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FICO vs. ZS: Fair Isaac vs. Zscaler Stock Comparison

How do Fair Isaac (FICO) and Zscaler (ZS) 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

Fair Isaac (FICO) and Zscaler (ZS) both belong to the Software industry, though FICO is classified under Application Software while ZS falls under Systems Software.

Company profile comparison for Fair Isaac (FICO) and Zscaler (ZS)
Profile ItemFICOZS
NameFair Isaac Corp.Zscaler Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareSystems Software
Market Capitalization15.22 billion USD32.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJuly 22, 1987March 16, 2018
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FICO
ZS
GSPC
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Fair Isaac (FICO) vs. Zscaler (ZS), 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 Fair Isaac (FICO) and Zscaler (ZS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Fair Isaac (FICO) and Zscaler (ZS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Fair Isaac (FICO) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricFICOZS
Total Return (1Y)-58.54%-37.61%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-9.17%5.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.31%-10.75%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FICO
ZS
GSPC
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Fair Isaac (FICO) vs. Zscaler (ZS), 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 Fair Isaac (FICO) and Zscaler (ZS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Fair Isaac (FICO) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricFICOZS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)63.29%68.66%
Beta (5Y)1.330.88
Max Drawdown (5Y)-75.13%-76.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)759.34K2.92M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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FICO and ZS 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 Fair Isaac (FICO) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricFICOZS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.99-0.61
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.20-0.79

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Fair Isaac (FICO) has no ROE value reported for this period; Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative figure of -2.87%, which needs context because negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity.

FICO

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
FICO
--

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-2.87%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
ZS
-2.87%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Fair Isaac (FICO) vs. Zscaler (ZS): FICO does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; ZS is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative net margin of -1.89%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Fair Isaac (FICO) reports 32.94%, ranking against industry peers normally.

FICO

Software & Services industry group

32.94%

Max
41.17%
FICO
32.94%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-1.89%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
ZS
-1.89%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Fair Isaac (FICO) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative operating margin of -1.01%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Fair Isaac (FICO) reports 44.72%, ranking against industry peers normally.

FICO

Software & Services industry group

44.72%

Max
46.89%
FICO
44.72%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-1.01%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
ZS
-1.01%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Fair Isaac (FICO) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Fair Isaac (FICO) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricFICOZS
ROE (TTM)---2.87%
ROA (TTM)40.99%-1.03%
Net Margin (TTM)32.94%-1.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)44.72%-1.01%
Gross Margin (TTM)86.13%76.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Fair Isaac (FICO) at 27.33% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Zscaler (ZS) at 25.42% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for FICO.

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Fair Isaac (FICO) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Fair Isaac (FICO) reports EPS growth of 36.85%, ranked against its industry; Zscaler (ZS) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Fair Isaac (FICO) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Fair Isaac (FICO) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricFICOZS
Revenue Growth (YoY)27.33%25.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)18.76%27.51%
EPS Growth (YoY)36.85%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)28.97%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Zscaler (ZS) at 1.70 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Fair Isaac (FICO) at 0.99 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for FICO.

FICO

Software & Services industry group

0.99

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
FICO
0.99
Min
0.03

ZS

Software & Services industry group

1.70

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
ZS
1.70
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Fair Isaac (FICO) vs. Zscaler (ZS): 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: Zscaler (ZS) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72 against its industry range, while Fair Isaac (FICO) reports no figure this period.

FICO

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
FICO
--

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.72

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
ZS
0.72
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Fair Isaac (FICO) vs. Zscaler (ZS): FICO does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; ZS is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Fair Isaac (FICO) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricFICOZS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.991.70
Debt / Equity (MRQ)--0.72
Net Debt / EBITDA3.86-36.63

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Fair Isaac (FICO) nor Zscaler (ZS) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

FICO

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

FICO
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

ZS
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Fair Isaac (FICO) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Fair Isaac (FICO) nor Zscaler (ZS) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

FICO

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

FICO
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

ZS
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Fair Isaac (FICO) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Fair Isaac (FICO) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricFICOZS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Fair Isaac (FICO) trades at 19.40 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Zscaler (ZS) has no P/E ratio this period.

FICO

Software & Services industry group

19.40

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
FICO
19.40
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69

ZS

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
ZS
--
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Fair Isaac (FICO) vs. Zscaler (ZS): ZS does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; FICO is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Fair Isaac (FICO) at 6.00 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Zscaler (ZS) at 9.61 sits in the pricier quartile — ZS costs more per dollar of sales.

FICO

Software & Services industry group

6.00

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
FICO
6.00
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02

ZS

Software & Services industry group

9.61

Max
17.91
ZS
9.61
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Fair Isaac (FICO) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Fair Isaac (FICO) reports a negative P/B ratio of -3.90, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Zscaler (ZS) reports 12.40, ranking against industry peers normally.

FICO

Software & Services industry group

-3.90

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
FICO
-3.90
Min
-3.90

ZS

Software & Services industry group

12.40

Max
16.63
ZS
12.40
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Fair Isaac (FICO) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Fair Isaac (FICO) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricFICOZS
P/E Ratio (TTM)19.40--
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.009.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)-3.9012.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.54%3.34%