FORR
Forrester Research, Inc.
Consulting Services
Market Cap$118M
5Y Perf.-80.6%
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Stock Comparison
FORR vs IT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
IT
Gartner, Inc.
Information Technology Services
Market Cap$10.46B
5Y Perf.+24.1%
FORR vs IT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | FORR | IT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Consulting Services | Information Technology Services |
| Market Cap | $118M | $10.46B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $404M | $6.47B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-85M | $741M |
| Gross Margin | 65.9% | 68.2% |
| Operating Margin | -20.6% | 16.4% |
| Forward P/E | 8.0x | 11.4x |
| Total Debt | $73M | $3.62B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $56M | $1.72B |
FORR vs IT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
FORR
IT
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forrester Research,… (FORR) | 100 | 19.4 | -80.6% |
| Gartner, Inc. (IT) | 100 | 124.1 | +24.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FORR vs IT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: FORR and IT are tied at the top with 3 categories each — the right choice depends on your priorities. Gartner, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
FORR
Forrester Research, Inc.
The Income Pick
FORR has the current edge in this matchup, primarily because of its strength in income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 6 yrs, beta 0.68
- Lower volatility, beta 0.68, Low D/E 31.6%, current ratio 0.99x
- Beta 0.68, current ratio 0.99x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
IT
Gartner, Inc.
The Growth Play
IT is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 3.7%, EPS growth -39.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.9%
- 57.1% 10Y total return vs FORR's -76.5%
- 3.7% revenue growth vs FORR's -10.0%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | IT | 3.7% revenue growth vs FORR's -10.0% |
| Value | FORR | Lower P/E (8.0x vs 11.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | IT | 11.4% margin vs FORR's -21.1% |
| Stability / Safety | FORR | Beta 0.68 vs IT's 0.94, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | FORR | -36.2% vs IT's -65.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | IT | 9.5% ROA vs FORR's -20.5%, ROIC 33.9% vs 0.2% |
FORR vs IT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
FORR vs IT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLFORRLAGGINGIT
ITGartner, Inc.
3leads
FORRForrester Research, I…
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6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ITMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
IT5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
FORR5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
IT5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
IT4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
FORR2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
FORR1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IT is the larger business by revenue, generating $6.5B annually — 16.0x FORR's $404M. IT is the more profitable business, keeping 11.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to FORR's -21.1%. On growth, IT holds the edge at -1.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | FORRForrester Researc… | ITGartner, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $404M | $6.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$64M | $1.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$85M | $741M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $20M | $1.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +65.9% | +68.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -20.6% | +16.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -21.1% | +11.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.9% | +19.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -8.0% | -1.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +63.3% | +17.3% |
IT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
FORR leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, FORR's 4.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than IT's 10.1x.
| Metric | FORRForrester Researc… | ITGartner, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $118M | $10.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $134M | $12.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -20.70x | 15.49x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.96x | 11.42x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.58x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.35x | 10.08x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.27x | 1.61x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.52x | 33.69x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 8.90x |
FORR leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IT leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IT delivers a 119.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $120 in annual profit, vs $-54 for FORR. FORR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.32x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to IT's 11.31x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), FORR scores 6/9 vs IT's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | FORRForrester Researc… | ITGartner, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -53.9% | +119.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -20.5% | +9.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +0.2% | +33.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +0.2% | +23.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.32x | 11.31x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $16M | $1.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $56M | $1.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $73M | $3.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -28.89x | 15.64x |
IT leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
IT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in IT five years ago would be worth $6,473 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,403 for FORR. Over the past 12 months, FORR leads with a -36.2% total return vs IT's -65.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors IT at -21.0% vs FORR's -37.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FORRForrester Researc… | ITGartner, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -23.8% | -36.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -36.2% | -65.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -75.6% | -50.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -86.0% | -35.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -76.5% | +57.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -37.5% | -21.0% |
IT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FORR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FORR is the less volatile stock with a 0.68 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than IT's 0.94 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. FORR currently trades 53.7% from its 52-week high vs IT's 33.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | FORRForrester Researc… | ITGartner, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.68x | 0.94x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $11.57 | $451.73 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $4.88 | $139.18 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +53.7% | +33.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 56.1 | 42.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 112K | 1.5M |
FORR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
FORR leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FORR as "Hold" and IT as "Hold".
| Metric | FORRForrester Researc… | ITGartner, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $189.30 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 4 | 18 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 6 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +13.5% | +19.0% |
FORR leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
IT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). FORR leads in 3 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Best OverallForrester Research, Inc. (FORR)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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FORR vs IT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FORR or IT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Gartner, Inc.
(IT) is the stronger pick with 3. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 0% for Forrester Research, Inc. (FORR). Gartner, Inc. (IT) offers the better valuation at 15. 5x trailing P/E (11. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Forrester Research, Inc. (FORR) a "Hold" — based on 4 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 — FORR or IT?
On forward P/E, Forrester Research, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 8. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FORR or IT?
Over the past 5 years, Gartner, Inc.
(IT) delivered a total return of -35. 3%, compared to -86. 0% for Forrester Research, Inc. (FORR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IT returned +55. 1% versus FORR's -77. 0%. 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 — FORR or IT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Forrester Research, Inc.
(FORR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 68β versus Gartner, Inc. 's 0. 94β — meaning IT is approximately 37% more volatile than FORR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Forrester Research, Inc. (FORR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 11% for Gartner, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — FORR or IT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Gartner, Inc.
(IT) is pulling ahead at 3. 7% versus -10. 0% for Forrester Research, Inc. (FORR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Gartner, Inc. grew EPS -39. 7% year-over-year, compared to -287. 5% for Forrester Research, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IT leads at 5. 9% 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 — FORR or IT?
Gartner, Inc.
(IT) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 2% net margin versus -1. 3% for Forrester Research, Inc. — meaning it keeps 11. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IT leads at 15. 8% versus 0. 2% for FORR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FORR leads at 97. 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.
07Is FORR or IT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Forrester Research, Inc.
(FORR) trades at 8. 0x forward P/E versus 11. 4x for Gartner, Inc. — 3. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — FORR or IT?
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.
09Is FORR or IT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Forrester Research, Inc.
(FORR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 68)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FORR: -77. 0%, IT: +55. 1%), 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 FORR and IT?
These companies operate in different sectors (FORR (Industrials) and IT (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: FORR is a small-cap quality compounder stock; IT is a mid-cap deep-value stock. 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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