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DELL vs. FFIV: Dell vs. F5 Stock Comparison

How do Dell (DELL) and F5 (FFIV) 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

Dell (DELL) and F5 (FFIV) both fall under the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group, but DELL is classified in Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals while FFIV is classified in Communications Equipment.

Company profile comparison for Dell (DELL) and F5 (FFIV)
Profile ItemDELLFFIV
NameDell Technologies Inc. Class C Common StockF5, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryTechnology Hardware, Storage & PeripheralsCommunications Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryTechnology Hardware, Storage & PeripheralsCommunications Equipment
Market Capitalization208.88 billion USD17.66 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateAugust 17, 2016June 4, 1999
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DELL
FFIV
GSPC
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Dell (DELL) vs. F5 (FFIV), 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 Dell (DELL) and F5 (FFIV). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Dell (DELL) and F5 (FFIV). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Dell (DELL) and F5 (FFIV)
MetricDELLFFIV
Total Return (1Y)142.85%30.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)72.12%27.03%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)47.28%7.22%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DELL
FFIV
GSPC
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Dell (DELL) vs. F5 (FFIV), 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 Dell (DELL) and F5 (FFIV). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Dell (DELL) and F5 (FFIV)
MetricDELLFFIV
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)80.23%40.81%
Beta (5Y)1.501.09
Max Drawdown (5Y)-59.59%-47.42%
Avg. Volume (3M)7.77M692.80K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DELL and FFIV 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 Dell (DELL) and F5 (FFIV)
MetricDELLFFIV
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.730.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.000.84

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: F5 (FFIV) earns 19.01% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Dell (DELL) has no ROE this period.

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

--

Max
42.47%
Q3
19.13%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%
DELL
--

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

19.01%

Max
42.47%
Q3
19.13%
FFIV
19.01%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%
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Dell (DELL) vs. F5 (FFIV): DELL does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; FFIV is benchmarked against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

F5 (FFIV) at 21.14% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Dell (DELL) at 7.53%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

21.14%

Max
27.60%
FFIV
21.14%
Q3
11.66%
Median
4.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%
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Dell (DELL) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

F5 (FFIV) at 23.99% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Dell (DELL) at 12.02%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

23.99%

Max
36.27%
FFIV
23.99%
Q3
18.36%
Median
8.84%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%
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Dell (DELL) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Dell (DELL) and F5 (FFIV)
MetricDELLFFIV
ROE (TTM)--19.01%
ROA (TTM)8.64%7.74%
Net Margin (TTM)7.53%21.14%
Operating Margin (TTM)12.02%23.99%
Gross Margin (TTM)19.91%81.98%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Only one side can be read here: Dell (DELL) reports revenue growth of 18.80%, ranked against its industry; F5 (FFIV) has no revenue growth figure this period.

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Dell (DELL) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Dell (DELL) at 36.05% and F5 (FFIV) at 6.10% 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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Dell (DELL) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Dell (DELL) and F5 (FFIV)
MetricDELLFFIV
Revenue Growth (YoY)18.80%--
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.54%--
EPS Growth (YoY)36.05%6.10%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)38.89%24.10%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

F5 (FFIV) at 1.73 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Dell (DELL) at 0.96 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for DELL.

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

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.73

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
FFIV
1.73
Q1
1.32
Min
0.17
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Dell (DELL) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: F5 (FFIV) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05 against its industry range, while Dell (DELL) reports no figure this period.

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

--

Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
Median
0.24
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01
DELL
--

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.05

Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
Median
0.24
FFIV
0.05
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01
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Dell (DELL) vs. F5 (FFIV): DELL does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; FFIV is benchmarked against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Dell (DELL) and F5 (FFIV)
MetricDELLFFIV
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.961.73
Debt / Equity (MRQ)--0.05
Net Debt / EBITDA1.34-1.49

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

F5 (FFIV) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Dell (DELL) reports a yield of 0.73%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max
0.73%
Q3
0.31%
FFIV
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Dell (DELL) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

F5 (FFIV) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Dell (DELL) reports a payout of 13.43%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max
32.27%
Q3
14.48%
FFIV
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Dell (DELL) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Dell (DELL) and F5 (FFIV)
MetricDELLFFIV
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.73%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)13.43%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Dell (DELL) at 19.10 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while F5 (FFIV) at 24.83 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for DELL, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

24.83

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
Median
26.39
FFIV
24.83
Q1
19.36
Min
6.07
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Dell (DELL) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Dell (DELL) at 1.38 and F5 (FFIV) at 5.17 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

5.17

Max
11.30
Q3
5.82
FFIV
5.17
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
Min
0.00
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Dell (DELL) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

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 F5 (FFIV) reports 4.41, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

4.41

Max
10.75
Q3
5.52
FFIV
4.41
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33
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Dell (DELL) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Dell (DELL) and F5 (FFIV)
MetricDELLFFIV
P/E Ratio (TTM)19.1024.83
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.385.17
P/B Ratio (MRQ)-147.324.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.89%3.63%