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FFIV vs. KEYS: F5 vs. Keysight Stock Comparison

How do F5 (FFIV) and Keysight (KEYS) 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

F5 (FFIV) and Keysight (KEYS) both fall under the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group, but FFIV is classified in Communications Equipment while KEYS is classified in Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components.

Company profile comparison for F5 (FFIV) and Keysight (KEYS)
Profile ItemFFIVKEYS
NameF5, Inc.Keysight Technologies, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryCommunications EquipmentElectronic Equipment, Instruments & Components
GICS Sub-IndustryCommunications EquipmentElectronic Equipment & Instruments
Market Capitalization17.66 billion USD46.33 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJune 4, 1999October 20, 2014
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FFIV
KEYS
GSPC
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F5 (FFIV) vs. Keysight (KEYS), 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 F5 (FFIV) and Keysight (KEYS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for F5 (FFIV) and Keysight (KEYS)
MetricFFIVKEYS
Total Return (1Y)30.07%59.88%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)27.03%33.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)7.22%9.24%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for F5 (FFIV) and Keysight (KEYS)
MetricFFIVKEYS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)40.81%47.95%
Beta (5Y)1.091.22
Max Drawdown (5Y)-47.42%-42.62%
Avg. Volume (3M)692.80K1.31M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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FFIV and KEYS 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 F5 (FFIV) and Keysight (KEYS)
MetricFFIVKEYS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.631.16
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.841.82

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Keysight (KEYS) at 20.90% sits in the top ROE quartile, while F5 (FFIV) at 19.01% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for KEYS.

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%

KEYS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

20.90%

Max
42.47%
KEYS
20.90%
Q3
19.13%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%
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F5 (FFIV) vs. Keysight (KEYS): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both F5 (FFIV) at 21.14% and Keysight (KEYS) at 19.14% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

KEYS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

19.14%

Max
27.60%
KEYS
19.14%
Q3
11.66%
Median
4.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%
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F5 (FFIV) vs. Keysight (KEYS): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both F5 (FFIV) at 23.99% and Keysight (KEYS) at 25.68% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

KEYS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

25.68%

Max
36.27%
KEYS
25.68%
Q3
18.36%
Median
8.84%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%
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F5 (FFIV) vs. Keysight (KEYS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for F5 (FFIV) and Keysight (KEYS)
MetricFFIVKEYS
ROE (TTM)19.01%20.90%
ROA (TTM)7.74%7.23%
Net Margin (TTM)21.14%19.14%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.99%25.68%
Gross Margin (TTM)81.98%63.28%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Only one side can be read here: Keysight (KEYS) reports revenue growth of 7.95%, ranked against its industry; F5 (FFIV) has no revenue growth figure this period.

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

EPS Growth

Both F5 (FFIV) at 6.10% and Keysight (KEYS) at 39.32% 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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F5 (FFIV) vs. Keysight (KEYS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for F5 (FFIV) and Keysight (KEYS)
MetricFFIVKEYS
Revenue Growth (YoY)--7.95%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)---0.28%
EPS Growth (YoY)6.10%39.32%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)24.10%-7.51%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both F5 (FFIV) at 1.73 and Keysight (KEYS) at 2.02 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

KEYS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

2.02

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
KEYS
2.02
Median
1.95
Q1
1.32
Min
0.17
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F5 (FFIV) vs. Keysight (KEYS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both F5 (FFIV) at 0.05 and Keysight (KEYS) at 0.42 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

KEYS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.42

Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
KEYS
0.42
Median
0.24
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01
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F5 (FFIV) vs. Keysight (KEYS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for F5 (FFIV) and Keysight (KEYS)
MetricFFIVKEYS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.732.02
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.050.42
Net Debt / EBITDA-1.490.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither F5 (FFIV) nor Keysight (KEYS) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

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%

KEYS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither F5 (FFIV) nor Keysight (KEYS) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

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%

KEYS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for F5 (FFIV) and Keysight (KEYS)
MetricFFIVKEYS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both F5 (FFIV) at 24.83 and Keysight (KEYS) at 36.82 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

KEYS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

36.82

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
KEYS
36.82
Median
26.39
Q1
19.36
Min
6.07
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F5 (FFIV) vs. Keysight (KEYS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

F5 (FFIV) at 5.17 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Keysight (KEYS) at 7.04 sits in the pricier quartile — KEYS costs more per dollar of sales.

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

KEYS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.04

Max
11.30
KEYS
7.04
Q3
5.82
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
Min
0.00
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F5 (FFIV) vs. Keysight (KEYS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

F5 (FFIV) at 4.41 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Keysight (KEYS) at 7.05 carries an above-peer premium to book — KEYS is pricier on assets.

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

KEYS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.05

Max
10.75
KEYS
7.05
Q3
5.52
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33
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F5 (FFIV) vs. Keysight (KEYS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for F5 (FFIV) and Keysight (KEYS)
MetricFFIVKEYS
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.8336.82
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.177.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.417.05
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.63%4.03%