Software and cloud stocks: 25 companies analyzed
The 25 software and cloud companies Fintols covers, such as Accenture, Adobe and Salesforce: P/E, growth, margin and dividend with dated figures.
Software companies sell the programs that businesses and millions of people rely on every day: operating systems, productivity tools, business management suites, cybersecurity and databases. More and more of them charge a subscription instead of a one-time license, and the big cloud providers rent out computing power and storage on a pay-as-you-go basis. Once the product exists, serving one more customer costs very little, which is why each additional sale can carry a fat margin. Some also earn from consulting, training and the app stores built around their platforms.
When you study one, start with growth in recurring revenue and net revenue retention, which shows whether existing customers spend more over time or quietly leave. Gross margins tend to be very high, so the real question is how much goes to sales, marketing and research. Lean on free cash flow more than reported earnings, and keep an eye on stock-based compensation: if the share count keeps rising because employees are paid in stock, your slice of the company shrinks. Comparing customer acquisition cost with lifetime value is another useful lens.
Typical risks include rich valuations that deflate quickly once growth slows, competition from deep-pocketed giants and fast technology shifts, such as artificial intelligence, that can make a product feel dated almost overnight. If you’re just getting started, don’t stop at the exciting story. Check that growth is backed by real cash, and ask yourself how much you are paying for every dollar the business actually brings in.
With data as of November 4, 2026, of the 25 software and cloud companies Fintols covers, the largest by market value is Microsoft ($4.13 trillion) among those quoted in dollars and SAP (€247.3 billion) among those quoted in euros, the fastest-growing in its latest quarter is Palantir (+95.9% in sales) and the highest dividend yield belongs to Wolters Kluwer (3.04%). The typical company in the group trades on a P/E of 29.0x and keeps a net margin of 16.0% (medians). Figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses; N/A means the figure is not available.
Software and cloud companies on Fintols
| Company | Market cap | P/E | Revenue growth | Net margin | Dividend yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft (MSFT) | $4.13 trillion | 29.0x | +18.8% | 41.2% | 0.75% |
| Palantir (PLTR) | $413.7 billion | 120.9x | +95.9% | 50.3% | 0.00% |
| Oracle (ORCL) | $375.1 billion | 19.4x | +29.6% | 26.4% | 1.58% |
| Palo Alto Networks (PANW) | $284.9 billion | N/A | +34.5% | 2.7% | 0.00% |
| SAP (SAP.DE) | €247.3 billion | 31.0x | +13.2% | 20.4% | 1.19% |
| CrowdStrike (CRWD) | $246.8 billion | N/A | +25.8% | 0.8% | 0.00% |
| IBM (IBM) | $240.4 billion | 21.7x | +4.7% | 16.0% | 2.70% |
| Salesforce (CRM) | $186.9 billion | 20.8x | +10.8% | 22.0% | 0.79% |
| Accenture (ACN) | $161.7 billion | 19.5x | +6.2% | 11.3% | 2.69% |
| ServiceNow (NOW) | $112.9 billion | 78.3x | +20.5% | 9.4% | 0.00% |
| Snowflake (SNOW) | $102.5 billion | N/A | +35.1% | -20.1% | 0.00% |
| Adobe (ADBE) | $96.7 billion | 13.9x | +12.9% | 28.0% | 0.00% |
| Intuit (INTU) | $95.3 billion | 21.7x | +13.7% | 21.3% | 1.60% |
| Fortinet (FTNT) | $95.1 billion | 42.3x | +20.5% | 29.0% | 0.00% |
| Cloudflare (NET) | $94.9 billion | N/A | +35.9% | -8.2% | 0.00% |
| Cadence (CDNS) | $90.4 billion | 65.5x | +22.0% | 22.5% | 0.00% |
| Synopsys (SNPS) | $88.7 billion | 81.8x | +42.4% | 11.4% | 0.00% |
| Datadog (DDOG) | $67.8 billion | 377.4x | +35.6% | 4.5% | 0.00% |
| Autodesk (ADSK) | $56.4 billion | 35.0x | +16.1% | 21.1% | 0.00% |
| Workday (WDAY) | $48.6 billion | 41.1x | +12.8% | 12.3% | 0.00% |
| Zscaler (ZS) | $36.6 billion | N/A | +24.9% | -1.9% | 0.00% |
| Amadeus (AMS) | €25.0 billion | 19.7x | +1.5% | 19.9% | 2.63% |
| Wolters Kluwer (WKL.AS) | €20.3 billion | 15.6x | -0.6% | 21.9% | 3.04% |
| Unity (U) | $18.7 billion | N/A | +23.9% | -29.0% | 0.00% |
| The Trade Desk (TTD) | $6.3 billion | 15.9x | +3.0% | 13.6% | 0.00% |
Software and cloud comparisons
- Microsoft vs Oracle
- Salesforce vs Oracle
- Adobe vs Salesforce
- Palantir vs Snowflake
- Salesforce vs Snowflake
- Accenture vs Adobe
- Accenture vs Microsoft
- Accenture vs Oracle
Other sectors
- Hardware and devices
- Semiconductor
- Internet and media
- Telecom
- Banking
- Financial services
- Insurance
- Healthcare
- Consumer staples
- Retail
- Luxury and apparel
- Restaurant
- Automotive
- Energy
- Utility
- Industrial
- Aerospace and defense
- Travel and leisure
- Construction and infrastructure
- Materials
- Real estate (REIT)
See all stocks by sector or by index: S&P 500, S&P 100, IBEX 35 and Euro Stoxx 50. Educational content, not investment advice.