Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD) vs Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) 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 | CRWD | 29.4% revenue growth vs FTNT's 14.2% |
| Value | FTNT | Lower P/E (26.6x vs 100.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | FTNT | 27.3% net margin vs CRWD's -6.9% |
| Stability / Safety | FTNT | Beta 1.23 vs CRWD's 1.49 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CRWD | -4.5% vs FTNT's -26.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | FTNT | 17.8% ROA vs CRWD's -3.2% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
CrowdStrike is a cybersecurity company that provides cloud-native endpoint protection and threat intelligence through its Falcon platform. It generates revenue primarily from subscription fees for its security software modules — with cloud security, identity protection, and threat intelligence being key offerings — and managed security services. The company's competitive advantage lies in its AI-powered threat graph that analyzes trillions of security events weekly, creating a powerful network effect where each customer improves protection for all others.
Fortinet is a cybersecurity company that provides integrated network security solutions through hardware appliances, software, and cloud services. It generates revenue primarily from selling security hardware like firewalls (~60% of product revenue) and software subscriptions/services (~40% of total revenue) including support, cloud security, and software-as-a-service offerings. The company's key advantage is its Security Fabric architecture—a unified platform approach that integrates various security functions across networks, endpoints, and clouds, creating switching costs and operational efficiencies for customers.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
FTNT leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
FTNT and CRWD operate at a comparable scale, with $6.8B and $4.6B in trailing revenue. FTNT is the more profitable business, keeping 27.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CRWD's -6.9%. On growth, CRWD holds the edge at +22.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CRWDCrowdStrike Holdi… | FTNTFortinet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.6B | $6.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$150M | $2.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$314M | $1.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.2B | $2.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +74.3% | +80.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -7.9% | +30.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -6.9% | +27.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +25.3% | +32.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +22.2% | +14.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -100.0% | 0.0% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, FTNT's 25.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CRWD's 964.8x.
| Metric | CRWDCrowdStrike Holdi… | FTNTFortinet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $93.8B | $58.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $90.2B | $57.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -4726.56x | 32.52x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 100.16x | 26.56x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 964.80x | 25.64x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 23.72x | 8.64x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 27.43x | 47.77x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 87.81x | 26.40x |
Profitability & Efficiency
FTNT delivers a 149.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $150 in annual profit, vs $-8 for CRWD. CRWD carries lower financial leverage with a 0.24x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to FTNT's 0.81x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), FTNT scores 7/9 vs CRWD's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CRWDCrowdStrike Holdi… | FTNTFortinet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -7.7% | +149.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -3.2% | +17.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -2.6% | +37.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.24x | 0.81x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$3.5B | -$1.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $4.3B | $2.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $789M | $996M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -7.52x | 112.99x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in FTNT five years ago would be worth $22,808 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $16,651 for CRWD. Over the past 12 months, CRWD leads with a -4.5% total return vs FTNT's -26.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CRWD at 45.5% vs FTNT's 10.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CRWDCrowdStrike Holdi… | FTNTFortinet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -18.0% | +1.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -4.5% | -26.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +208.2% | +33.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +66.5% | +128.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +541.3% | +1291.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +45.5% | +10.0% |
Risk & Volatility
FTNT is the less volatile stock with a 1.23 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CRWD's 1.49 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. FTNT currently trades 71.4% from its 52-week high vs CRWD's 65.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CRWDCrowdStrike Holdi… | FTNTFortinet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.49x | 1.23x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $566.90 | $110.67 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $298.00 | $70.12 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +65.6% | +71.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 40.2 | 47.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.3M | 5.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CRWD as "Buy" and FTNT as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 42.9% upside for CRWD (target: $532) vs 8.5% for FTNT (target: $86).
| Metric | CRWDCrowdStrike Holdi… | FTNTFortinet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $531.69 | $85.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 63 | 67 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +3.9% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CrowdStrike Holding… (CRWD) | 100 | 742.18 | +642.2% |
| Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) | 100 | 369.16 | +269.2% |
Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) returned +128% over 5 years vs CrowdStrike Holding… (CRWD)'s +67%. A $10,000 investment in FTNT 5 years ago would be worth $22,808 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CrowdStrike Holding… (CRWD) | $53M | $4.0B | +7395.7% |
| Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) | $1.3B | $6.8B | +433.1% |
Fortinet, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.3B (2016) to $6.8B (2025) — a 20.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CrowdStrike Holding… (CRWD) | -173.2% | -0.5% | +99.7% |
| Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) | 2.5% | 27.3% | +979.6% |
Fortinet, Inc.'s net margin went from 3% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) | 242.8 | 32.7 | -86.5% |
Fortinet, Inc. has traded in a 33x–243x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~33x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CrowdStrike Holding… (CRWD) | -0.53 | -0.08 | +85.2% |
| Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) | 0.04 | 2.43 | +6650.0% |
Fortinet, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.04 (2016) to $2.43 (2025) — a 60% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2025 (+265% vs 2021). Fortinet, Inc. generated $2B FCF in 2025 (+85% vs 2021).
CRWD vs FTNT: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CRWD or FTNT a better buy right now?
Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) offers the better valuation at 32.5x trailing P/E (26.6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD) a "Buy" — based on 63 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 — CRWD or FTNT?
On forward P/E, Fortinet, Inc. is actually cheaper at 26.6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CRWD or FTNT?
Over the past 5 years, Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) delivered a total return of +128.1%, compared to +66.5% for CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD). A $10,000 investment in FTNT five years ago would be worth approximately $23K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FTNT returned +1291% versus CRWD's +541.3%. 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 — CRWD or FTNT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) is the lower-risk stock at 1.23β versus CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc.'s 1.49β — meaning CRWD is approximately 21% more volatile than FTNT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 81% for Fortinet, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CRWD or FTNT?
Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) is the more profitable company, earning 27.3% net margin versus -0.5% for CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 27.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FTNT leads at 30.6% versus -3.0% for CRWD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FTNT leads at 80.8%, 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 CRWD or FTNT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) trades at 26.6x forward P/E versus 100.2x for CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. — 73.6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CRWD: 42.9% to $531.69.
07Which pays a better dividend — CRWD or FTNT?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend. All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
08Is CRWD or FTNT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.23), +1291% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FTNT: +1291%, CRWD: +541.3%), 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 CRWD and FTNT?
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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