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SNOW vs. ZS: Snowflake vs. Zscaler Stock Comparison

How do Snowflake (SNOW) 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

Snowflake (SNOW) and Zscaler (ZS) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but SNOW is classified in IT Services while ZS is classified in Software.

Company profile comparison for Snowflake (SNOW) and Zscaler (ZS)
Profile ItemSNOWZS
NameSnowflake Inc. Common StockZscaler Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryIT ServicesSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryInternet Services & InfrastructureSystems Software
Market Capitalization97.33 billion USD32.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateSeptember 16, 2020March 16, 2018
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SNOW
ZS
GSPC
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Snowflake (SNOW) 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 Snowflake (SNOW) and Zscaler (ZS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Snowflake (SNOW) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricSNOWZS
Total Return (1Y)10.92%-37.61%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)23.09%5.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.00%-10.75%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Snowflake (SNOW) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricSNOWZS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)67.14%68.66%
Beta (5Y)1.330.88
Max Drawdown (5Y)-72.99%-76.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.67M2.92M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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SNOW 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 Snowflake (SNOW) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricSNOWZS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.10-0.61
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.17-0.79

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Snowflake (SNOW) at -48.06% 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.

SNOW

Software & Services industry group

-48.06%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
SNOW
-48.06%
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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Snowflake (SNOW) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Snowflake (SNOW) at -20.07% and Zscaler (ZS) at -1.89% report negative net margin values, usually indicating net losses over the period.

SNOW

Software & Services industry group

-20.07%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
SNOW
-20.07%
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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Snowflake (SNOW) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Snowflake (SNOW) at -17.00% and Zscaler (ZS) at -1.01% report negative operating margin values, usually indicating operating losses over the period.

SNOW

Software & Services industry group

-17.00%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
SNOW
-17.00%
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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Snowflake (SNOW) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Snowflake (SNOW) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricSNOWZS
ROE (TTM)-48.06%-2.87%
ROA (TTM)-9.02%-1.03%
Net Margin (TTM)-20.07%-1.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)-17.00%-1.01%
Gross Margin (TTM)67.03%76.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Snowflake (SNOW) at 29.16% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Zscaler (ZS) at 25.42% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for SNOW.

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

EPS Growth

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Snowflake (SNOW) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricSNOWZS
Revenue Growth (YoY)29.16%25.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)31.38%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 Snowflake (SNOW) at 0.94 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for SNOW.

SNOW

Software & Services industry group

0.94

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
SNOW
0.94
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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Snowflake (SNOW) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Zscaler (ZS) at 0.72 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Snowflake (SNOW) at 1.29 uses more debt funding than most peers.

SNOW

Software & Services industry group

1.29

Max
2.52
SNOW
1.29
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
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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Snowflake (SNOW) 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 Snowflake (SNOW) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricSNOWZS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.941.70
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.290.72
Net Debt / EBITDA---36.63

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

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

SNOW

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

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

SNOW

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Snowflake (SNOW) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricSNOWZS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

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

SNOW

Software & Services industry group

--

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

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Snowflake (SNOW) at 17.91 and Zscaler (ZS) at 9.61 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

SNOW

Software & Services industry group

17.91

SNOW
17.91
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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Snowflake (SNOW) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Zscaler (ZS) at 12.40 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Snowflake (SNOW) at 45.23 prices even higher, above its industry range.

SNOW

Software & Services industry group

45.23

SNOW
45.23
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
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Snowflake (SNOW) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Snowflake (SNOW) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricSNOWZS
P/E Ratio (TTM)----
P/S Ratio (TTM)17.919.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)45.2312.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.79%3.34%