FSLY vs PNFP

For growth investors, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.

(PNFP) is the stronger pick with 15. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 14. 8% for Fastly, Inc. (FSLY). Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (PNFP) offers the better valuation at 16. 6x trailing P/E (9. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (PNFP) a "Buy" — based on 21 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.

On forward P/E, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 9. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.

(PNFP) delivered a total return of +16. 3%, compared to -53. 4% for Fastly, Inc. (FSLY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PNFP returned +125. 4% versus FSLY's -18. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Fastly, Inc.

(FSLY) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 95β versus Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. 's 1. 11β — meaning PNFP is approximately 18% more volatile than FSLY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (PNFP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 39% versus 46% for Fastly, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.

(PNFP) is pulling ahead at 15. 3% 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 -16. 5% for Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.. 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.

Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.

(PNFP) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 6% net margin versus -19. 5% for Fastly, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PNFP leads at 20. 4% versus -18. 9% for FSLY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FSLY leads at 57. 1%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.

(PNFP) trades at 9. 6x forward P/E versus 73. 1x for Fastly, Inc. — 63. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PNFP: 19. 2% to $117. 63.

In this comparison, PNFP (0.

9% yield) pays a dividend. FSLY does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.

(PNFP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 11), 0. 9% yield, +125. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PNFP: +125. 4%, FSLY: -18. 7%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (FSLY (Technology) and PNFP (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: FSLY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PNFP is a small-cap high-growth stock. PNFP pays a dividend while FSLY 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.