NET
Cloudflare, Inc.
Software - Infrastructure
Market Cap$87.85B
5Y Perf.+755.1%
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Stock Comparison
NET vs GOOGL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
GOOGL
Alphabet Inc.
Internet Content & Information
Market Cap$4.81T
5Y Perf.+455.0%
NET vs GOOGL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NET | GOOGL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Infrastructure | Internet Content & Information |
| Market Cap | $87.85B | $4.81T |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.17B | $422.57B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-102M | $160.21B |
| Gross Margin | 74.7% | 60.4% |
| Operating Margin | -9.4% | 32.7% |
| Forward P/E | 221.4x | 29.6x |
| Total Debt | $3.70B | $59.29B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $944M | $30.71B |
NET vs GOOGL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NET
GOOGL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare, Inc. (NET) | 100 | 855.1 | +755.1% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) | 100 | 555.0 | +455.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NET vs GOOGL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: GOOGL leads in 6 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. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
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%
- 12.8% 10Y total return vs GOOGL's 10.0%
- 29.8% revenue growth vs GOOGL's 15.1%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
GOOGL
Alphabet Inc.
The Income Pick
GOOGL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 1.26, yield 0.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.26, Low D/E 14.3%, current ratio 2.01x
- Beta 1.26, yield 0.2%, current ratio 2.01x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NET | 29.8% revenue growth vs GOOGL's 15.1% |
| Value | GOOGL | Lower P/E (29.6x vs 221.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | GOOGL | 37.9% margin vs NET's -4.7% |
| Stability / Safety | GOOGL | Beta 1.26 vs NET's 1.53, lower leverage |
| Dividends | GOOGL | 0.2% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | GOOGL | +144.2% vs NET's +103.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GOOGL | 27.4% ROA vs NET's -1.9%, ROIC 25.1% vs -4.6% |
NET vs GOOGL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
NET vs GOOGL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLGOOGLLAGGINGNET
NETCloudflare, Inc.
1leads
GOOGLAlphabet Inc.
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs NETMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
GOOGL4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
GOOGL5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
GOOGL7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NET5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
GOOGL2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GOOGL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GOOGL is the larger business by revenue, generating $422.6B annually — 194.9x NET's $2.2B. GOOGL is the more profitable business, keeping 37.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NET's -4.7%. On growth, NET holds the edge at +33.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NETCloudflare, Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.2B | $422.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $118M | $161.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$102M | $160.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $324M | $73.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +74.7% | +60.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -9.4% | +32.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -4.7% | +37.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.0% | +17.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +33.6% | +21.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.8% | +81.9% |
GOOGL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
GOOGL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, GOOGL's 32.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NET's 1028.8x.
| Metric | NETCloudflare, Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $87.8B | $4.81T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $90.6B | $4.84T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -857.21x | 36.80x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 221.36x | 29.60x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.23x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 1028.76x | 32.21x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 40.52x | 11.94x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 59.36x | 11.72x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 270.86x | 65.69x |
GOOGL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GOOGL leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GOOGL delivers a 39.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $39 in annual profit, vs $-7 for NET. GOOGL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.14x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NET's 2.54x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GOOGL scores 7/9 vs NET's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NETCloudflare, Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -7.5% | +39.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -1.9% | +27.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -4.6% | +25.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -6.6% | +30.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.54x | 0.14x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.8B | $28.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $944M | $30.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.7B | $59.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -9.58x | 392.15x |
GOOGL leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NET leads this category, winning 5 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 $34,180 for GOOGL. Over the past 12 months, GOOGL leads with a +144.2% total return vs NET's +103.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NET at 75.1% vs GOOGL's 54.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NETCloudflare, Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +26.8% | +26.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +103.3% | +144.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +436.8% | +270.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +259.9% | +241.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1281.1% | +1001.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +75.1% | +54.8% |
NET leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
GOOGL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
GOOGL is the less volatile stock with a 1.26 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. GOOGL currently trades 99.5% from its 52-week high vs NET's 95.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NETCloudflare, Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.53x | 1.26x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $260.00 | $399.85 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $120.46 | $147.84 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.6% | +99.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.8 | 81.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.6M | 28.4M |
GOOGL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NET as "Buy" and GOOGL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 2.1% upside for GOOGL (target: $406) vs -12.9% for NET (target: $216). GOOGL is the only dividend payer here at 0.21% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | NETCloudflare, Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $216.43 | $406.28 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 40 | 82 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.82 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.9% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
GOOGL leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). NET leads in 1 (Total Returns).
Best OverallAlphabet Inc. (GOOGL)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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NET vs GOOGL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NET or GOOGL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Cloudflare, Inc.
(NET) is the stronger pick with 29. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 15. 1% for Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL). Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) offers the better valuation at 36. 8x trailing P/E (29. 6x 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 GOOGL?
On forward P/E, Alphabet Inc.
is actually cheaper at 29. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NET or GOOGL?
Over the past 5 years, Cloudflare, Inc.
(NET) delivered a total return of +259. 9%, compared to +241. 8% for Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NET returned +1281% versus GOOGL's +1002%. 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 GOOGL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alphabet Inc.
(GOOGL) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 26β versus Cloudflare, Inc. 's 1. 53β — meaning NET is approximately 22% more volatile than GOOGL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 14% versus 3% for Cloudflare, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NET or GOOGL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cloudflare, Inc.
(NET) is pulling ahead at 29. 8% versus 15. 1% for Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alphabet Inc. grew EPS 34. 5% year-over-year, compared to -26. 1% for Cloudflare, 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 — NET or GOOGL?
Alphabet Inc.
(GOOGL) is the more profitable company, earning 32. 8% net margin versus -4. 7% for Cloudflare, Inc. — meaning it keeps 32. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GOOGL leads at 32. 1% versus -9. 4% for NET. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NET leads at 74. 4%, 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 GOOGL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Alphabet Inc.
(GOOGL) trades at 29. 6x forward P/E versus 221. 4x for Cloudflare, Inc. — 191. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GOOGL: 2. 1% to $406. 28.
08Which pays a better dividend — NET or GOOGL?
In this comparison, GOOGL (0.
2% yield) pays a dividend. NET does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is NET or GOOGL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Alphabet Inc.
(GOOGL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 26), +1002% 10Y return). Cloudflare, Inc. (NET) carries a higher beta of 1. 53 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GOOGL: +1002%, NET: +1281%), 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 GOOGL?
These companies operate in different sectors (NET (Technology) and GOOGL (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
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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