Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) vs Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | FTNT | 14.2% revenue growth vs CHKP's 6.2% |
| Value | CHKP | Lower P/E (14.6x vs 26.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | CHKP | 37.6% net margin vs FTNT's 27.3% |
| Stability / Safety | CHKP | Beta 0.61 vs FTNT's 1.23, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | FTNT | -26.8% vs CHKP's -31.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | FTNT | 17.8% ROA vs CHKP's 17.7% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
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.
Check Point Software Technologies is a cybersecurity company that develops and sells a comprehensive suite of security solutions for networks, endpoints, cloud environments, and mobile devices. It generates revenue primarily through software license sales and subscription services — including security gateways, threat prevention technologies, and cloud security offerings — along with technical support and professional services. The company's key advantage is its integrated Check Point Infinity Architecture, which provides unified protection across multiple attack vectors and environments through a single management console.
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
CHKP leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). FTNT leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
FTNT is the larger business by revenue, generating $6.8B annually — 2.5x CHKP's $2.7B. CHKP is the more profitable business, keeping 37.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to FTNT's 27.3%. On growth, FTNT holds the edge at +14.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | FTNTFortinet, Inc. | CHKPCheck Point Softw… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.8B | $2.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.2B | $946M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.9B | $1.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.2B | $1.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +80.8% | +86.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +30.6% | +31.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +27.3% | +37.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +32.7% | +43.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.8% | +6.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | 0.0% | +79.2% |
Valuation Metrics
At 20.4x trailing earnings, CHKP trades at a 37% valuation discount to FTNT's 32.5x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), FTNT offers better value at 0.98x vs CHKP's 3.11x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | FTNTFortinet, Inc. | CHKPCheck Point Softw… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $58.8B | $16.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $57.3B | $16.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 32.52x | 20.38x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 26.56x | 14.58x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.98x | 3.11x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 25.64x | 16.68x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 8.64x | 6.42x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 47.77x | 6.18x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 26.40x | 16.03x |
Profitability & Efficiency
FTNT delivers a 149.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $150 in annual profit, vs $33 for CHKP. CHKP carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to FTNT's 0.81x.
| Metric | FTNTFortinet, Inc. | CHKPCheck Point Softw… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +149.8% | +32.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +17.8% | +17.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | +28.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +37.7% | +23.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.81x | 0.01x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$1.5B | -$476M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.5B | $506M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $996M | $30M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 112.99x | 486.67x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in FTNT five years ago would be worth $22,808 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,454 for CHKP. Over the past 12 months, FTNT leads with a -26.8% total return vs CHKP's -31.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors FTNT at 10.0% vs CHKP's 7.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FTNTFortinet, Inc. | CHKPCheck Point Softw… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.5% | -16.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -26.8% | -31.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +33.0% | +22.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +128.1% | +34.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1291.4% | +83.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +10.0% | +7.1% |
Risk & Volatility
CHKP is the less volatile stock with a 0.61 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than FTNT's 1.23 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 CHKP's 64.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | FTNTFortinet, Inc. | CHKPCheck Point Softw… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.23x | 0.61x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $110.67 | $234.36 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $70.12 | $150.38 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +71.4% | +64.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 47.1 | 30.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.6M | 1.1M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FTNT as "Hold" and CHKP as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 36.7% upside for CHKP (target: $208) vs 8.5% for FTNT (target: $86).
| Metric | FTNTFortinet, Inc. | CHKPCheck Point Softw… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $85.71 | $207.93 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 67 | 62 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.9% | +7.9% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) | 100 | 369.16 | +269.2% |
| Check Point Softwar… (CHKP) | 100 | 173.08 | +73.1% |
Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) returned +128% over 5 years vs Check Point Softwar… (CHKP)'s +35%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) | $1.3B | $6.8B | +433.1% |
| Check Point Softwar… (CHKP) | $1.7B | $2.6B | +47.3% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) | 2.5% | 27.3% | +979.6% |
| Check Point Softwar… (CHKP) | 41.6% | 33.0% | -20.8% |
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% |
| Check Point Softwar… (CHKP) | 21.5 | 25 | +16.3% |
Fortinet, Inc. has traded in a 33x–243x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~33x. Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. has traded in a 19x–25x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~20x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) | 0.04 | 2.43 | +6650.0% |
| Check Point Softwar… (CHKP) | 4.18 | 7.46 | +78.5% |
Fortinet, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.04 (2016) to $2.43 (2025) — a 60% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Fortinet, Inc. generated $2B FCF in 2025 (+85% vs 2021). Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. generated $1B FCF in 2024 (-13% vs 2021).
FTNT vs CHKP: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FTNT or CHKP a better buy right now?
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP) offers the better valuation at 20.4x trailing P/E (14.6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) a "Hold" — based on 67 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 — FTNT or CHKP?
On trailing P/E, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP) is the cheapest at 20.4x versus Fortinet, Inc. at 32.5x. On forward P/E, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. is actually cheaper at 14.6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Fortinet, Inc. wins at 0.80x versus Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.'s 2.22x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FTNT or CHKP?
Over the past 5 years, Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) delivered a total return of +128.1%, compared to +34.5% for Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP). 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 CHKP's +83.1%. 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 — FTNT or CHKP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP) is the lower-risk stock at 0.61β versus Fortinet, Inc.'s 1.23β — meaning FTNT is approximately 101% more volatile than CHKP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 81% for Fortinet, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — FTNT or CHKP?
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP) is the more profitable company, earning 33.0% net margin versus 27.3% for Fortinet, Inc. — meaning it keeps 33.0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CHKP leads at 34.2% versus 30.6% for FTNT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CHKP leads at 87.6%, 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 FTNT or CHKP more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.80x versus Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.'s 2.22x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP) trades at 14.6x forward P/E versus 26.6x for Fortinet, Inc. — 12.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CHKP: 36.7% to $207.93.
07Which pays a better dividend — FTNT or CHKP?
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 FTNT or CHKP 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%, CHKP: +83.1%), 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.
09What are the main differences between FTNT and CHKP?
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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.