PLTR vs. ZS: Palantir vs. Zscaler Stock Comparison
How do Palantir (PLTR) 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
Palantir (PLTR) and Zscaler (ZS) both belong to the Software industry, though PLTR is classified under Application Software while ZS falls under Systems Software.
| Profile Item | PLTR | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Palantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common Stock | Zscaler Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Software & Services | Software & Services |
| GICS Industry | Software | Software |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Application Software | Systems Software |
| Market Capitalization | 386.44 billion USD | 32.23 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | September 30, 2020 | March 16, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PLTR | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -4.94% | -37.61% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 109.97% | 5.36% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 47.47% | -10.75% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | PLTR | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 60.50% | 68.66% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.63 | 0.88 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -75.26% | -76.41% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 27.20M | 2.92M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | PLTR | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.15 | -0.61 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.24 | -0.79 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative ROE of -2.87%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Palantir (PLTR) reports 40.91%, ranking against industry peers normally.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
40.91%
- Max
- 53.85%
- PLTR
- 40.91%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative net margin of -1.89%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Palantir (PLTR) reports 50.34%, ranking against industry peers normally.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
50.34%
- PLTR
- 50.34%
- Max
- 41.17%
- 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%
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 Palantir (PLTR) reports 46.89%, ranking against industry peers normally.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
46.89%
- PLTR
- 46.89%
- Max
- 46.89%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PLTR | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 40.91% | -2.87% |
| ROA (TTM) | 19.31% | -1.03% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 50.34% | -1.89% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 46.89% | -1.01% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 84.74% | 76.87% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Zscaler (ZS) at 25.42%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Palantir (PLTR) reports EPS growth of 231.06%, ranked against its industry; Zscaler (ZS) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | PLTR | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 56.18% | 25.42% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 32.92% | 27.51% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 231.06% | -- |
| 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 Palantir (PLTR) at 7.10 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
7.10
- PLTR
- 7.10
- Max
- 5.11
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Palantir (PLTR) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Zscaler (ZS) at 0.72 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.02
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- PLTR
- 0.02
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | PLTR | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 7.10 | 1.70 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.02 | 0.72 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -3.08 | -36.63 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Palantir (PLTR) nor Zscaler (ZS) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- PLTR
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither Palantir (PLTR) nor Zscaler (ZS) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- PLTR
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | PLTR | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Palantir (PLTR) trades at 112.94 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Zscaler (ZS) has no P/E ratio this period.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
112.94
- PLTR
- 112.94
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- 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
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Zscaler (ZS) at 9.61 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 prices even higher, above its industry range.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
53.02
- PLTR
- 53.02
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Zscaler (ZS) at 12.40 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 34.41 prices even higher, above its industry range.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
34.41
- PLTR
- 34.41
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PLTR | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 112.94 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 53.02 | 9.61 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 34.41 | 12.40 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 0.69% | 3.34% |