October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan NowOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
World desk4 min

Fortinet vs. CrowdStrike: Business Models, Latest Results, and Stock Comparison

Fortinet blends cybersecurity hardware with recurring services; CrowdStrike relies mainly on cloud subscriptions. Compare their latest reported results and the drivers that matter for investors.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Fortinet and CrowdStrike both sell cybersecurity, but they make money in different ways. Fortinet combines network-security products such as firewalls with recurring subscriptions and support; CrowdStrike is much more subscription-centered, delivering its Falcon security platform as a cloud service. Their latest reported quarters both showed 26% revenue growth, but ended a month apart and use different accounting measures—so growth alone does not establish which stock is the better value.

How Fortinet and CrowdStrike make money

Fortinet: products plus recurring services

Fortinet sells secure-networking products, including firewall hardware, and earns recurring revenue from security subscriptions and technical support. In FY2025, the company reported $6.800 billion in total revenue: $2.218 billion from products and $4.581 billion from services. The service total included $2.633 billion in security subscriptions and $1.948 billion in technical support and other services. These company-reported figures show that services were the larger stream, while product sales remained economically significant. Fortinet FY2025 Form 10-K

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Fortinet reported $7.18 billion in remaining performance obligations as of December 31, 2025. The company said this amount was substantially made up of deferred security subscriptions and technical support, plus unbilled revenue under non-cancellable contracts. Remaining performance obligations indicate contracted business not yet recognized as revenue; they are not the same as revenue already earned or cash already collected. Fortinet FY2025 Form 10-K

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

CrowdStrike: a cloud platform sold mainly by subscription

CrowdStrike sells its Falcon security platform as a cloud-delivered service, with modular offerings spanning endpoint security, security operations, cloud security, identity, threat intelligence, data protection, observability, and related areas. Its investor-relations overview describes 34 cloud modules on the platform. CrowdStrike company and platform overview

#1 Best Overall

In FY2027 Q2, CrowdStrike reported $1.400 billion of subscription revenue out of $1.471 billion total revenue. Ending annual recurring revenue (ARR) was $5.84 billion at July 31, 2026. ARR is a company-defined operating metric, not GAAP revenue; it should not be added to reported revenue or treated as revenue recognized during the quarter. CrowdStrike FY2027 Q2 results

Latest reported results: similar growth, different periods

The latest reported quarters available here are not synchronized: Fortinet’s FY2026 Q2 ended June 30, 2026, while CrowdStrike’s FY2027 Q2 ended July 31, 2026. Use the figures as each company’s latest reported results, not as a strict same-quarter comparison.

Measure Fortinet CrowdStrike
Quarter ended June 30, 2026 July 31, 2026
Total revenue and growth $2.05 billion; up 26% year over year $1.471 billion; up 26% year over year
Product or subscription revenue $773 million product revenue; up 52% year over year $1.400 billion subscription revenue; up 27% year over year
Other operating indicators $2.37 billion billings; $966 million free cash flow $5.84 billion ending ARR, up 25%; $377 million free cash flow
Profitability measure highlighted 34% GAAP operating margin 81% non-GAAP subscription gross margin

Sources: Fortinet FY2026 Q2 results and CrowdStrike FY2027 Q2 results. Billings and free cash flow are non-GAAP or company-defined measures; consult each issuer’s definitions and reconciliations before comparing them. CrowdStrike’s subscription gross margin is non-GAAP, whereas Fortinet’s operating margin in the table is GAAP, so the percentages do not measure the same thing.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

What drives each business

Fortinet: product demand and the installed base

Fortinet’s results can move with firewall and other product demand as well as subscription and support renewals. Its latest quarter’s 52% year-over-year product-revenue increase was faster than its 26% total-revenue growth, making product demand an important feature of that period—not proof that product growth will recur at that pace.

  • Hardware demand and product transitions: customers’ purchasing cycles affect product revenue, while shifts between product generations can change when orders are placed.
  • Supply, manufacturing, and inventory: component availability, production constraints, channel inventory, and order variability can affect shipments and margins. Fortinet’s filings discuss risks from shortages as well as excess stock. Fortinet FY2025 Form 10-K
  • Recurring services: security-subscription and support renewals contribute a continuing revenue stream alongside product sales.

CrowdStrike: subscription expansion and platform execution

For CrowdStrike, useful indicators include subscription growth, ARR additions, renewal and expansion performance, and adoption of additional Falcon modules. ARR growth and subscription-revenue growth describe related but distinct aspects of the business: ARR is an ending company-defined run-rate measure, while subscription revenue is recognized revenue for the reporting period.

  • Customer retention and expansion: renewals and adoption of additional modules influence recurring revenue and platform use.
  • Reliability and security: CrowdStrike identifies defects or vulnerabilities, rapid growth, competition, customer retention, and costs tied to the July 19, 2024 incident among its risks. The incident remains mentioned in its FY2027 Q2 release. CrowdStrike FY2027 Q2 results
  • Profit measures require definition: in FY2027 Q2, CrowdStrike reported a GAAP operating loss of $33.2 million and non-GAAP operating income of $371.6 million. Its adjusted guidance excludes stock-based compensation and other items, including costs or recoveries associated with the July 19 incident. Keep the GAAP and adjusted measures separate. CrowdStrike FY2027 Q2 results
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

How to compare the stocks without confusing business quality and value

A stronger business model or faster revenue growth does not automatically make a stock cheaper or more attractive. The figures above do not provide a synchronized market capitalization, share price, valuation multiple, or analyst-consensus comparison for FTNT and CRWD. A defensible valuation comparison needs prices from the same date, consistent share-count and cash/debt treatment, and a clearly defined denominator—such as trailing or forward earnings or cash flow.

Rank #3
Clever Fox Firearms Acquisition & Disposition Record Book, Dark Green
  • PREMIUM-QUALITY RECORD BOOK FOR DEALERS & COLLECTORS: Clever Fox Firearms Record Book is designed to help professional firearm dealers keep detailed and legally compliant acquisition and disposition information.
  • 129 PAGES WITH 1,342 NUMBERED ENTRIES TOTAL: There are 129 pages in this firearm log book with 1,342 numbered entries total. Each pre-printed entry allows you to record the firearm’s description, as well as receipt and disposition info.
  • LARGE FORMAT & PLENTY OF SPACE FOR EVERY DETAIL: This firearm record book comes in large format and measures 10 by 7 inches, so you have lots of space to make detailed records and add all the information you need.
  • STORAGE POCKET, DURABLE HARDCOVER & THICK NO-BLEED PAPER: This gun record book features a pocket for loose papers, a pen loop, an elastic band, and a bookmark. The hardcover is made of durable vegan leather. The pages are thick 120gsm paper.
  • 60-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE: We will exchange or refund your book of firearms if you aren’t satisfied with your personal firearms record book for any reason. Reach out to us via message to refund your personal gun log book.

For an investor comparing the companies, separate the questions:

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
  1. What is the revenue mix? Fortinet has material product revenue alongside services; CrowdStrike’s reported revenue is predominantly subscription-based.
  2. How durable is growth? Examine product demand and renewal behavior for Fortinet; subscription growth, ARR additions, renewal and expansion, and module adoption for CrowdStrike.
  3. How much profit converts to cash? Start with GAAP results and cash flow, then assess adjusted measures using each company’s definitions and reconciliations.
  4. What risks could interrupt execution? Consider Fortinet’s supply and channel factors, and CrowdStrike’s reliability, competitive, retention, and incident-related risks.
  5. What price is the market asking? Compare valuation only with a shared price date and a consistent denominator; the operating-growth figures alone cannot answer this.

Bottom line

Fortinet is a hybrid security business with meaningful hardware sales and a larger services stream; CrowdStrike is a cloud-delivered platform whose revenue is overwhelmingly subscription-based. Their latest reported quarters each grew revenue 26%, but the periods differ by a month and their highlighted profitability measures are not directly comparable. The useful distinction is the underlying business model and its execution drivers—not a stock-value verdict unsupported by synchronized valuation data.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More from the Wire

  1. World desk4 min
    How to Spot an AI Voice Scam Before Sending MoneyDon’t rely on how a caller sounds. Pause, call back through a known number, and verify the emergency with another trusted person before sending money.
  2. Mountain View desk4 min
    Google’s SynthID Detector: How to Check AI-Generated Images, Video and AudioGoogle’s SynthID Detector looks for an embedded watermark in supported images, video and audio. Here is what its results do—and do not—show.
  3. Redmond desk20 min
    How to create a link to File or Folder in Windows 11Windows 11 gives you several ways to point to a file or folder without moving or duplicating it. You can create a desktop shortcut,…
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.