Compare StocksFFIV vs GS

F5, Inc. (FFIV) vs The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS)

FFIV
F5, Inc.
$290.30
VS
GS
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
$809.50

Rewards

FFIV
  • F5, Inc. has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
  • Gross margin of 81.4% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • F5, Inc. scores 88/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
GS
  • Gross margin of 82.9% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • Share count has been reduced by 11% over the past 4 years through buybacks, increasing each share's claim on earnings.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $5.60 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.

Risks

FFIV
  • FCF yield of 5.5% suggests reasonable valuation assuming continued moderate growth.
  • PEG ratio of 2.43 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
  • 16 insider sales totaling $6.1M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
GS
  • The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. scores only 26/100 on the Economic Moat Score, suggesting limited durable competitive advantages.
  • High leverage (5.96x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
  • Altman Z-Score of 0.25 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.

Key Valuation Metrics

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FFIV
GS
Valuation
$906.41M
Free Cash Flow
N/A
5.50%
FCF Yield
N/A
24.03
Trailing P/E
15.77
17.29
Forward P/E
12.45
Quality & Moat
16.99%
ROIC
2.06%
19.57%
ROE
13.00%
81.39%
Gross Margin
82.88%
2.43
PEG Ratio
0.91
Balance Sheet Safety
0.08
Debt / Equity
5.96
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
-1.05
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
N/A
Dividend Yield
2.22%
FFIV: 3Ties: 2GS: 3
FFIVGS

Historical Fundamentals

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FFIV

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

GS

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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FFIV
$3.71
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$1.65B
Δ Market Cap
+$6.13B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
GS
$5.60
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$26.00B
Δ Market Cap
+$145.60B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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FFIV
19.6% Overvalued
Price is 19.6% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $290.30
Fair Value: $242.81
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
GS
65.1% Margin of Safety
Price is 65.1% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $809.50
Fair Value: $2319.70
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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FFIV

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $290?

+9.3%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +5.6%

The market implies +9.3% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.

Standard FCF implies a more demanding +5.6%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.

GS

Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.

Economic Moat Score

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FFIV
88/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Revenue Predictability is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
GS
26/100
No Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

No durable moat detected, though reinvestment efficiency shows some competitive positioning. The business lacks consistent evidence of sustainable advantages.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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FFIV
-2.59
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
GS
-2.00
Possible Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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FFIV
Insiders 0.5%Institutions 109.8%
No. of Institutional Holders1,041
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
GS
Insiders 0.5%Institutions 75.7%Retail & Other 23.8%
No. of Institutional Holders3,730
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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FFIV
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
GS
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $2.00M
HESS JOHN B JR.
Director
$2.00M
@ $511.68 · 2025-04-15
JOHNSON KEVIN RONALD
Director
$1.49M
@ $619.02 · 2025-01-17
FLAHERTY MARK A
Director
$29,545
@ $360.30 · 2024-09-27
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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FFIV
16
Sells (3M)
42
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $20.85M
WHALEN CHAD MICHAEL
Officer
$190,610
@ $277.05 · 2026-03-06
WERNER EDWARD COOPER
Chief Financial Officer
$273,453
@ $282.20 · 2026-03-04
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$1.06M
@ $283.53 · 2026-03-04
DREYER MICHAEL L
Director
$866,137
@ $282.41 · 2026-02-20
HIGGINSON ALAN JOHN
Director
$487,192
@ $275.25 · 2026-02-19
ANAND KUNAL
Chief Technology Officer
$104,927
@ $278.32 · 2026-02-10
MADDISON JOHN ANTHONY
Officer
$280,660
@ $280.66 · 2026-02-10
OKEKE ANGELIQUE M
General Counsel
$107,432
@ $278.32 · 2026-02-10
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$360,981
@ $278.32 · 2026-02-10
SCHRAMM LYRA AMBER
Officer
$55,993
@ $281.37 · 2026-02-03
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$875,431
@ $261.87 · 2026-01-26
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$291,630
@ $262.73 · 2026-01-20
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$294,150
@ $265.00 · 2026-01-12
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$292,807
@ $263.79 · 2026-01-05
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$289,146
@ $262.86 · 2025-12-29
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$286,269
@ $257.90 · 2025-12-22
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$293,884
@ $264.76 · 2025-12-15
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$276,013
@ $248.66 · 2025-12-08
HIGGINSON ALAN JOHN
Director
$310,377
@ $237.11 · 2025-12-03
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$263,059
@ $236.99 · 2025-12-01
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$308,087
@ $236.99 · 2025-12-01
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$260,756
@ $234.92 · 2025-11-24
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$252,458
@ $227.44 · 2025-11-18
SCHRAMM LYRA AMBER
Officer
$262,282
@ $246.97 · 2025-11-04
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$2.08M
@ $249.78 · 2025-11-03
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$328,874
@ $252.98 · 2025-11-03
WHALEN CHAD MICHAEL
Officer
$2.36M
@ $249.77 · 2025-11-03
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$416,793
@ $320.61 · 2025-10-01
SCHRAMM LYRA AMBER
Officer
$855,056
@ $316.57 · 2025-09-08
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$402,493
@ $309.61 · 2025-09-02
WHALEN CHAD MICHAEL
Officer
$1.71M
@ $322.24 · 2025-08-11
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$417,206
@ $309.73 · 2025-08-04
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$400,582
@ $308.14 · 2025-08-01
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$382,616
@ $294.32 · 2025-07-01
BUSE ELIZABETH
Director
$440,301
@ $293.53 · 2025-06-11
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$369,187
@ $283.99 · 2025-06-02
DREYER MICHAEL L
Director
$514,722
@ $285.96 · 2025-05-27
HIGGINSON ALAN JOHN
Director
$364,666
@ $286.69 · 2025-05-22
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$362,383
@ $269.03 · 2025-05-02
WHALEN CHAD MICHAEL
Officer
$412,154
@ $269.03 · 2025-05-02
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$343,902
@ $264.54 · 2025-05-01
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$344,981
@ $265.37 · 2025-04-01
BUDNIK MARIANNE
Director
$488,064
@ $260.72 · 2025-03-14
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$384,098
@ $295.46 · 2025-03-03
ROGERS SCOT FRAZIER
General Counsel
$1.02M
@ $293.18 · 2025-02-26
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$1.97M
@ $303.06 · 2025-02-12
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$385,528
@ $293.40 · 2025-02-03
WHALEN CHAD MICHAEL
Officer
$1.19M
@ $290.33 · 2025-02-03
SCHRAMM LYRA AMBER
Officer
$75,207
@ $297.26 · 2025-01-31
BUDNIK MARIANNE
Director
$221,640
@ $304.45 · 2025-01-30
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$364,211
@ $251.18 · 2024-12-03
HIGGINSON ALAN JOHN
Director
$197,810
@ $239.77 · 2024-11-19
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$911,846
@ $231.90 · 2024-11-04
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$336,307
@ $231.94 · 2024-11-04
ROGERS SCOT FRAZIER
General Counsel
$1.05M
@ $231.86 · 2024-11-04
WHALEN CHAD MICHAEL
Officer
$1.03M
@ $231.93 · 2024-11-04
PELZER FRANCIS J V
Chief Financial Officer
$130,602
@ $217.67 · 2024-10-21
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$316,477
@ $218.26 · 2024-10-03
PELZER FRANCIS J V
Chief Financial Officer
$130,500
@ $217.50 · 2024-09-20
HIGGINSON ALAN JOHN
Director
$201,650
@ $201.65 · 2024-09-09
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$292,900
@ $202.00 · 2024-09-03
PELZER FRANCIS J V
Chief Financial Officer
$20,000
@ $200.00 · 2024-08-26
WHALEN CHAD MICHAEL
Officer
$1.09M
@ $198.88 · 2024-08-22
PELZER FRANCIS J V
Chief Financial Officer
$98,365
@ $196.73 · 2024-08-20
LOCOH DONOU FRANCOIS
Chief Executive Officer
$273,108
@ $188.35 · 2024-08-05
FOUNTAIN THOMAS DEAN
Officer
$163,996
@ $192.71 · 2024-08-02
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
GS
6
Sells (3M)
11
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $59.99M
COLEMAN DENIS P.
Chief Financial Officer
$10.94M
@ $941.57 · 2026-02-09
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$255,387
@ $938.92 · 2026-01-29
HALIO CAREY
Officer
$2.64M
@ $927.17 · 2026-01-27
FREDMAN SHEARA J.
Officer
$4.49M
@ $923.75 · 2026-01-23
RUEMMLER KATHRYN H
General Counsel
$8.89M
@ $927.51 · 2026-01-23
HALIO CAREY
Officer
$1.62M
@ $920.62 · 2026-01-23
WALDRON JOHN E.
President
$13.69M
@ $750.30 · 2025-08-28
COLEMAN DENIS P.
Chief Financial Officer
$5.41M
@ $724.40 · 2025-07-25
ROGERS JOHN F W
Officer
$4.31M
@ $717.39 · 2025-07-23
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$4.71M
@ $712.31 · 2025-07-23
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$3.04M
@ $607.17 · 2025-05-14
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$1.50M
@ $622.15 · 2025-02-26
GOLTEN ALEXANDER SIMON
Officer
$3.31M
@ $636.25 · 2025-01-28
HALIO CAREY
Officer and Treasurer
$2.32M
@ $636.74 · 2025-01-24
FREDMAN SHEARA J.
Officer
$1.28M
@ $627.01 · 2025-01-21
RUEMMLER KATHRYN H
General Counsel
$4.76M
@ $634.69 · 2025-01-21
HALIO CAREY
Officer
$965,120
@ $624.67 · 2025-01-21
VINIAR DAVID A
Director
$3.06M
@ $612.08 · 2024-11-29
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$4.00M
@ $610.91 · 2024-11-29
FREDMAN SHEARA J.
Officer
$1.77M
@ $594.51 · 2024-11-06
COLEMAN DENIS P.
Chief Financial Officer
$7.67M
@ $593.03 · 2024-11-06
ROGERS JOHN F W
Officer
$3.83M
@ $596.36 · 2024-11-06
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$3.00M
@ $500.29 · 2024-08-15
VINIAR DAVID A
Director
$2.51M
@ $502.43 · 2024-07-16
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$3.02M
@ $457.32 · 2024-05-10
VINIAR DAVID A
Director
$2.16M
@ $432.25 · 2024-04-29
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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FFIV
FearGreed
😐Neutral(54/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
GS
FearGreed
😐Neutral(48/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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FFIV
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (54)
GS
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (48)
View FFIV Full AnalysisView GS Full Analysis