AKAM vs. U: Akamai vs. Unity Software Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Akamai (AKAM) has more than two decades of public-market history since October 29, 1999, whereas Unity Software (U) listed on September 18, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Akamai (AKAM) and Unity Software (U)
Profile Item	AKAM	U
Name	Akamai Technologies, Inc.	Unity 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	22.85 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	October 29, 1999	September 18, 2020
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AKAM

GSPC

Akamai (AKAM) vs. Unity Software (U), 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

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for Akamai (AKAM) and Unity Software (U). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Unity Software (U)
Metric	AKAM	U
Total Return (1Y)	-2.77%	30.56%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-9.48%	27.46%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-5.72%	-21.16%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AKAM

GSPC

Akamai (AKAM) vs. Unity Software (U), 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

Loading price history…

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

Risk Metrics

Unity Software (U) has an aggressive beta of 1.97, 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 Unity Software (U)
Metric	AKAM	U
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	62.11%	71.11%
Beta (5Y)	0.69	1.97
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-51.69%	-93.07%
Avg. Volume (3M)	4.75M	10.92M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AKAM and U 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 Unity Software (U)
Metric	AKAM	U
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.11	0.37
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.17	0.51

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Unity Software (U) reports a negative ROE of -9.66%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Akamai (AKAM) reports 7.85%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

U

Software & Services industry group

-9.66%

Max: 53.85%
Q3: 17.90%
Median: 6.59%
Q1: -9.59%
U: -9.66%
Min: -50.52%

Akamai (AKAM) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Unity Software (U) reports a negative net margin of -15.60%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Akamai (AKAM) reports 8.84%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

U

Software & Services industry group

-15.60%

Max: 41.17%
Q3: 15.28%
Median: 4.63%
Q1: -5.42%
U: -15.60%
Min: -33.17%

Akamai (AKAM) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Akamai (AKAM) at 9.88% and Unity Software (U) at 16.95% 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%

U

Software & Services industry group

16.95%

Max: 46.89%
Q3: 17.64%
U: 16.95%
Median: 8.73%
Q1: -2.13%
Min: -30.45%

Akamai (AKAM) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Unity Software (U)
Metric	AKAM	U
ROE (TTM)	7.85%	-9.66%
ROA (TTM)	2.18%	-0.45%
Net Margin (TTM)	8.84%	-15.60%
Operating Margin (TTM)	9.88%	16.95%
Gross Margin (TTM)	56.39%	78.49%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Akamai (AKAM) at 5.44% and Unity Software (U) at 2.01% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

Akamai (AKAM) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Akamai (AKAM) reports EPS growth of -6.12%, ranked against its industry; Unity Software (U) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Akamai (AKAM) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Unity Software (U)
Metric	AKAM	U
Revenue Growth (YoY)	5.44%	2.01%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.18%	9.96%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-6.12%	--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-1.98%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Akamai (AKAM) at 2.13 and Unity Software (U) at 2.17 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

U

Software & Services industry group

2.17

Max: 5.11
Q3: 2.77
U: 2.17
Median: 1.67
Q1: 1.01
Min: 0.03

Akamai (AKAM) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Unity Software (U) at 0.66 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

U

Software & Services industry group

0.66

Max: 2.52
Q3: 1.13
U: 0.66
Median: 0.40
Q1: 0.07
Min: 0.00

Akamai (AKAM) vs. Unity Software (U): 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 Unity Software (U)
Metric	AKAM	U
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.13	2.17
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.84	0.66
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.78	-0.86

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Akamai (AKAM) nor Unity Software (U) 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%

U

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

U: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Akamai (AKAM) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Akamai (AKAM) nor Unity Software (U) 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%

U

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

U: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Akamai (AKAM) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Unity Software (U)
Metric	AKAM	U
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Akamai (AKAM) trades at 32.33 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Unity Software (U) has no P/E ratio this period.

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

U

Software & Services industry group

Max: 112.94
Q3: 60.32
Median: 32.91
Q1: 18.77
Min: 6.69
U: --

Akamai (AKAM) vs. Unity Software (U): U does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; AKAM is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Akamai (AKAM) at 2.72 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Unity Software (U) at 10.48 sits in the pricier quartile — U 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

U

Software & Services industry group

10.48

Max: 17.91
U: 10.48
Q3: 8.78
Median: 4.25
Q1: 2.23
Min: 0.02

Akamai (AKAM) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Akamai (AKAM) at 2.32 and Unity Software (U) at 7.03 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

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

U

Software & Services industry group

7.03

Max: 16.63
Q3: 8.50
U: 7.03
Median: 4.30
Q1: 1.92
Min: -3.90

Akamai (AKAM) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Unity Software (U)
Metric	AKAM	U
P/E Ratio (TTM)	32.33	--
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.72	10.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.32	7.03
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.51%	2.76%