (WDAY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 11% for Salesforce, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CRM or WDAY?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Workday, Inc.
(WDAY) is pulling ahead at 13. 1% versus 9. 6% for Salesforce, Inc. (CRM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Workday, Inc. grew EPS 32. 3% year-over-year, compared to 22. 6% for Salesforce, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WDAY leads at 15. 4% 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 WDAY?
Salesforce, Inc.
(CRM) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 0% net margin versus 7. 3% for Workday, 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 10. 7% for WDAY. 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 WDAY more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Workday, Inc.
(WDAY) trades at 12. 3x forward P/E versus 15. 9x for Salesforce, Inc. — 3. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WDAY: 53. 6% to $197. 90.
08Which pays a better dividend — CRM or WDAY?
In this comparison, CRM (0.
9% yield) pays a dividend. WDAY does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is CRM or WDAY 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%, WDAY: +80. 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 WDAY?
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 WDAY 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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