AKAM vs. GWRE: Akamai vs. Guidewire Software Stock Comparison
How do Akamai (AKAM) and Guidewire Software (GWRE) 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 Guidewire Software (GWRE) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but AKAM is classified in IT Services while GWRE is classified in Software.
| Profile Item | AKAM | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Akamai Technologies, Inc. | Guidewire Software Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Software & Services | Software & Services |
| GICS Industry | IT Services | Software |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Internet Services & Infrastructure | Application Software |
| Market Capitalization | 11.94 billion USD | 13.34 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 29, 1999 | January 25, 2012 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AKAM | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -2.77% | -25.97% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -9.48% | 21.68% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -5.72% | 4.78% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AKAM | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 62.11% | 62.03% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.69 | 0.99 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -51.69% | -60.79% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.75M | 1.29M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AKAM | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.11 | -0.49 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.17 | -0.68 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Akamai (AKAM) at 7.85% and Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 10.51% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
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%
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
10.51%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- GWRE
- 10.51%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Akamai (AKAM) at 8.84% and Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 9.44% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
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%
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
9.44%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- GWRE
- 9.44%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Akamai (AKAM) at 9.88% and Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 15.16% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
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%
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
15.16%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- GWRE
- 15.16%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AKAM | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 7.85% | 10.51% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.18% | 3.54% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 8.84% | 9.44% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 9.88% | 15.16% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 56.39% | 64.21% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 22.70% 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.
EPS Growth
Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 101.23% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Akamai (AKAM) at -6.12% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for GWRE.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AKAM | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.44% | 22.70% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.18% | 17.68% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -6.12% | 101.23% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.98% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Akamai (AKAM) at 2.13 and Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 1.79 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
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
1.79
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- GWRE
- 1.79
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 0.60 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
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
0.60
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- GWRE
- 0.60
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AKAM | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.13 | 1.79 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.84 | 0.60 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.78 | -0.38 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Akamai (AKAM) nor Guidewire Software (GWRE) 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%
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- GWRE
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither Akamai (AKAM) nor Guidewire Software (GWRE) 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%
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- GWRE
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AKAM | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Akamai (AKAM) at 32.33 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 99.02 sits in the richer quartile — GWRE needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
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
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
99.02
- Max
- 112.94
- GWRE
- 99.02
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Akamai (AKAM) at 2.72 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 9.04 sits in the pricier quartile — GWRE 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
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
9.04
- Max
- 17.91
- GWRE
- 9.04
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Akamai (AKAM) at 2.32 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Guidewire Software (GWRE) at 11.09 carries an above-peer premium to book — GWRE is pricier on assets.
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
GWRE
Software & Services industry group
11.09
- Max
- 16.63
- GWRE
- 11.09
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AKAM | GWRE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 32.33 | 99.02 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.72 | 9.04 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.32 | 11.09 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.51% | 2.57% |