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AKAM vs. ZS: Akamai vs. Zscaler Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Akamai (AKAM) and Zscaler (ZS)
Profile ItemAKAMZS
NameAkamai Technologies, Inc.Zscaler 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 USD32.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateOctober 29, 1999March 16, 2018
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AKAM
ZS
GSPC
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Zscaler (ZS), 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 Zscaler (ZS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricAKAMZS
Total Return (1Y)-2.77%-37.61%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-9.48%5.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.72%-10.75%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricAKAMZS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)62.11%68.66%
Beta (5Y)0.690.88
Max Drawdown (5Y)-51.69%-76.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.75M2.92M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AKAM and ZS 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 Zscaler (ZS)
MetricAKAMZS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.11-0.61
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.17-0.79

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative ROE of -2.87%; 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-2.87%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
ZS
-2.87%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative net margin of -1.89%, 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-1.89%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
ZS
-1.89%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative operating margin of -1.01%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Akamai (AKAM) reports 9.88%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-1.01%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
ZS
-1.01%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricAKAMZS
ROE (TTM)7.85%-2.87%
ROA (TTM)2.18%-1.03%
Net Margin (TTM)8.84%-1.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.88%-1.01%
Gross Margin (TTM)56.39%76.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Zscaler (ZS) at 25.42% 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. Zscaler (ZS): 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; Zscaler (ZS) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricAKAMZS
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.44%25.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.18%27.51%
EPS Growth (YoY)-6.12%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.98%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Akamai (AKAM) at 2.13 and Zscaler (ZS) at 1.70 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

1.70

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
ZS
1.70
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Zscaler (ZS) at 0.72 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.72

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
ZS
0.72
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Zscaler (ZS): 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 Zscaler (ZS)
MetricAKAMZS
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.131.70
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.840.72
Net Debt / EBITDA5.78-36.63

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Akamai (AKAM) nor Zscaler (ZS) 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Akamai (AKAM) nor Zscaler (ZS) 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricAKAMZS
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 Zscaler (ZS) 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
ZS
--
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Zscaler (ZS): ZS 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 Zscaler (ZS) at 9.61 sits in the pricier quartile — ZS 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

9.61

Max
17.91
ZS
9.61
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Akamai (AKAM) at 2.32 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Zscaler (ZS) at 12.40 carries an above-peer premium to book — ZS 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

12.40

Max
16.63
ZS
12.40
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricAKAMZS
P/E Ratio (TTM)32.33--
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.729.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.3212.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.51%3.34%