AKAM vs. NOW
AKAM (Akamai Technologies, Inc.) and NOW (ServiceNow, Inc) are both stocks. Both are in the Technology sector — AKAM in Software - Infrastructure, NOW in Software - Application. Over the past 10 years, AKAM returned 9.75%/yr vs 21.48%/yr for NOW. At a 0.44 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
AKAM vs. NOW - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AKAM achieves a 53.01% return, which is significantly higher than NOW's -33.32% return. Over the past 10 years, AKAM has underperformed NOW with an annualized return of 9.75%, while NOW has yielded a comparatively higher 21.48% annualized return.
AKAM
- 1D
- 0.79%
- 1M
- -17.15%
- YTD
- 53.01%
- 6M
- 55.45%
- 1Y
- 70.04%
- 3Y*
- 13.31%
- 5Y*
- 2.42%
- 10Y*
- 9.75%
NOW
- 1D
- -0.90%
- 1M
- 17.35%
- YTD
- -33.32%
- 6M
- -40.96%
- 1Y
- -49.30%
- 3Y*
- -2.72%
- 5Y*
- 0.51%
- 10Y*
- 21.48%
AKAM vs. NOW - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AKAM Akamai Technologies, Inc. | 53.01% | -8.78% | -19.18% | 40.39% | -27.97% | 11.48% | 21.54% | 41.42% | -6.09% | -2.46% |
NOW ServiceNow, Inc | -33.32% | -27.75% | 50.05% | 81.96% | -40.18% | 17.93% | 94.97% | 58.56% | 36.55% | 75.40% |
Correlation
The correlation between AKAM and NOW is 0.16, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.41 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 29, 2012 | 0.44 |
Over the past year, the correlation between AKAM and NOW has dropped to 0.16 - well below their long-term average of 0.44, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
Fundamentals
AKAM:
$20.03B
NOW:
$106.24B
AKAM:
$2.95
NOW:
$1.68
AKAM:
45.19
NOW:
60.81
AKAM:
4.61
NOW:
7.65
AKAM:
4.08
NOW:
7.83
AKAM:
$4.27B
NOW:
$13.96B
AKAM:
$2.44B
NOW:
$10.69B
AKAM:
$1.14B
NOW:
$2.80B
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
AKAM vs. NOW — Risk / Return Rank
AKAM
NOW
AKAM vs. NOW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Akamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM) and ServiceNow, Inc (NOW). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| AKAM | NOW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.28 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.51 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 0.82 | +0.48 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.77 | -0.82 | +3.59 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.09 | -1.45 | +10.54 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
AKAM vs. NOW - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AKAM drawdown since its inception was -99.80%, which is greater than NOW's maximum drawdown of -64.54%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AKAM and NOW.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| AKAM | NOW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -99.80% | -64.54% | -35.26% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -25.44% | -60.28% | +34.84% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -46.84% | -64.54% | +17.70% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -46.84% | -64.54% | +17.70% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -46.84% | -64.54% | +17.70% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -59.25% | -56.36% | -2.89% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -82.59% | -13.78% | -68.81% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.73% | 34.02% | -26.29% |
Volatility
AKAM vs. NOW - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Akamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM) is 15.13%, while ServiceNow, Inc (NOW) has a volatility of 25.56%. This indicates that AKAM experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NOW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| AKAM | NOW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 15.13% | 25.56% | -10.43% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 47.95% | 47.01% | +0.94% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 54.31% | 50.12% | +4.19% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 36.61% | 43.44% | -6.83% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 34.47% | 40.86% | -6.39% |
Dividends
AKAM vs. NOW - Dividend Comparison
Neither AKAM nor NOW has paid dividends to shareholders.
Financials
AKAM vs. NOW - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Akamai Technologies, Inc. and ServiceNow, Inc. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
AKAM vs. NOW - Profitability Comparison
AKAM - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Akamai Technologies, Inc. reported a gross profit of 602.31M and revenue of 1.07B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 56.1%.
NOW - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, ServiceNow, Inc reported a gross profit of 2.83B and revenue of 3.77B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 75.1%.
AKAM - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Akamai Technologies, Inc. reported an operating income of 114.49M and revenue of 1.07B, resulting in an operating margin of 10.7%.
NOW - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, ServiceNow, Inc reported an operating income of 503.00M and revenue of 3.77B, resulting in an operating margin of 13.3%.
AKAM - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Akamai Technologies, Inc. reported a net income of 106.32M and revenue of 1.07B, resulting in a net margin of 9.9%.
NOW - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, ServiceNow, Inc reported a net income of 469.00M and revenue of 3.77B, resulting in a net margin of 12.4%.
Frequently Asked Questions
AKAM and NOW have a correlation of 0.16, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NOW has higher volatility (25.56%) compared to AKAM (15.13%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AKAM dropped -99.80% vs NOW's -64.54%.
AKAM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.30 vs -0.99), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for AKAM and NOW
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer