CrowdStrike vs Fortinet (CRWD vs FTNT)
CrowdStrike (CRWD) vs Fortinet (FTNT) in plain English: P/E, growth, margins, debt and dividend side by side, key differences and which fits each investor profile.
CrowdStrike (CRWD) and Fortinet (FTNT) compete in software and cloud. Here are CrowdStrike and Fortinet side by side with their real figures as of November 4, 2026: what sets them apart, which fits each kind of investor and the most common questions, without telling you whether to buy CrowdStrike or Fortinet.
CrowdStrike vs Fortinet: the figures
| Figure | CrowdStrike | Fortinet |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $241.00 (November 4, 2026) | $129.39 (November 4, 2026) |
| Market cap | $246.8 billion | $95.1 billion |
| P/E (TTM) | N/A | 42.3x |
| Forward P/E | 149.6x | 33.2x |
| Revenue growth (quarter) | +25.8% | +20.5% |
| Net margin (TTM) | 0.8% | 29.0% |
| Net debt / EBITDA | Net cash | Net cash |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Beta | 1.15 | 1.04 |
CrowdStrike and Fortinet figures from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026; N/A means that CrowdStrike or Fortinet figure is not available, and we never estimate it.
3 key differences between CrowdStrike and Fortinet
- Debt: Fortinet owes -1.5x its annual operating profit (EBITDA), while CrowdStrike holds more cash than debt.
- Profitability: for every 100 of sales, Fortinet keeps 29.0 as net profit and CrowdStrike keeps 0.8.
- Growth: CrowdStrike grew sales +25.8% year on year in its latest quarter, against +20.5% for Fortinet.
CrowdStrike or Fortinet: which fits your profile
- If you want growth: CrowdStrike is growing faster today, so it fits better with investors who put business growth first, usually accepting a higher P/E and a bumpier ride.
- If you prefer caution: CrowdStrike has less debt relative to its profit, which usually gives more room in a bad year.
Neither CrowdStrike nor Fortinet wins on everything, and owning both is also an option: spreading money across several companies or an index fund reduces what rides on each one.
How CrowdStrike and Fortinet make money
CrowdStrike (CRWD)
CrowdStrike sells subscriptions to Falcon, a cloud platform that protects laptops, servers, user identities and cloud workloads from cyberattacks. Subscriptions make up the bulk of revenue, with the rest coming from professional services such as incident response. Customers are businesses and government agencies, led by the United States. Full CrowdStrike analysis.
Fortinet (FTNT)
Fortinet sells FortiGate firewalls, powered by its own custom chips, plus the security services that run on them. Revenue is split between product, meaning the hardware, and service, its larger line, which covers security subscriptions and technical support. Customers include enterprises, carriers and governments across the Americas, Europe and Asia. Full Fortinet analysis.
Frequently asked questions: CrowdStrike vs Fortinet
Is CrowdStrike or Fortinet the better stock?
Choosing between CrowdStrike and Fortinet depends on what you are looking for. CrowdStrike is growing faster right now. Fintols does not tell you whether to buy CrowdStrike or Fortinet: it shows you the differences so you can decide.
Which pays a higher dividend, CrowdStrike or Fortinet?
Neither pays a dividend as of November 4, 2026: CrowdStrike and Fortinet put what they earn into growth or other forms of shareholder return.
Can I own both CrowdStrike and Fortinet?
Yes. Many people spread their money across several companies, such as CrowdStrike and Fortinet, or use index funds so they do not depend on just one. If you are starting out, decide how much you want to invest and for how long before buying CrowdStrike or Fortinet.
More comparisons with CrowdStrike or Fortinet
- CrowdStrike vs Palantir
- CrowdStrike vs Palo Alto Networks
- Fortinet vs Palantir
- Fortinet vs Palo Alto Networks
More companies like CrowdStrike and Fortinet: software and cloud stocks. Educational content about CrowdStrike and Fortinet, not investment advice.