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5 / 10Stock Comparison
FSLY vs CFLT vs NET vs DDOG vs GTLB
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Software - Infrastructure
Software - Infrastructure
Software - Application
Software - Application
FSLY vs CFLT vs NET vs DDOG vs GTLB — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Application | Software - Infrastructure | Software - Infrastructure | Software - Application | Software - Application |
| Market Cap | $3.21B | $10.65B | $69.19B | $71.25B | $4.31B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $653M | $1.17B | $2.33B | $3.67B | $957M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-103M | $-295M | $-87M | $136M | $-56M |
| Gross Margin | 58.7% | 74.3% | 73.5% | 79.9% | 87.5% |
| Operating Margin | -15.9% | -32.6% | -9.1% | -0.7% | -12.2% |
| Forward P/E | 64.7x | 60.6x | 174.4x | 86.9x | 32.3x |
| Total Debt | $430M | $1.11B | $3.70B | $1.54B | $0.00 |
| Cash & Equiv. | $181M | $347M | $944M | $401M | $230M |
FSLY vs CFLT vs NET vs DDOG vs GTLB — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Oct 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fastly, Inc. (FSLY) | 100 | 40.5 | -59.5% |
| Confluent, Inc. (CFLT) | 100 | 45.1 | -54.9% |
| Cloudflare, Inc. (NET) | 100 | 100.6 | +0.6% |
| Datadog, Inc. (DDOG) | 100 | 119.8 | +19.8% |
| GitLab Inc. (GTLB) | 100 | 23.2 | -76.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FSLY vs CFLT vs NET vs DDOG vs GTLB
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
FSLY has the current edge in this matchup, primarily because of its strength in income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 1.02
- Lower volatility, beta 1.02, Low D/E 46.3%, current ratio 2.61x
- Beta 1.02 vs NET's 1.43, lower leverage
- +169.2% vs GTLB's -47.5%
CFLT is the clearest fit if your priority is defensive.
- Beta 1.16, current ratio 3.83x
NET ranks third and is worth considering specifically for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 29.8%, EPS growth -26.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 30.5%
- 9.9% 10Y total return vs DDOG's 433.0%
- 29.8% revenue growth vs FSLY's 14.8%
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%
GTLB is the clearest fit if your priority is value.
- Lower P/E (32.3x vs 86.9x)
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 29.8% revenue growth vs FSLY's 14.8% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (32.3x vs 86.9x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 3.7% margin vs CFLT's -25.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.02 vs NET's 1.43, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | Tie | None of these 5 stocks pay a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +169.2% vs GTLB's -47.5% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 2.1% ROA vs CFLT's -9.9%, ROIC -0.8% vs -15.8% |
FSLY vs CFLT vs NET vs DDOG vs GTLB — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FSLY vs CFLT vs NET vs DDOG vs GTLB — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 5 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
DDOG leads in 2 of 6 categories
GTLB leads 1 • NET leads 1 • FSLY leads 0 • CFLT leads 0 • 1 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
DDOG leads this category, winning 4 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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $653M | $1.2B | $2.3B | $3.7B | $957M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$32M | -$358M | $67M | $73M | -$104M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$103M | -$295M | -$87M | $136M | -$56M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $55M | $50M | $379M | $1.1B | $222M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +58.7% | +74.3% | +73.5% | +79.9% | +87.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -15.9% | -32.6% | -9.1% | -0.7% | -12.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -15.8% | -25.3% | -3.7% | +3.7% | -5.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.4% | +4.3% | +16.3% | +29.4% | +23.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.8% | +20.5% | +33.5% | +32.2% | +23.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +51.9% | +14.8% | +36.4% | +120.9% | -133.3% |
Valuation Metrics
GTLB leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, NET's 817.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than DDOG's 926.1x.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.2B | $10.7B | $69.2B | $71.2B | $4.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.5B | $11.4B | $71.9B | $72.4B | $4.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -24.71x | -36.03x | -675.20x | 667.20x | -74.23x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 64.68x | 60.63x | 174.36x | 86.87x | 32.31x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — | 816.97x | 926.09x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.14x | 9.13x | 31.92x | 20.79x | 4.50x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.24x | 9.11x | 46.76x | 19.49x | 4.16x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 48.82x | 175.59x | 213.35x | 71.21x | 19.40x |
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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -10.9% | -25.3% | -6.2% | +3.8% | -5.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -6.9% | -9.9% | -1.5% | +2.1% | -3.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -7.8% | -15.8% | -4.6% | -0.8% | -12.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -8.9% | -17.2% | -6.6% | -1.0% | -12.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.46x | 0.95x | 2.54x | 0.41x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $250M | $758M | $2.8B | $1.1B | -$230M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $181M | $347M | $944M | $401M | $230M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $430M | $1.1B | $3.7B | $1.5B | $0 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -15.29x | -262.57x | -23.24x | 4.46x | — |
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 $28,431 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,501 for GTLB. Over the past 12 months, FSLY leads with a +169.2% total return vs GTLB's -47.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NET at 61.7% vs GTLB's -4.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +101.3% | +2.9% | -0.1% | +49.6% | -28.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +169.2% | +47.7% | +57.5% | +83.3% | -47.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +64.5% | +36.6% | +322.8% | +154.9% | -14.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -51.4% | -31.2% | +184.3% | +160.4% | -75.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -14.5% | -31.2% | +987.8% | +433.0% | -75.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.0% | +11.0% | +61.7% | +36.6% | -4.9% |
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 1.02 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NET's 1.43 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 GTLB's 48.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.02x | 1.16x | 1.43x | 1.33x | 1.17x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $34.82 | $31.00 | $260.00 | $201.69 | $54.08 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $6.29 | $15.64 | $121.46 | $98.01 | $18.74 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +58.9% | +100.0% | +75.3% | +99.2% | +48.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 39.7 | 73.4 | 72.6 | 83.9 | 65.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 13.1M | 8.0M | 4.0M | 5.1M | 6.4M |
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", GTLB as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 39.1% upside for GTLB (target: $36) vs -0.5% for CFLT (target: $31).
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $23.43 | $30.85 | $221.20 | $202.92 | $36.13 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 17 | 38 | 40 | 47 | 30 |
| 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% | +0.3% |
DDOG leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). GTLB leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
FSLY vs CFLT vs NET vs DDOG vs GTLB: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FSLY or CFLT or NET or DDOG or GTLB 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 667. 2x trailing P/E (86. 9x 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 or GTLB?
On forward P/E, GitLab Inc.
is actually cheaper at 32. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FSLY or CFLT or NET or DDOG or GTLB?
Over the past 5 years, Cloudflare, Inc.
(NET) delivered a total return of +184. 3%, compared to -75. 0% for GitLab Inc. (GTLB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NET returned +987. 8% versus GTLB's -75. 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 — FSLY or CFLT or NET or DDOG or GTLB?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Fastly, Inc.
(FSLY) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 02β versus Cloudflare, Inc. 's 1. 43β — meaning NET is approximately 41% 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 or GTLB?
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 -775. 0% for GitLab Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GTLB leads at 31. 1% 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 or GTLB?
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 — GTLB leads at 87. 5%, 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 or GTLB more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, GitLab Inc.
(GTLB) trades at 32. 3x forward P/E versus 174. 4x for Cloudflare, Inc. — 142. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GTLB: 39. 1% to $36. 13.
08Which pays a better dividend — FSLY or CFLT or NET or DDOG or GTLB?
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 or GTLB 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 (+987. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NET: +987. 8%, GTLB: -75. 0%), 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 and GTLB?
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; GTLB is a small-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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