Sifting through countless of stocks in the Communications Equipment industry can be tedious, and sometimes two stocks are just too similar to judge which is the better investment. If you’re on the fence about investing in NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 or Inc. because you’re not sure how they measure up, it’s important to compare them on a few factors before making your decision.

Read on to learn how NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 and Inc. compare based on key financial metrics to determine which better meets your investment needs.

About NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 and Inc.

NetScout Systems, Inc. provides carrier service assurance, cybersecurity, and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) solutions to protect digital business services against disruptions. It offers nGeniusONE management software to predict, preempt, and resolve network and service delivery problems, as well as facilitate the optimization and capacity planning of their network infrastructures; and specialized platforms and analytic modules to analyze and troubleshoot traffic in radio access and Wi-Fi networks; and Omnis Insights, a solution that is designed to generate a high-fidelity and curated dataset that strengthens observability and cybersecurity operations. Its platform provides real-time generation and analysis of information-rich, high-volume network-derived data for use its applications and partner networks. In addition, it offers ISNG, a real-time information platform that provides insights to optimize network performance; packet flow systems that delivers targeted network traffic access to a range of monitoring and cybersecurity tools and systems, including the nGeniusONE application; vSTREAM, a virtualized form factor version; Infinistream, an advanced passive network probe; and markets test access points that enables full and non-disruptive access to network traffic. Further, the company provides cybersecurity solutions to protect networks against DDoS attacks under the Arbor solutions, including Arbor Sightline, Arbor Threat Mitigation System, Arbor Insight, Arbor Edge Defense, and Omnis Cyber Intelligence solutions. It serves enterprise customers in financial services, technology, manufacturing, healthcare, utilities, education, transportation, and retail; mobile, wireline, and cable operators, internet service providers, and cloud providers industries; and government and associated agencies through a direct sales force, and indirect reseller and distribution channels. The company was incorporated in 1984 and is headquartered in Westford, Massachusetts.

F5, Inc. provides multicloud application security and delivery solutions in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific region. The company’s distributed cloud services enable its customers to deploy, secure, and operate applications in any architecture, from on-premises to the public cloud. It also offers unified, security, networking, and application management solutions, such as web app and API protection; multi-cloud networking; application delivery and deployment; domain name system; content delivery network; and application deployment and orchestration. In addition, the company provides application security and delivery products, including NGINX Plus; NGINX One Console; NGINX Ingress Controller; WAF for NGINX; BIG-IP Packaged Software; and BIG-IP Systems. Further, it provides a range of professional services, including maintenance, consulting, training, and other technical support services. The company sells its products to large enterprise businesses, public sector institutions, governments, and service providers through distributors, value-added resellers, managed service providers, systems integrators, and other indirect channel partners. It has partnerships with public cloud providers, such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. The company was formerly known as F5 Networks, Inc. and changed its name to F5, Inc. in November 2021. F5, Inc. was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Latest Communications Equipment and NetScout Systems, Inc., F5, Inc. Stock News

As of September 2, 2026, NetScout Systems, Inc. had a $2.7 billion market capitalization, compared to the Communications Equipment median of $370.8 million. NetScout Systems, Inc.’s stock is up 38.6% in 2026, down 5% in the previous five trading days and up 52.15% in the past year.

Currently, NetScout Systems, Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 23.0. NetScout Systems, Inc.’s trailing 12-month revenue is $883.2 million with a 13.7% net profit margin. Year-over-year quarterly sales growth most recently was 12.7%. Analysts expect adjusted earnings to reach $2.740 per share for the current fiscal year. NetScout Systems, Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.

As of September 2, 2026, F5, Inc. had a $22.1 billion market cap, putting it in the 87th percentile of all stocks. F5, Inc.’s stock is up 53.6% in 2026, down 4.4% in the previous five trading days and up 27.5% in the past year.

Currently, F5, Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 31.2. F5, Inc.’s trailing 12-month revenue is $3.3 billion with a 22.0% net profit margin. Year-over-year quarterly sales growth most recently was 10.9%. Analysts expect adjusted earnings to reach $17.331 per share for the current fiscal year. F5, Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.

How We Compare NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 and Inc. Stock Grades

Stock evaluation requires access to huge amounts of data and the knowledge and time to sift through it all, make sense of financial ratios, read income statements and analyze recent stock movements. AAII created A+ Investor, a robust data suite that condenses data research in an actionable and customizable way suitable for investors of all knowledge levels, to help investors streamline and work through such data.

AAII’s proprietary stock grades come with A+ Investor. These offer intuitive A‐F grades for each of five key investing factors: value, growth, momentum, earnings estimate revisions and quality. Here, we’ll take a closer look at NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 and Inc.’s stock grades to see how they measure up against one another.

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NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 and Inc. Stock Value Grades

Company	Ticker	Value
NetScout Systems, Inc.	NTCT	C
F5, Inc.	FFIV	D

Successful stock investing involves buying low and selling high, so stock valuation is an important consideration for stock selection.

Buying stocks that are going to go up typically means buying stocks that are undervalued in the first place, although momentum investors may argue that point.

AAII’s A+ Investor Value Grade derives from a stock’s value score. The Value Score is the percentile rank of the average of the percentile ranks of the price-to-sales ratio, price-earnings ratio, enterprise-value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio, shareholder yield, price-to-book-value ratio and price-to-free-cash-flow ratio. The score is variable, meaning it can consider all six ratios or, should any of the six ratios not be valid, the remaining ratios that are valid. To be assigned a Value Score, stocks must have a valid (non-null) ratio and corresponding ranking for at least two of the six valuation ratios.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are a good value and so on.

NetScout Systems, Inc. has a Value Score of 55, which is Average. F5, Inc. has a Value Score of 21, which is Expensive.

The Value Stock Winner: No Clear Winner

Neither NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 or Inc. has a high enough value grade to be considered a “winner.” Investors who are considering these companies should do additional due diligence and research to see if either could be a good addition to their portfolio. It’s important to look at a wide range of financial metrics in order to determine if NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 or Inc. is the better investment when it comes to value.

NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 and Inc.’s Momentum Grades

Company	Ticker	Momentum
NetScout Systems, Inc.	NTCT	B
F5, Inc.	FFIV	C

Momentum grades help to uncover stocks experiencing anomalously high rates of return; research finds that stocks with high relative levels of momentum tend to outperform, whereas those with low levels of momentum tend to continue underperforming. Momentum is based on the price change of a stock over a specified period relative to all other stocks.

Typically, AAII looks at the weighted relative strength over the trailing four quarters. The weighted four-quarter relative strength rank is the relative price change for each of the past four quarters. The most recent quarterly price change is given a weight of 40% and each of the three previous quarters are given a weighting of 20%.

NetScout Systems, Inc. has a Momentum Score of 64, which is Strong. F5, Inc. has a Momentum Score of 60, which is Average.

The Momentum Grade Winner: NetScout Systems, Inc.

As you can clearly see from the Momentum Grade breakdown above, NetScout Systems, Inc. is considered to have stronger momentum compared to F5, Inc.. For those specifically looking for companies that have stronger momentum compared to other companies in the same industry, NetScout Systems, Inc. could be a good stock to invest in. However, it’s important for investors to analyze multiple factors based on a wide range of metrics before deciding whether to buy.

NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 and Inc.’s Estimate Revisions Grades

Company	Ticker	Earnings Estimate
NetScout Systems, Inc.	NTCT	B
F5, Inc.	FFIV	B

Earnings estimate revisions scores consider the magnitude of a company’s earnings surprise in its last two reported fiscal quarters. Often, positive surprises beget further positive surprises‐or at least continued sales growth (the exact opposite is generally true, too).

Estimate revisions offer an indication of what analysts are thinking about the short-term prospects of a firm. Estimate revisions are based on the statistical significance of a firm’s last two quarterly earnings surprises and the percentage change in its consensus estimate for the current fiscal year over the past month and past three months.

NetScout Systems, Inc. has a Earnings Estimate Score of 65, which is Positive. F5, Inc. has a Earnings Estimate Score of 73, which is Positive.

The Earnings Estimate Revisions Grade Winner: It’s a Tie!

Looking at the Earnings Estimate Revisions Grade breakdown above, both NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 and Inc. have a grade of B. For those focusing solely on a company’s estimate revisions, other financial metrics will need to be evaluated to determine whether NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 or Inc. is a better fit.

Other NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 and Inc. Grades

In addition to Momentum, Value and Estimate Revisions, A+ Investor also provides grades for Growth and Quality.

Growth investing builds on the idea that stocks of companies exhibiting strong, consistent and prolonged growth outperform those of slower-growth companies. AAII measures growth through consistency of annual sales growth, five-year sales growth rankings adjusted for extreme levels, and consistency of positive annual cash from operations.

AAII’s A+ Investor Quality Grade comes from the ranking of key metrics. Specifically, the quality grade is the percentile rank of the composite of return on assets (ROA), return on invested capital (ROIC), gross profit relative to assets, buyback yield, change in total liabilities to assets, accruals, Z double prime bankruptcy risk (Z) score and F-Score.

These 2 key factors, when combined with the above, provide a holistic view into a particular stock. Further, by joining A+ Investor you can see whether NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 and Inc. pass any of our 60+ stock screens that have outperformed the market since their creation.

So, Which Is the Better Investment, NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 or Inc. Stock?

Overall, NetScout Systems, Inc. stock has a Value Score of 55, Momentum Score of 64 and Estimate Revisions Score of 65.

F5, Inc. stock has a Value Score of 21, Momentum Score of 60 and Estimate Revisions Score of 73.

Comparing NetScout Systems, Inc., F5 and Inc.’s grades, scores and metrics can act as a solid basis to determine whether they may be a good investment or not. You’ll also want to look at your portfolio’s asset allocation as well as your risk tolerance and financial goals to see if either of these stocks would make a good fit for you. AAII can help you figure out which investments align with your individual needs and preferences.

Investors are encouraged to do their own due diligence and research. In this way, individuals can effectively become managers of their own assets‐without having to rely on others for financial independence. You can count on AAII for timeless articles on financial planning and stock-picking, unbiased research and actionable analysis.

A+ Investor adds to our qualitative teaching with a powerful data suite to help you whittle down investment choices to find stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds that meet your needs.

AAII Disclaimer

We make no representations or warranties that any investor will, or is likely to, achieve profits similar to those shown, because past, hypothetical or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Before making an investment decision, you should consider your circumstances and whether the information on our content is applicable to your situation. This information was prepared in good faith, and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. The full disclaimer can be read here.