CDW vs. DELL: CDW vs. Dell Stock Comparison
How do CDW (CDW) and Dell (DELL) 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
CDW (CDW) and Dell (DELL) both fall under the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group, but CDW is classified in Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components while DELL is classified in Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals.
| Profile Item | CDW | DELL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | CDW Corporation | Dell Technologies Inc. Class C Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Technology Hardware & Equipment | Technology Hardware & Equipment |
| GICS Industry | Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Technology Distributors | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals |
| Market Capitalization | 19.60 billion USD | 208.88 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 27, 2013 | August 17, 2016 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CDW | DELL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 16.85% | 142.85% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -6.46% | 72.12% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -1.35% | 47.28% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CDW | DELL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 48.60% | 80.23% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.90 | 1.50 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -60.37% | -59.59% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.60M | 7.77M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CDW | DELL |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.26 | 1.73 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.37 | 3.00 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: CDW (CDW) earns 42.47% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Dell (DELL) has no ROE this period.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
42.47%
- CDW
- 42.47%
- Max
- 42.47%
- Q3
- 19.13%
- Median
- 11.00%
- Q1
- 1.63%
- Min
- -20.62%
DELL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
--
- Max
- 42.47%
- Q3
- 19.13%
- Median
- 11.00%
- Q1
- 1.63%
- Min
- -20.62%
- DELL
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Both CDW (CDW) at 4.48% and Dell (DELL) at 7.53% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
4.48%
- Max
- 27.60%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- CDW
- 4.48%
- Median
- 4.08%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -11.02%
DELL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
7.53%
- Max
- 27.60%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- DELL
- 7.53%
- Median
- 4.08%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -11.02%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both CDW (CDW) at 8.14% and Dell (DELL) at 12.02% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
8.14%
- Max
- 36.27%
- Q3
- 18.36%
- Median
- 8.84%
- CDW
- 8.14%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -21.39%
DELL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
12.02%
- Max
- 36.27%
- Q3
- 18.36%
- DELL
- 12.02%
- Median
- 8.84%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -21.39%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CDW | DELL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 42.47% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.47% | 8.64% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 4.48% | 7.53% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 8.14% | 12.02% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 21.00% | 19.91% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both CDW (CDW) at 6.79% and Dell (DELL) at 18.80% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both CDW (CDW) at 1.38% and Dell (DELL) at 36.05% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CDW | DELL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.79% | 18.80% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.89% | 3.54% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 1.38% | 36.05% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.21% | 38.89% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both CDW (CDW) at 1.27 and Dell (DELL) at 0.96 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
1.27
- Max
- 5.34
- Q3
- 3.02
- Median
- 1.95
- Q1
- 1.32
- CDW
- 1.27
- Min
- 0.17
DELL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.96
- Max
- 5.34
- Q3
- 3.02
- Median
- 1.95
- Q1
- 1.32
- DELL
- 0.96
- Min
- 0.17
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: CDW (CDW) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 2.98 against its industry range, while Dell (DELL) reports no figure this period.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
2.98
- CDW
- 2.98
- Max
- 1.76
- Q3
- 0.78
- Median
- 0.24
- Q1
- 0.04
- Min
- 0.01
DELL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
--
- Max
- 1.76
- Q3
- 0.78
- Median
- 0.24
- Q1
- 0.04
- Min
- 0.01
- DELL
- --
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CDW | DELL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.27 | 0.96 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 2.98 | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.01 | 1.34 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Dell (DELL) at 0.73% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; CDW (CDW) at 1.59% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
1.59%
- CDW
- 1.59%
- Max
- 0.73%
- Q3
- 0.31%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
DELL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.73%
- DELL
- 0.73%
- Max
- 0.73%
- Q3
- 0.31%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Dell (DELL) at 13.43% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while CDW (CDW) at 29.40% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
29.40%
- Max
- 32.27%
- CDW
- 29.40%
- Q3
- 14.48%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
DELL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
13.43%
- Max
- 32.27%
- Q3
- 14.48%
- DELL
- 13.43%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CDW | DELL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.59% | 0.73% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 29.40% | 13.43% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both CDW (CDW) at 18.32 and Dell (DELL) at 19.10 sit in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, with the market paying less for a dollar of trailing earnings than it pays for typical peers.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
18.32
- Max
- 69.48
- Q3
- 41.02
- Median
- 26.39
- Q1
- 19.36
- CDW
- 18.32
- Min
- 6.07
DELL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
19.10
- Max
- 69.48
- Q3
- 41.02
- Median
- 26.39
- Q1
- 19.36
- DELL
- 19.10
- Min
- 6.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
CDW (CDW) at 0.80 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Dell (DELL) at 1.38 prices around its industry’s middle — CDW costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.80
- Max
- 11.30
- Q3
- 5.82
- Median
- 2.56
- Q1
- 1.05
- CDW
- 0.80
- Min
- 0.00
DELL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
1.38
- Max
- 11.30
- Q3
- 5.82
- Median
- 2.56
- DELL
- 1.38
- Q1
- 1.05
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Dell (DELL) reports a negative P/B ratio of -147.32, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile CDW (CDW) reports 7.45, ranking against industry peers normally.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
7.45
- Max
- 10.75
- CDW
- 7.45
- Q3
- 5.52
- Median
- 3.17
- Q1
- 1.79
- Min
- 0.33
DELL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
-147.32
- Max
- 10.75
- Q3
- 5.52
- Median
- 3.17
- Q1
- 1.79
- Min
- 0.33
- DELL
- -147.32
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CDW | DELL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.32 | 19.10 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.80 | 1.38 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 7.45 | -147.32 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.43% | 2.89% |