FSLY
Fastly, Inc.
Software - Application
Market Cap$3.05B
5Y Perf.-67.3%
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Stock Comparison
FSLY vs CFLT vs NET vs DDOG
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CFLT
Confluent, Inc.
Software - Infrastructure
Market Cap$10.65B
5Y Perf.-35.4%
NET
Cloudflare, Inc.
Software - Infrastructure
Market Cap$90.83B
5Y Perf.+142.9%
DDOG
Datadog, Inc.
Software - Application
Market Cap$67.18B
5Y Perf.+81.3%
FSLY vs CFLT vs NET vs DDOG — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | FSLY | CFLT | NET | DDOG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Application | Software - Infrastructure | Software - Infrastructure | Software - Application |
| Market Cap | $3.05B | $10.65B | $90.83B | $67.18B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $653M | $1.17B | $2.33B | $3.67B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-103M | $-295M | $-87M | $136M |
| Gross Margin | 58.7% | 74.3% | 73.5% | 79.9% |
| Operating Margin | -15.9% | -32.6% | -9.1% | -0.7% |
| Forward P/E | 73.1x | 60.6x | 228.9x | 88.0x |
| Total Debt | $430M | $1.11B | $3.70B | $1.54B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $181M | $347M | $944M | $401M |
FSLY vs CFLT vs NET vs DDOG — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
FSLY
CFLT
NET
DDOG
| Stock | Jun 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fastly, Inc. (FSLY) | 100 | 32.7 | -67.3% |
| Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) | 100 | 64.6 | -35.4% |
| Cloudflare, Inc. (NET) | 100 | 242.9 | +142.9% |
| Datadog, Inc. (DDOG) | 100 | 181.3 | +81.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FSLY vs CFLT vs NET vs DDOG
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: FSLY and DDOG are tied at the top with 2 categories each — the right choice depends on your priorities. Datadog, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and operational efficiency and capital deployment. CFLT and NET also each lead in at least one category. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
FSLY
Fastly, Inc.
The Income Pick
FSLY has the current edge in this matchup, primarily because of its strength in income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 0.95
- Lower volatility, beta 0.95, Low D/E 46.3%, current ratio 2.61x
- Beta 0.95 vs NET's 1.53, lower leverage
- +223.4% vs CFLT's +51.7%
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
CFLT
Confluent, Inc.
The Defensive Pick
CFLT is the clearest fit if your priority is defensive.
- Beta 1.17, current ratio 3.83x
- Lower P/E (60.6x vs 88.0x)
Best for: defensive
NET
Cloudflare, Inc.
The Growth Play
NET is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 29.8%, EPS growth -26.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 30.5%
- 13.3% 10Y total return vs DDOG's 402.6%
- 29.8% revenue growth vs FSLY's 14.8%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
DDOG
Datadog, Inc.
The Quality Compounder
DDOG is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if quality and efficiency is your priority.
- 3.7% margin vs CFLT's -25.3%
- 2.1% ROA vs CFLT's -9.9%, ROIC -0.8% vs -15.8%
Best for: quality and efficiency
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NET | 29.8% revenue growth vs FSLY's 14.8% |
| Value | CFLT | Lower P/E (60.6x vs 88.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | DDOG | 3.7% margin vs CFLT's -25.3% |
| Stability / Safety | FSLY | Beta 0.95 vs NET's 1.53, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | None of these 4 stocks pay a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | FSLY | +223.4% vs CFLT's +51.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | DDOG | 2.1% ROA vs CFLT's -9.9%, ROIC -0.8% vs -15.8% |
FSLY vs CFLT vs NET vs DDOG — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
FY 2025
Segment breakdown not available.
FSLY vs CFLT vs NET vs DDOG — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLDDOGLAGGINGCFLT
Who Leads Where
DDOG leads in 2 of 6 categories
FSLY leads 1 • NET leads 1 • CFLT leads 0 • 1 tied
Explore the data ↓CFLTConfluent, Inc.
0leads
NETCloudflare, Inc.
1leads
FSLYFastly, Inc.
1leads
DDOGDatadog, Inc.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs FSLYvs NETMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
DDOG5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
FSLY3/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
DDOG7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NET4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
DDOG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
DDOG is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.7B annually — 5.6x FSLY's $653M. DDOG is the more profitable business, keeping 3.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CFLT's -25.3%. On growth, NET holds the edge at +33.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | FSLYFastly, Inc. | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | NETCloudflare, Inc. | DDOGDatadog, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $653M | $1.2B | $2.3B | $3.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$32M | -$358M | $67M | $73M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$103M | -$295M | -$87M | $136M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $59M | $50M | $365M | $1.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +58.7% | +74.3% | +73.5% | +79.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -15.9% | -32.6% | -9.1% | -0.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -15.8% | -25.3% | -3.7% | +3.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +9.0% | +4.3% | +15.7% | +29.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.8% | +20.5% | +33.5% | +32.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +51.9% | +14.8% | +36.4% | +120.9% |
DDOG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
FSLY leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, DDOG's 874.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NET's 1062.7x.
| Metric | FSLYFastly, Inc. | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | NETCloudflare, Inc. | DDOGDatadog, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.0B | $10.7B | $90.8B | $67.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.3B | $11.4B | $93.6B | $68.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -23.49x | -36.03x | -886.38x | 629.10x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 73.12x | 60.63x | 228.90x | 87.97x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — | 1062.71x | 874.03x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.89x | 9.13x | 41.90x | 19.60x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.08x | 9.11x | 61.38x | 18.38x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 46.38x | 175.59x | 280.08x | 67.14x |
FSLY leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DDOG leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DDOG delivers a 3.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $4 in annual profit, vs $-25 for CFLT. DDOG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.41x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NET's 2.54x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CFLT scores 6/9 vs NET's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | FSLYFastly, Inc. | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | NETCloudflare, Inc. | DDOGDatadog, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -10.9% | -25.3% | -6.2% | +3.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -6.9% | -9.9% | -1.5% | +2.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -7.8% | -15.8% | -4.6% | -0.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -8.9% | -17.2% | -6.6% | -1.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.46x | 0.95x | 2.54x | 0.41x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $250M | $758M | $2.8B | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $181M | $347M | $944M | $401M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $430M | $1.1B | $3.7B | $1.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -15.29x | -262.57x | -10.22x | 4.03x |
DDOG leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NET leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NET five years ago would be worth $35,891 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,656 for FSLY. Over the past 12 months, FSLY leads with a +223.4% total return vs CFLT's +51.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NET at 77.1% vs CFLT's 11.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FSLYFastly, Inc. | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | NETCloudflare, Inc. | DDOGDatadog, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +91.4% | +2.9% | +31.1% | +41.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +223.4% | +51.7% | +111.2% | +78.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +56.4% | +36.6% | +455.1% | +140.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -53.4% | -31.2% | +258.9% | +144.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -18.7% | -31.2% | +1328.1% | +402.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.1% | +11.0% | +77.1% | +33.9% |
NET leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — FSLY and CFLT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FSLY is the less volatile stock with a 0.95 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NET's 1.53 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CFLT currently trades 100.0% from its 52-week high vs FSLY's 56.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | FSLYFastly, Inc. | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | NETCloudflare, Inc. | DDOGDatadog, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.95x | 1.17x | 1.53x | 1.40x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $34.82 | $31.00 | $260.00 | $201.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.84 | $15.64 | $120.55 | $98.01 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +56.0% | +100.0% | +98.9% | +93.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 61.1 | 73.4 | 70.1 | 66.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 12.9M | 8.0M | 3.7M | 5.0M |
Evenly matched — FSLY and CFLT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: FSLY as "Hold", CFLT as "Hold", NET as "Buy", DDOG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 0.0% upside for FSLY (target: $20) vs -15.8% for NET (target: $216).
| Metric | FSLYFastly, Inc. | CFLTConfluent, Inc. | NETCloudflare, Inc. | DDOGDatadog, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $19.50 | $30.85 | $216.43 | $174.63 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 17 | 38 | 40 | 47 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
DDOG leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). FSLY leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallDatadog, Inc. (DDOG)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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FSLY vs CFLT vs NET vs DDOG: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FSLY or CFLT or NET or DDOG a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Cloudflare, Inc.
(NET) is the stronger pick with 29. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 14. 8% for Fastly, Inc. (FSLY). Datadog, Inc. (DDOG) offers the better valuation at 629. 1x trailing P/E (88. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cloudflare, Inc. (NET) a "Buy" — based on 40 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 — FSLY or CFLT or NET or DDOG?
On forward P/E, Confluent, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 60. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FSLY or CFLT or NET or DDOG?
Over the past 5 years, Cloudflare, Inc.
(NET) delivered a total return of +258. 9%, compared to -53. 4% for Fastly, Inc. (FSLY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NET returned +1328% versus CFLT's -31. 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 — FSLY or CFLT or NET or DDOG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Fastly, Inc.
(FSLY) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 95β versus Cloudflare, Inc. 's 1. 53β — meaning NET is approximately 62% more volatile than FSLY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Datadog, Inc. (DDOG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 41% versus 3% for Cloudflare, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — FSLY or CFLT or NET or DDOG?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cloudflare, Inc.
(NET) is pulling ahead at 29. 8% versus 14. 8% for Fastly, Inc. (FSLY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Fastly, Inc. grew EPS 27. 2% year-over-year, compared to -41. 2% for Datadog, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NET leads at 30. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — FSLY or CFLT or NET or DDOG?
Datadog, Inc.
(DDOG) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 1% net margin versus -25. 3% for Confluent, Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DDOG leads at -1. 3% versus -32. 6% for CFLT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DDOG leads at 80. 0%, 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 FSLY or CFLT or NET or DDOG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Confluent, Inc.
(CFLT) trades at 60. 6x forward P/E versus 228. 9x for Cloudflare, Inc. — 168. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FSLY: 0. 0% to $19. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — FSLY or CFLT or NET or DDOG?
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 FSLY or CFLT or NET or DDOG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Cloudflare, Inc.
(NET) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1328% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NET: +1328%, CFLT: -31. 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 FSLY and CFLT and NET and DDOG?
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: FSLY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CFLT is a mid-cap high-growth stock; NET is a mid-cap high-growth stock; DDOG is a mid-cap high-growth 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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