Compare Stocks › FFIV vs NOW
F5, Inc. (FFIV) vs ServiceNow, Inc. (NOW)
FFIV
F5, Inc.
$290.30
VS
NOW
ServiceNow, Inc.
$113.27
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.
NOW
- ★Gross margin of 77.5% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Free cash flow has grown at a 27.8% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $16.65 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.
NOW
- ⚠Despite buyback spending, shares outstanding increased in 3 out of 3 years — stock-based compensation is offsetting repurchases.
- ⚠PEG ratio of 19.95 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →FFIV
NOW
Valuation
$906.41M
Free Cash Flow
$4.95B
5.50%
FCF Yield
4.14%
24.03
Trailing P/E
67.83
17.29
Forward P/E
22.56
Quality & Moat
16.99%
ROIC
11.27%
19.57%
ROE
13.48%
81.39%
Gross Margin
77.53%
2.43
PEG Ratio
19.95
Balance Sheet Safety
0.08
Debt / Equity
0.19
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
-1.05
Net Debt / EBITDA
-1.42
N/A
Dividend Yield
N/A
FFIV: 7Ties: 2NOW: 2
FFIVNOW
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →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.
NOW
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
Learn more →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
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
NOW
$16.65
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$4.90B
Δ Market Cap
+$81.66B
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
> $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
Learn more →FFIV
19.6% Overvalued
Price is 19.6% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $290.30
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $242.81
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
NOW
45.8% Overvalued
Price is 45.8% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $113.27
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $77.67
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →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.
NOW
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $113?
+24.1%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +9.8%
The market implies +24.1% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.
Standard FCF implies a more demanding +9.8%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →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.
NOW
61/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving roic consistency would strengthen the moat.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.
Forensic Accounting
Learn more →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.
NOW
-2.87
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.
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
Learn more →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.
NOW
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 90.0%Retail & Other 9.8%
No. of Institutional Holders3,199
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
Learn more →FFIV
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
NOW
1
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $3.00M
MCDERMOTT WILLIAM R
Chief Executive Officer
$3.00M
@ $104.60 · 2026-02-27
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →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
NOW
4
Sells (3M)
48
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $27.80M
FIPPS PAUL
Officer
$376,142
@ $101.77 · 2026-02-23
FIPPS PAUL
Officer
$1.02M
@ $105.93 · 2026-02-18
MCBRIDE KEVIN THOMAS
Officer
$147,994
@ $105.71 · 2026-02-13
CHAMBERLAIN PAUL EDWARD
Director
$151,755
@ $101.17 · 2026-02-12
MASTANTUONO GINA
President
$352,750
@ $850.00 · 2025-12-05
MASTANTUONO GINA
President
$336,936
@ $808.00 · 2025-11-28
JACKSON LAWRENCE
Director
$214,708
@ $810.22 · 2025-11-28
CHAMBERLAIN PAUL EDWARD
Director
$242,400
@ $808.00 · 2025-11-28
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$200,549
@ $839.12 · 2025-11-18
FIPPS PAUL
Officer
$249,353
@ $817.55 · 2025-11-18
TZITZON NICHOLAS
Officer
$431,736
@ $827.08 · 2025-11-18
ELMER RUSSELL S.
General Counsel
$160,155
@ $838.51 · 2025-11-18
MCBRIDE KEVIN THOMAS
Officer
$235,894
@ $842.48 · 2025-11-14
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$56,257
@ $852.38 · 2025-11-13
ELMER RUSSELL S.
General Counsel
$52,848
@ $852.39 · 2025-11-13
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$222,012
@ $863.86 · 2025-11-10
ELMER RUSSELL S.
General Counsel
$164,997
@ $863.86 · 2025-11-10
SANDS ANITA M
Director
$1.00M
@ $915.11 · 2025-08-29
MCDERMOTT WILLIAM R
Chief Executive Officer
$5.34M
@ $916.63 · 2025-08-28
FIPPS PAUL
Officer
$1.30M
@ $895.32 · 2025-08-20
ELMER RUSSELL S.
General Counsel
$1.50M
@ $884.26 · 2025-08-20
MCDERMOTT WILLIAM R
Chief Executive Officer
$1.43M
@ $900.00 · 2025-08-19
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$1.35M
@ $866.45 · 2025-08-18
MASTANTUONO GINA
President
$1.53M
@ $866.45 · 2025-08-18
TZITZON NICHOLAS
Officer
$1.49M
@ $866.45 · 2025-08-18
MCBRIDE KEVIN THOMAS
Officer
$238,496
@ $851.77 · 2025-08-15
CHAMBERLAIN PAUL EDWARD
Director
$258,000
@ $860.00 · 2025-08-14
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$57,658
@ $860.57 · 2025-08-13
MASTANTUONO GINA
President
$72,288
@ $860.57 · 2025-08-13
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$225,746
@ $878.39 · 2025-08-08
MASTANTUONO GINA
President
$256,490
@ $878.39 · 2025-08-08
JACKSON LAWRENCE
Director
$749,805
@ $990.50 · 2025-07-29
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$341,631
@ $965.06 · 2025-07-16
SANDS ANITA M
Director
$250,950
@ $1050.00 · 2025-07-03
MCBRIDE KEVIN THOMAS
Officer
$283,310
@ $1011.82 · 2025-06-03
SANDS ANITA M
Director
$250,267
@ $1009.14 · 2025-06-02
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$147,900
@ $1020.00 · 2025-05-30
TZITZON NICHOLAS
Officer
$1.19M
@ $1020.00 · 2025-05-30
MCDERMOTT WILLIAM R
Chief Executive Officer
$2.07M
@ $1012.01 · 2025-05-30
SANDS ANITA M
Director
$433,825
@ $1013.61 · 2025-05-27
BRIGGS TERESA
Director
$216,913
@ $1013.61 · 2025-05-27
LUDDY FREDERIC B
Director
$428,000
@ $1000.00 · 2025-05-23
MASTANTUONO GINA
President
$121,570
@ $1030.25 · 2025-05-19
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$96,844
@ $1030.26 · 2025-05-19
ELMER RUSSELL S.
General Counsel
$83,450
@ $1030.25 · 2025-05-19
CHAMBERLAIN PAUL EDWARD
Director
$310,326
@ $1034.42 · 2025-05-15
MASTANTUONO GINA
President
$85,932
@ $1023.00 · 2025-05-13
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$67,518
@ $1023.00 · 2025-05-13
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
Learn more →FFIV
😐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.
NOW
😨Fear(38/100)
"Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"
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
Learn more →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)
NOW
⚪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: Fear (38)