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CRM vs. PLTR: Salesforce vs. Palantir Stock Comparison

How do Salesforce (CRM) and Palantir (PLTR) 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 Palantir (PLTR) are both classified in the Application Software sub-industry within the broader Software industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Salesforce (CRM) has more than two decades of public-market history since June 23, 2004, whereas Palantir (PLTR) listed on September 30, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Salesforce (CRM) and Palantir (PLTR)
Profile ItemCRMPLTR
NameSalesforce, Inc.Palantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareApplication Software
Market Capitalization175.83 billion USD386.44 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJune 23, 2004September 30, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CRM
PLTR
GSPC
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Palantir (PLTR), 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 Palantir (PLTR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCRMPLTR
Total Return (1Y)-9.04%-4.94%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)1.64%109.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-6.57%47.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCRMPLTR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)47.53%60.50%
Beta (5Y)1.241.63
Max Drawdown (5Y)-58.67%-75.26%
Avg. Volume (3M)11.36M27.20M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CRM and PLTR 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 Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCRMPLTR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.28-0.15
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.45-0.24

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Salesforce (CRM) at 19.38% and Palantir (PLTR) at 40.91% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

40.91%

Max
53.85%
PLTR
40.91%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 50.34% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Salesforce (CRM) at 21.99% also retains a top-quartile 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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

50.34%

PLTR
50.34%
Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Salesforce (CRM) at 21.38% and Palantir (PLTR) at 46.89% 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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

46.89%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCRMPLTR
ROE (TTM)19.38%40.91%
ROA (TTM)5.70%19.31%
Net Margin (TTM)21.99%50.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.38%46.89%
Gross Margin (TTM)77.28%84.74%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Salesforce (CRM) at 9.58%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

EPS Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 231.06% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Salesforce (CRM) at 22.64%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCRMPLTR
Revenue Growth (YoY)9.58%56.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.82%32.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)22.64%231.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)233.65%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) at 7.10 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Salesforce (CRM) at 0.84 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

7.10

PLTR
7.10
Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Salesforce (CRM) at 1.10 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.02

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
PLTR
0.02
Min
0.00
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Palantir (PLTR): 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 Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCRMPLTR
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.847.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.100.02
Net Debt / EBITDA2.40-3.08

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) 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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) 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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCRMPLTR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.77%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)15.66%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Salesforce (CRM) at 19.55 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 112.94 sits in the richer quartile — PLTR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

112.94

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Salesforce (CRM) at 4.00 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 clears its benchmark range — PLTR looks notably rich on 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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

53.02

PLTR
53.02
Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Palantir (PLTR): 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 Palantir (PLTR) at 34.41 prices above its benchmark range — PLTR 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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

34.41

PLTR
34.41
Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Salesforce (CRM) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Salesforce (CRM) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCRMPLTR
P/E Ratio (TTM)19.55112.94
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.0053.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.5834.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.08%0.69%