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CRM vs. FTNT: Salesforce vs. Fortinet Stock Comparison

How do Salesforce (CRM) and Fortinet (FTNT) 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

Salesforce (CRM) and Fortinet (FTNT) both belong to the Software industry, though CRM is classified under Application Software while FTNT falls under Systems Software.

Company profile comparison for Salesforce (CRM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
Profile ItemCRMFTNT
NameSalesforce, Inc.Fortinet, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareSystems Software
Market Capitalization175.83 billion USD87.31 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJune 23, 2004November 18, 2009
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CRM
FTNT
GSPC
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT), 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 Salesforce (CRM) and Fortinet (FTNT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Salesforce (CRM) and Fortinet (FTNT). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCRMFTNT
Total Return (1Y)-9.04%49.91%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)1.64%35.15%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-6.57%11.92%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CRM
FTNT
GSPC
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT), 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 Salesforce (CRM) and Fortinet (FTNT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCRMFTNT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)47.53%49.03%
Beta (5Y)1.241.07
Max Drawdown (5Y)-58.67%-38.98%
Avg. Volume (3M)11.36M4.68M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CRM and FTNT 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 Salesforce (CRM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCRMFTNT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.280.93
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.451.37

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Fortinet (FTNT) at 153.08% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Salesforce (CRM) at 19.38% also sits in the top quartile.

CRM

Software & Services industry group

19.38%

Max
53.85%
CRM
19.38%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

153.08%

FTNT
153.08%
Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Salesforce (CRM) at 21.99% and Fortinet (FTNT) at 28.96% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

CRM

Software & Services industry group

21.99%

Max
41.17%
CRM
21.99%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

28.96%

Max
41.17%
FTNT
28.96%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Salesforce (CRM) at 21.38% and Fortinet (FTNT) at 33.82% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

CRM

Software & Services industry group

21.38%

Max
46.89%
CRM
21.38%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

33.82%

Max
46.89%
FTNT
33.82%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCRMFTNT
ROE (TTM)19.38%153.08%
ROA (TTM)5.70%15.22%
Net Margin (TTM)21.99%28.96%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.38%33.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)77.28%79.75%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Salesforce (CRM) at 9.58% and Fortinet (FTNT) at 14.17% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Salesforce (CRM) at 22.64% and Fortinet (FTNT) at 7.08% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCRMFTNT
Revenue Growth (YoY)9.58%14.17%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.82%15.46%
EPS Growth (YoY)22.64%7.08%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)233.65%31.68%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Fortinet (FTNT) at 1.40 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Salesforce (CRM) at 0.84 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CRM.

CRM

Software & Services industry group

0.84

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
CRM
0.84
Min
0.03

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

1.40

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
FTNT
1.40
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Salesforce (CRM) at 1.10 and Fortinet (FTNT) at 0.25 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CRM

Software & Services industry group

1.10

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
CRM
1.10
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

0.25

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
FTNT
0.25
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCRMFTNT
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.841.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.100.25
Net Debt / EBITDA2.40-1.54

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fortinet (FTNT) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Salesforce (CRM) reports a yield of 0.77%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CRM

Software & Services industry group

0.77%

CRM
0.77%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

FTNT
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Fortinet (FTNT) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Salesforce (CRM) reports a payout of 15.66%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CRM

Software & Services industry group

15.66%

CRM
15.66%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

FTNT
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCRMFTNT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.77%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)15.66%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Salesforce (CRM) at 19.55 and Fortinet (FTNT) at 38.84 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

CRM

Software & Services industry group

19.55

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
CRM
19.55
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

38.84

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
FTNT
38.84
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Salesforce (CRM) at 4.00 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Fortinet (FTNT) at 11.08 sits in the pricier quartile — FTNT costs more per dollar of sales.

CRM

Software & Services industry group

4.00

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
CRM
4.00
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

11.08

Max
17.91
FTNT
11.08
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Salesforce (CRM) at 4.58 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Fortinet (FTNT) at 38.85 prices above its benchmark range — FTNT looks rich relative to book.

CRM

Software & Services industry group

4.58

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
CRM
4.58
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90

FTNT

Software & Services industry group

38.85

FTNT
38.85
Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Fortinet (FTNT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Fortinet (FTNT)
MetricCRMFTNT
P/E Ratio (TTM)19.5538.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.0011.08
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.5838.85
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.08%2.85%