FFIV vs. SMCI: F5 vs. Super Micro Computer Stock Comparison
How do F5 (FFIV) and Super Micro Computer (SMCI) 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 Super Micro Computer (SMCI) both fall under the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group, but FFIV is classified in Communications Equipment while SMCI is classified in Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals.
| Profile Item | FFIV | SMCI |
|---|---|---|
| Name | F5, Inc. | Super Micro Computer Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Technology Hardware & Equipment | Technology Hardware & Equipment |
| GICS Industry | Communications Equipment | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Communications Equipment | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals |
| Market Capitalization | 17.66 billion USD | 18.96 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 4, 1999 | March 29, 2007 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | FFIV | SMCI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 30.07% | -26.81% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 27.03% | 3.18% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 7.22% | 45.36% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Super Micro Computer (SMCI) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.21, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas F5 (FFIV) is closer to market-like at 1.09 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
Super Micro Computer (SMCI) is heavily traded at around 43.55M shares per day, whereas F5 (FFIV) sees a more moderate 692.80K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.
| Metric | FFIV | SMCI |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 40.81% | 93.09% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.09 | 2.21 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -47.42% | -84.84% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 692.80K | 43.55M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | FFIV | SMCI |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.63 | -0.33 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.84 | -0.48 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Super Micro Computer (SMCI) at 32.37% sits in the top ROE quartile, while F5 (FFIV) at 19.01% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SMCI.
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%
SMCI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
32.37%
- Max
- 42.47%
- SMCI
- 32.37%
- Q3
- 19.13%
- Median
- 11.00%
- Q1
- 1.63%
- Min
- -20.62%
Net Margin (TTM)
F5 (FFIV) at 21.14% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Super Micro Computer (SMCI) at 6.77%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
SMCI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
6.77%
- Max
- 27.60%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- SMCI
- 6.77%
- Median
- 4.08%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -11.02%
Operating Margin (TTM)
F5 (FFIV) at 23.99% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Super Micro Computer (SMCI) at 10.35%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
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%
SMCI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
10.35%
- Max
- 36.27%
- Q3
- 18.36%
- SMCI
- 10.35%
- Median
- 8.84%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -21.39%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | FFIV | SMCI |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 19.01% | 32.37% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.74% | 11.61% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.14% | 6.77% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 23.99% | 10.35% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 81.98% | 11.67% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Only one side can be read here: Super Micro Computer (SMCI) reports revenue growth of 77.79%, ranked against its industry; F5 (FFIV) has no revenue growth figure this period.
EPS Growth
Super Micro Computer (SMCI) at 94.05% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while F5 (FFIV) at 6.10% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for SMCI.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | FFIV | SMCI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -- | 77.79% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 76.34% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 6.10% | 94.05% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 24.10% | 41.82% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
F5 (FFIV) at 1.73 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Super Micro Computer (SMCI) at 3.02 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets 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
SMCI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
3.02
- Max
- 5.34
- SMCI
- 3.02
- Q3
- 3.02
- Median
- 1.95
- Q1
- 1.32
- Min
- 0.17
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both F5 (FFIV) at 0.05 and Super Micro Computer (SMCI) at 0.57 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
SMCI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.57
- Max
- 1.76
- Q3
- 0.78
- SMCI
- 0.57
- Median
- 0.24
- Q1
- 0.04
- Min
- 0.01
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | FFIV | SMCI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.73 | 3.02 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.05 | 0.57 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -1.49 | 0.50 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither F5 (FFIV) nor Super Micro Computer (SMCI) 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%
SMCI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 0.73%
- Q3
- 0.31%
- SMCI
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither F5 (FFIV) nor Super Micro Computer (SMCI) 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%
SMCI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 32.27%
- Q3
- 14.48%
- SMCI
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | FFIV | SMCI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Super Micro Computer (SMCI) at 6.07 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 SMCI, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
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
SMCI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
6.07
- Max
- 69.48
- Q3
- 41.02
- Median
- 26.39
- Q1
- 19.36
- SMCI
- 6.07
- Min
- 6.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Super Micro Computer (SMCI) at 0.35 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while F5 (FFIV) at 5.17 prices around its industry’s middle — SMCI costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
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
SMCI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.35
- Max
- 11.30
- Q3
- 5.82
- Median
- 2.56
- Q1
- 1.05
- SMCI
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Super Micro Computer (SMCI) at 1.60 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while F5 (FFIV) at 4.41 is valued near its industry’s middle — SMCI is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
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
SMCI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
1.60
- Max
- 10.75
- Q3
- 5.52
- Median
- 3.17
- Q1
- 1.79
- SMCI
- 1.60
- Min
- 0.33
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | FFIV | SMCI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 24.83 | 6.07 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.17 | 0.35 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.41 | 1.60 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.63% | -42.54% |