NET
Cloudflare, Inc.
Software - Infrastructure
Market Cap$87.85B
5Y Perf.+755.1%
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Stock Comparison
NET vs FSLY vs AKAM vs ZS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
FSLY
Fastly, Inc.
Software - Application
Market Cap$4.94B
5Y Perf.-26.8%
AKAM
Akamai Technologies, Inc.
Software - Infrastructure
Market Cap$18.30B
5Y Perf.+15.3%
ZS
Zscaler, Inc.
Software - Infrastructure
Market Cap$22.29B
5Y Perf.+41.5%
NET vs FSLY vs AKAM vs ZS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NET | FSLY | AKAM | ZS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Infrastructure | Software - Application | Software - Infrastructure | Software - Infrastructure |
| Market Cap | $87.85B | $4.94B | $18.30B | $22.29B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.17B | $653M | $4.21B | $3.00B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-102M | $-103M | $452M | $-68M |
| Gross Margin | 74.7% | 58.7% | 58.9% | 76.6% |
| Operating Margin | -9.4% | -15.9% | 13.5% | -4.8% |
| Forward P/E | 221.4x | 118.4x | 17.8x | 34.6x |
| Total Debt | $3.70B | $430M | $4.63B | $1.80B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $944M | $181M | $518M | $2.39B |
NET vs FSLY vs AKAM vs ZS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NET
FSLY
AKAM
ZS
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare, Inc. (NET) | 100 | 855.1 | +755.1% |
| Fastly, Inc. (FSLY) | 100 | 73.2 | -26.8% |
| Akamai Technologies… (AKAM) | 100 | 115.3 | +15.3% |
| Zscaler, Inc. (ZS) | 100 | 141.5 | +41.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NET vs FSLY vs AKAM vs ZS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: AKAM leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Cloudflare, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion. FSLY also leads in specific categories worth noting. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
NET
Cloudflare, Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
NET is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if long-term compounding is your priority.
- 12.8% 10Y total return vs ZS's 320.7%
- 29.8% revenue growth vs AKAM's 4.7%
Best for: long-term compounding
FSLY
Fastly, Inc.
The Defensive Pick
FSLY is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.95, Low D/E 46.3%, current ratio 2.61x
- Beta 0.95, current ratio 2.61x
- +441.5% vs ZS's -40.4%
Best for: sleep-well-at-night and defensive
AKAM
Akamai Technologies, Inc.
The Income Pick
AKAM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability.
- beta 0.73
- Lower P/E (17.8x vs 34.6x)
- 10.7% margin vs FSLY's -15.8%
- Beta 0.73 vs NET's 1.53, lower leverage
Best for: income & stability
ZS
Zscaler, Inc.
The Growth Play
ZS is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 23.3%, EPS growth 30.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 34.8%
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NET | 29.8% revenue growth vs AKAM's 4.7% |
| Value | AKAM | Lower P/E (17.8x vs 34.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | AKAM | 10.7% margin vs FSLY's -15.8% |
| Stability / Safety | AKAM | Beta 0.73 vs NET's 1.53, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | None of these 4 stocks pay a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | FSLY | +441.5% vs ZS's -40.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AKAM | 3.9% ROA vs FSLY's -6.9%, ROIC 4.5% vs -7.8% |
NET vs FSLY vs AKAM vs ZS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
FY 2024
FY 2025
NET vs FSLY vs AKAM vs ZS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAKAMLAGGINGZS
Who Leads Where
AKAM leads in 3 of 6 categories
NET leads 1 • FSLY leads 0 • ZS leads 0 • 1 tied
Explore the data ↓ZSZscaler, Inc.
0leads
FSLYFastly, Inc.
0leads
NETCloudflare, Inc.
1leads
AKAMAkamai Technologies, …
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs NETvs FSLYMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
AKAM5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AKAM6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NET4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
AKAM2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — AKAM and ZS each lead in 2 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AKAM is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.2B annually — 6.4x FSLY's $653M. AKAM is the more profitable business, keeping 10.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to FSLY's -15.8%. On growth, NET holds the edge at +33.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NETCloudflare, Inc. | FSLYFastly, Inc. | AKAMAkamai Technologi… | ZSZscaler, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.2B | $653M | $4.2B | $3.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $118M | -$32M | $1.1B | -$52M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$102M | -$103M | $452M | -$68M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $324M | $59M | $699M | $944M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +74.7% | +58.7% | +58.9% | +76.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -9.4% | -15.9% | +13.5% | -4.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -4.7% | -15.8% | +10.7% | -2.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.0% | +9.0% | +16.6% | +31.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +33.6% | +19.8% | +7.4% | +25.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.8% | +51.9% | -36.3% | -3.2% |
Evenly matched — AKAM and ZS each lead in 2 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
AKAM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, AKAM's 19.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NET's 1028.8x.
| Metric | NETCloudflare, Inc. | FSLYFastly, Inc. | AKAMAkamai Technologi… | ZSZscaler, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $87.8B | $4.9B | $18.3B | $22.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $90.6B | $5.2B | $22.4B | $21.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -857.21x | -38.04x | 37.31x | -514.19x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 221.36x | 118.37x | 17.79x | 34.60x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | 15.35x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 1028.76x | — | 18.97x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 40.52x | 7.91x | 4.59x | 8.34x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 59.36x | 4.99x | 3.86x | 11.91x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 270.86x | 75.08x | 21.95x | 30.68x |
AKAM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AKAM leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AKAM delivers a 9.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $-11 for FSLY. FSLY carries lower financial leverage with a 0.46x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NET's 2.54x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), FSLY scores 5/9 vs NET's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | NETCloudflare, Inc. | FSLYFastly, Inc. | AKAMAkamai Technologi… | ZSZscaler, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -7.5% | -10.9% | +9.1% | -3.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -1.9% | -6.9% | +3.9% | -1.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -4.6% | -7.8% | +4.5% | -8.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -6.6% | -8.9% | +6.2% | -4.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.54x | 0.46x | 0.95x | 1.00x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.8B | $250M | $4.1B | -$592M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $944M | $181M | $518M | $2.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.7B | $430M | $4.6B | $1.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -9.58x | -11.45x | 12.82x | 8.97x |
AKAM leads this category, winning 6 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 $35,991 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,462 for FSLY. Over the past 12 months, FSLY leads with a +441.5% total return vs ZS's -40.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NET at 75.1% vs ZS's 8.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NETCloudflare, Inc. | FSLYFastly, Inc. | AKAMAkamai Technologi… | ZSZscaler, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +26.8% | +209.8% | +43.3% | -37.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +103.3% | +441.5% | +47.2% | -40.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +436.8% | +153.2% | +53.7% | +28.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +259.9% | -25.4% | +10.7% | -17.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1281.1% | +31.6% | +144.3% | +320.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +75.1% | +36.3% | +15.4% | +8.8% |
NET leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AKAM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AKAM is the less volatile stock with a 0.73 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. AKAM currently trades 99.8% from its 52-week high vs ZS's 41.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NETCloudflare, Inc. | FSLYFastly, Inc. | AKAMAkamai Technologi… | ZSZscaler, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.53x | 0.95x | 0.73x | 0.98x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $260.00 | $34.82 | $122.22 | $336.99 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $120.46 | $5.63 | $69.78 | $114.63 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.6% | +90.7% | +99.8% | +41.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.8 | 63.1 | 68.1 | 52.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.6M | 12.1M | 4.6M | 2.9M |
AKAM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: NET as "Buy", FSLY as "Hold", AKAM as "Hold", ZS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 99.7% upside for ZS (target: $277) vs -38.2% for FSLY (target: $20).
| Metric | NETCloudflare, Inc. | FSLYFastly, Inc. | AKAMAkamai Technologi… | ZSZscaler, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $216.43 | $19.50 | $111.18 | $277.18 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 40 | 17 | 52 | 52 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | +3.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
AKAM leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). NET leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallAkamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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NET vs FSLY vs AKAM vs ZS: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NET or FSLY or AKAM or ZS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Cloudflare, Inc.
(NET) is the stronger pick with 29. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 7% for Akamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM). Akamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM) offers the better valuation at 37. 3x trailing P/E (17. 8x 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 — NET or FSLY or AKAM or ZS?
On forward P/E, Akamai Technologies, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 17. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NET or FSLY or AKAM or ZS?
Over the past 5 years, Cloudflare, Inc.
(NET) delivered a total return of +259. 9%, compared to -25. 4% for Fastly, Inc. (FSLY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NET returned +1281% versus FSLY's +31. 6%. 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 — NET or FSLY or AKAM or ZS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Akamai Technologies, Inc.
(AKAM) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 73β versus Cloudflare, Inc. 's 1. 53β — meaning NET is approximately 110% more volatile than AKAM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Fastly, Inc. (FSLY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 46% versus 3% for Cloudflare, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NET or FSLY or AKAM or ZS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cloudflare, Inc.
(NET) is pulling ahead at 29. 8% versus 4. 7% for Akamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Zscaler, Inc. grew EPS 30. 8% year-over-year, compared to -26. 1% for Cloudflare, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ZS leads at 34. 8% 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 — NET or FSLY or AKAM or ZS?
Akamai Technologies, Inc.
(AKAM) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 7% net margin versus -19. 5% for Fastly, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AKAM leads at 13. 4% versus -18. 9% for FSLY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ZS leads at 76. 9%, 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 NET or FSLY or AKAM or ZS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Akamai Technologies, Inc.
(AKAM) trades at 17. 8x forward P/E versus 221. 4x for Cloudflare, Inc. — 203. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ZS: 99. 7% to $277. 18.
08Which pays a better dividend — NET or FSLY or AKAM or ZS?
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 NET or FSLY or AKAM or ZS 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 (+1281% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NET: +1281%, FSLY: +31. 6%), 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 NET and FSLY and AKAM and ZS?
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: NET is a mid-cap high-growth stock; FSLY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AKAM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ZS 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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