ZM vs. ZS: Zoom Communications vs. Zscaler Stock Comparison
How do Zoom Communications (ZM) 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
Zoom Communications (ZM) and Zscaler (ZS) both belong to the Software industry, though ZM is classified under Application Software while ZS falls under Systems Software.
| Profile Item | ZM | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Zoom Communications, 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 | 26.23 billion USD | 32.23 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | April 18, 2019 | March 16, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ZM | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 12.58% | -37.61% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 14.89% | 5.36% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -18.67% | -10.75% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ZM | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 45.03% | 68.66% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.99 | 0.88 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -79.08% | -76.41% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.88M | 2.92M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ZM | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.18 | -0.61 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.28 | -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 Zoom Communications (ZM) reports 32.14%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ZM
Software & Services industry group
32.14%
- Max
- 53.85%
- ZM
- 32.14%
- 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 Zoom Communications (ZM) reports 65.19%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ZM
Software & Services industry group
65.19%
- ZM
- 65.19%
- 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 Zoom Communications (ZM) reports 24.61%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ZM
Software & Services industry group
24.61%
- Max
- 46.89%
- ZM
- 24.61%
- 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 | ZM | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 32.14% | -2.87% |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.11% | -1.03% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 65.19% | -1.89% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 24.61% | -1.01% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 77.66% | 76.87% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Zscaler (ZS) at 25.42% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Zoom Communications (ZM) at 4.36% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Zoom Communications (ZM) reports EPS growth of 92.52%, ranked against its industry; Zscaler (ZS) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ZM | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 4.36% | 25.42% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.49% | 27.51% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 92.52% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 162.93% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Zscaler (ZS) at 1.70 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Zoom Communications (ZM) at 3.83 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
ZM
Software & Services industry group
3.83
- Max
- 5.11
- ZM
- 3.83
- 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)
Zoom Communications (ZM) at 0.01 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Zscaler (ZS) at 0.72 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
ZM
Software & Services industry group
0.01
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- ZM
- 0.01
- 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 | ZM | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 3.83 | 1.70 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.01 | 0.72 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -5.39 | -36.63 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Zoom Communications (ZM) nor Zscaler (ZS) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
ZM
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- ZM
- 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 Zoom Communications (ZM) nor Zscaler (ZS) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
ZM
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- ZM
- 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 | ZM | 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: Zoom Communications (ZM) trades at 8.34 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Zscaler (ZS) has no P/E ratio this period.
ZM
Software & Services industry group
8.34
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- ZM
- 8.34
- 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)
Zoom Communications (ZM) at 5.25 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.
ZM
Software & Services industry group
5.25
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- ZM
- 5.25
- 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)
Zoom Communications (ZM) at 2.32 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Zscaler (ZS) at 12.40 carries an above-peer premium to book — ZS is pricier on assets.
ZM
Software & Services industry group
2.32
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- ZM
- 2.32
- 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 | ZM | ZS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 8.34 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.25 | 9.61 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.32 | 12.40 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 7.53% | 3.34% |