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AKAM vs. PLTR: Akamai vs. Palantir Stock Comparison

How do Akamai (AKAM) and Palantir (PLTR) 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 Palantir (PLTR) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but AKAM is classified in IT Services while PLTR is classified in Software.

Akamai (AKAM) has more than two decades of public-market history since October 29, 1999, whereas Palantir (PLTR) listed on September 30, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Akamai (AKAM) and Palantir (PLTR)
Profile ItemAKAMPLTR
NameAkamai Technologies, Inc.Palantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryIT ServicesSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryInternet Services & InfrastructureApplication Software
Market Capitalization11.94 billion USD386.44 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateOctober 29, 1999September 30, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AKAM
PLTR
GSPC
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Palantir (PLTR), 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 Palantir (PLTR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAKAMPLTR
Total Return (1Y)-2.77%-4.94%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-9.48%109.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.72%47.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AKAM
PLTR
GSPC
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Palantir (PLTR), 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 Palantir (PLTR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Palantir (PLTR) has an aggressive beta of 1.63, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Akamai (AKAM) is defensive at 0.69 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAKAMPLTR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)62.11%60.50%
Beta (5Y)0.691.63
Max Drawdown (5Y)-51.69%-75.26%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.75M27.20M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AKAM and PLTR 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 Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAKAMPLTR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.11-0.15
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.17-0.24

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 40.91% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Akamai (AKAM) at 7.85% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for PLTR.

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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

40.91%

Max
53.85%
PLTR
40.91%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 50.34% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Akamai (AKAM) at 8.84% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

50.34%

PLTR
50.34%
Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 46.89% 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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

46.89%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAKAMPLTR
ROE (TTM)7.85%40.91%
ROA (TTM)2.18%19.31%
Net Margin (TTM)8.84%50.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.88%46.89%
Gross Margin (TTM)56.39%84.74%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% delivers above-range revenue growth, while Akamai (AKAM) at 5.44% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 231.06% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Akamai (AKAM) at -6.12%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAKAMPLTR
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.44%56.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.18%32.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)-6.12%231.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.98%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Akamai (AKAM) at 2.13 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Palantir (PLTR) at 7.10 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets 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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

7.10

PLTR
7.10
Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Akamai (AKAM) at 1.84 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.02

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
PLTR
0.02
Min
0.00
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Palantir (PLTR): 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 Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAKAMPLTR
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.137.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.840.02
Net Debt / EBITDA5.78-3.08

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Akamai (AKAM) nor Palantir (PLTR) 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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Akamai (AKAM) nor Palantir (PLTR) 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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAKAMPLTR
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 Palantir (PLTR) at 112.94 sits in the richer quartile — PLTR 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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

112.94

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Akamai (AKAM) at 2.72 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 clears its benchmark range — PLTR looks notably rich on 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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

53.02

PLTR
53.02
Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Palantir (PLTR): 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 Palantir (PLTR) at 34.41 prices above its benchmark range — PLTR 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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

34.41

PLTR
34.41
Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAKAMPLTR
P/E Ratio (TTM)32.33112.94
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.7253.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.3234.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.51%0.69%