CRM vs ORCL

For growth investors, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the stronger pick with 17.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 6% for Salesforce, Inc. (CRM). Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) offers the better valuation at 21. 7x trailing P/E (14. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) a "Buy" — based on 97 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Salesforce, Inc.

(CRM) is the cheapest at 21. 7x versus Oracle Corporation at 24. 3x. On forward P/E, Salesforce, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Salesforce, Inc. wins at 1. 18x versus Oracle Corporation's 3. 46x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) delivered a total return of +73.

7%, compared to -30. 1% for Salesforce, Inc. (CRM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ORCL returned +279. 1% versus CRM's +120. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Salesforce, Inc.

(CRM) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 51β versus Oracle Corporation's 1. 78β — meaning ORCL is approximately 252% more volatile than CRM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 4% for Oracle Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is pulling ahead at 17.

4% versus 9. 6% for Salesforce, Inc. (CRM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Oracle Corporation grew EPS 34. 3% year-over-year, compared to 22. 6% for Salesforce, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ORCL leads at 10. 5% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the more profitable company, earning 25.

4% net margin versus 18. 0% for Salesforce, Inc. — meaning it keeps 25. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ORCL leads at 30. 8% versus 21. 5% for CRM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CRM leads at 77. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 18x versus Oracle Corporation's 3. 46x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) trades at 14. 4x forward P/E versus 17. 6x for Oracle Corporation — 3. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ORCL: 79. 0% to $253. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Oracle Corporation (ORCL) offers the highest yield at 1. 4%, versus 1. 0% for Salesforce, Inc. (CRM).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Salesforce, Inc.

(CRM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 51), 1. 0% yield, +120. 5% 10Y return). Oracle Corporation (ORCL) carries a higher beta of 1. 78 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CRM: +120. 5%, ORCL: +279. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: CRM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ORCL is a large-cap high-growth stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.