CRM vs. IT: Salesforce vs. Gartner Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Salesforce (CRM) and Gartner (IT) 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 Gartner (IT) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but CRM is classified in Software while IT is classified in IT Services.

Company profile comparison for Salesforce (CRM) and Gartner (IT)
Profile Item	CRM	IT
Name	Salesforce, Inc.	Gartner Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Software & Services	Software & Services
GICS Industry	Software	IT Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Application Software	IT Consulting & Other Services
Market Capitalization	175.83 billion USD	11.99 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	June 23, 2004	October 5, 1993
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CRM

GSPC

Salesforce (CRM) vs. Gartner (IT), 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 Gartner (IT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Gartner (IT)
Metric	CRM	IT
Total Return (1Y)	-9.04%	-17.60%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	1.64%	-22.07%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-6.57%	-10.95%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CRM

GSPC

Salesforce (CRM) vs. Gartner (IT), 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 Gartner (IT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Gartner (IT)
Metric	CRM	IT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	47.53%	58.29%
Beta (5Y)	1.24	0.95
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-58.67%	-77.21%
Avg. Volume (3M)	11.36M	1.14M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CRM and IT 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 Gartner (IT)
Metric	CRM	IT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.28	-0.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.45	-0.54

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Gartner (IT) at 365.76% 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%

IT

Software & Services industry group

365.76%

IT: 365.76%
Max: 53.85%
Q3: 17.90%
Median: 6.59%
Q1: -9.59%
Min: -50.52%

Salesforce (CRM) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Salesforce (CRM) at 21.99% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Gartner (IT) at 14.81%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

IT

Software & Services industry group

14.81%

Max: 41.17%
Q3: 15.28%
IT: 14.81%
Median: 4.63%
Q1: -5.42%
Min: -33.17%

Salesforce (CRM) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Salesforce (CRM) at 21.38% and Gartner (IT) at 18.58% 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%

IT

Software & Services industry group

18.58%

Max: 46.89%
IT: 18.58%
Q3: 17.64%
Median: 8.73%
Q1: -2.13%
Min: -30.45%

Salesforce (CRM) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Gartner (IT)
Metric	CRM	IT
ROE (TTM)	19.38%	365.76%
ROA (TTM)	5.70%	11.33%
Net Margin (TTM)	21.99%	14.81%
Operating Margin (TTM)	21.38%	18.58%
Gross Margin (TTM)	77.28%	70.18%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Salesforce (CRM) at 9.58% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Gartner (IT) at 3.67% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Salesforce (CRM) at 22.64% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Gartner (IT) at -39.69% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Gartner (IT)
Metric	CRM	IT
Revenue Growth (YoY)	9.58%	3.67%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	9.82%	5.87%
EPS Growth (YoY)	22.64%	-39.69%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	233.65%	-1.05%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Salesforce (CRM) at 0.84 and Gartner (IT) at 0.91 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

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

IT

Software & Services industry group

0.91

Max: 5.11
Q3: 2.77
Median: 1.67
Q1: 1.01
IT: 0.91
Min: 0.03

Salesforce (CRM) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Salesforce (CRM) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10 against its industry range, while Gartner (IT) reports no figure this period.

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

IT

Software & Services industry group

Max: 2.52
Q3: 1.13
Median: 0.40
Q1: 0.07
Min: 0.00
IT: --

Salesforce (CRM) vs. Gartner (IT): IT does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; CRM is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Gartner (IT)
Metric	CRM	IT
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.84	0.91
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.10	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.40	1.18

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Gartner (IT) 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%

IT

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Salesforce (CRM) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Gartner (IT) 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%

IT

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Salesforce (CRM) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Gartner (IT)
Metric	CRM	IT
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.77%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	15.66%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Gartner (IT) at 13.62 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Salesforce (CRM) at 19.55 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for IT, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

IT

Software & Services industry group

13.62

Max: 112.94
Q3: 60.32
Median: 32.91
Q1: 18.77
IT: 13.62
Min: 6.69

Salesforce (CRM) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Gartner (IT) at 1.86 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Salesforce (CRM) at 4.00 prices around its industry’s middle — IT costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

IT

Software & Services industry group

1.86

Max: 17.91
Q3: 8.78
Median: 4.25
Q1: 2.23
IT: 1.86
Min: 0.02

Salesforce (CRM) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Gartner (IT) reports a negative P/B ratio of -348.81, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Salesforce (CRM) reports 4.58, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

IT

Software & Services industry group

-348.81

Max: 16.63
Q3: 8.50
Median: 4.30
Q1: 1.92
Min: -3.90
IT: -348.81

Salesforce (CRM) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Gartner (IT)
Metric	CRM	IT
P/E Ratio (TTM)	19.55	13.62
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.00	1.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.58	-348.81
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	10.08%	8.90%