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AKAM vs. FTNT: Akamai vs. Fortinet Stock Comparison

How do Akamai (AKAM) and Fortinet (FTNT) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Akamai (AKAM) and Fortinet (FTNT) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but AKAM is classified in IT Services while FTNT is classified in Software.

Company profile comparison for Akamai (AKAM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
Profile ItemAKAMFTNT
NameAkamai Technologies, Inc.Fortinet, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryIT ServicesSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryInternet Services & InfrastructureSystems Software
Market Capitalization11.94 billion USD87.31 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateOctober 29, 1999November 18, 2009
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AKAM
FTNT
GSPC
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Akamai (AKAM) and Fortinet (FTNT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Akamai (AKAM) and Fortinet (FTNT). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricAKAMFTNT
Total Return (1Y)-2.77%49.91%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-9.48%35.15%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.72%11.92%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AKAM
FTNT
GSPC
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Akamai (AKAM) and Fortinet (FTNT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricAKAMFTNT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)62.11%49.03%
Beta (5Y)0.691.07
Max Drawdown (5Y)-51.69%-38.98%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.75M4.68M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AKAM and FTNT are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricAKAMFTNT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.110.93
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.171.37

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Fortinet (FTNT) at 153.08% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Akamai (AKAM) at 7.85%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

7.85%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
AKAM
7.85%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

153.08%

FTNT
153.08%
Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Fortinet (FTNT) at 28.96% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Akamai (AKAM) at 8.84%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

8.84%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
AKAM
8.84%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

28.96%

Max
41.17%
FTNT
28.96%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Fortinet (FTNT) at 33.82% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Akamai (AKAM) at 9.88%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

9.88%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
AKAM
9.88%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

33.82%

Max
46.89%
FTNT
33.82%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricAKAMFTNT
ROE (TTM)7.85%153.08%
ROA (TTM)2.18%15.22%
Net Margin (TTM)8.84%28.96%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.88%33.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)56.39%79.75%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Fortinet (FTNT) at 14.17% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Akamai (AKAM) at 5.44% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Akamai (AKAM) at -6.12% and Fortinet (FTNT) at 7.08% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricAKAMFTNT
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.44%14.17%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.18%15.46%
EPS Growth (YoY)-6.12%7.08%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.98%31.68%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Akamai (AKAM) at 2.13 and Fortinet (FTNT) at 1.40 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

2.13

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
AKAM
2.13
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

1.40

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
FTNT
1.40
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Fortinet (FTNT) at 0.25 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Akamai (AKAM) at 1.84 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

1.84

Max
2.52
AKAM
1.84
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

0.25

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
FTNT
0.25
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricAKAMFTNT
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.131.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.840.25
Net Debt / EBITDA5.78-1.54

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Akamai (AKAM) nor Fortinet (FTNT) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

AKAM
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

FTNT
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Akamai (AKAM) nor Fortinet (FTNT) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

AKAM
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

FTNT
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricAKAMFTNT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Akamai (AKAM) at 32.33 and Fortinet (FTNT) at 38.84 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

32.33

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
AKAM
32.33
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

38.84

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
FTNT
38.84
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Akamai (AKAM) at 2.72 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Fortinet (FTNT) at 11.08 sits in the pricier quartile — FTNT costs more per dollar of sales.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

2.72

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
AKAM
2.72
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

11.08

Max
17.91
FTNT
11.08
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Akamai (AKAM) at 2.32 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Fortinet (FTNT) at 38.85 prices above its benchmark range — FTNT looks rich relative to book.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

2.32

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
AKAM
2.32
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

38.85

FTNT
38.85
Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricAKAMFTNT
P/E Ratio (TTM)32.3338.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.7211.08
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.3238.85
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.51%2.85%