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MSTR vs. ZS: Strategy vs. Zscaler Stock Comparison

How do Strategy (MSTR) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Strategy (MSTR) and Zscaler (ZS)
Profile ItemMSTRZS
NameStrategy Inc.Zscaler Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareSystems Software
Market Capitalization54.57 billion USD32.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJune 11, 1998March 16, 2018
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MSTR
ZS
GSPC
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Strategy (MSTR) 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 Strategy (MSTR) and Zscaler (ZS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Strategy (MSTR) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricMSTRZS
Total Return (1Y)-48.13%-37.61%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)36.44%5.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)7.87%-10.75%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MSTR
ZS
GSPC
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Strategy (MSTR) 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 Strategy (MSTR) and Zscaler (ZS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Strategy (MSTR) carries a highly aggressive beta of 3.60, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Zscaler (ZS) is closer to market-like at 0.88 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.

Risk profile metrics for Strategy (MSTR) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricMSTRZS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)82.34%68.66%
Beta (5Y)3.600.88
Max Drawdown (5Y)-84.09%-76.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)22.35M2.92M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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MSTR 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 Strategy (MSTR) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricMSTRZS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.64-0.61
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.97-0.79

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Strategy (MSTR) at -21.59% and Zscaler (ZS) at -2.87% report negative ROE values. Negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so both readings need extra context.

MSTR

Software & Services industry group

-21.59%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
MSTR
-21.59%
Min
-50.52%

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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Strategy (MSTR) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative net margin of -1.89%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Strategy (MSTR) reports 0.00%, ranking against industry peers normally.

MSTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
MSTR
0.00%
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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Strategy (MSTR) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Strategy (MSTR) at -2.07% and Zscaler (ZS) at -1.01% report negative operating margin values, usually indicating operating losses over the period.

MSTR

Software & Services industry group

-2.07%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
MSTR
-2.07%
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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Strategy (MSTR) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Strategy (MSTR) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricMSTRZS
ROE (TTM)-21.59%-2.87%
ROA (TTM)-4.52%-1.03%
Net Margin (TTM)0.00%-1.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)-2.07%-1.01%
Gross Margin (TTM)67.84%76.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Zscaler (ZS) at 25.42% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Strategy (MSTR) at 2.97% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Strategy (MSTR) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Neither Strategy (MSTR) nor Zscaler (ZS) reports a EPS growth value for this period, so a direct comparison isn't possible.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Strategy (MSTR) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricMSTRZS
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.97%25.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.49%27.51%
EPS Growth (YoY)----
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Zscaler (ZS) at 1.70 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Strategy (MSTR) at 4.04 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

MSTR

Software & Services industry group

4.04

Max
5.11
MSTR
4.04
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
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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Strategy (MSTR) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Strategy (MSTR) at 0.10 and Zscaler (ZS) at 0.72 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

MSTR

Software & Services industry group

0.10

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
MSTR
0.10
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00

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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Strategy (MSTR) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Strategy (MSTR) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricMSTRZS
Current Ratio (MRQ)4.041.70
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.100.72
Net Debt / EBITDA---36.63

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

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

MSTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

MSTR
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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Strategy (MSTR) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

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

MSTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

MSTR
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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Strategy (MSTR) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Strategy (MSTR) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricMSTRZS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Neither Strategy (MSTR) nor Zscaler (ZS) reports a P/E ratio value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.

MSTR

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
MSTR
--

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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Strategy (MSTR) vs. Zscaler (ZS): Neither stock reports P/E ratio, so the chart shows available benchmark boxes without value markers.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Zscaler (ZS) at 9.61 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Strategy (MSTR) at 110.23 prices even higher, above its industry range.

MSTR

Software & Services industry group

110.23

MSTR
110.23
Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
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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Strategy (MSTR) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Strategy (MSTR) at 0.98 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while Zscaler (ZS) at 12.40 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.

MSTR

Software & Services industry group

0.98

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
MSTR
0.98
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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Strategy (MSTR) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Strategy (MSTR) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricMSTRZS
P/E Ratio (TTM)----
P/S Ratio (TTM)110.239.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)0.9812.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-5.94%3.34%