Quick verdict: FTV vs IT in 2026

In the head-to-head ftv vs it stock comparison 2026, Gartner (IT) appears to have a stronger overall edge, leading in growth, value (based on P/E and DCF), analyst preference, and potential upside. Fortive (FTV), however, demonstrates superior operational efficiency with stronger EBITDA and net margins, alongside a much more attractive price-to-book ratio. Investors prioritizing momentum and valuation upside might lean towards IT, while those focusing on operational profitability and balance sheet strength could find FTV appealing. This is not investment advice.

FTV vs IT: key metrics side by side

Full side-by-side comparison of FTV and IT across valuation, profitability, growth and analyst sentiment. Data updated 2026-04-01.

FTV vs IT valuation comparison

When considering the ftv vs it valuation, a stark contrast emerges in their price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios. Fortive (FTV) trades at a P/E of 30.2x, suggesting a premium valuation compared to Gartner (IT), which boasts a significantly lower P/E of 15.63x. This indicates that investors are paying nearly twice as much for each dollar of FTV’s earnings than for IT’s, making IT appear considerably cheaper on an earnings multiple basis. The lower P/E for IT could signal an undervaluation relative to its earnings power, or it could reflect different growth expectations or perceived risks in the market.

Further insights into the ftv vs it fundamentals and valuation come from the price-to-book (P/B) ratio and discounted cash flow (DCF) models. FTV’s P/B ratio stands at a reasonable 2.71x, implying its stock price is relatively close to its accounting book value. In contrast, IT’s P/B ratio is a substantially higher 35.64x, indicating that its market value is heavily driven by intangible assets or future growth expectations rather than tangible book value. However, the DCF analysis paints a compelling picture for IT, projecting an immense upside of +152.4% to a fair value of $399.58, far exceeding FTV’s more modest DCF upside of +18.5% to $65.52. This suggests that despite its higher P/B, IT might be significantly undervalued based on its future cash flow generation capabilities according to this model.

FTV vs IT growth comparison

In the critical area of growth, the ftv vs it stock comparison 2026 reveals divergent trajectories. Fortive (FTV) experienced a notable year-over-year revenue decline of -17.5%, indicating significant headwinds or strategic divestitures impacting its top line. This substantial contraction in revenue growth raises concerns for investors focused on expansion and market share gains. While FTV still commands a larger market capitalization of $17.56 billion compared to IT’s $11.41 billion, its revenue of $5.14 billion is less than IT’s $6.50 billion, making the negative growth even more pronounced.

Conversely, Gartner (IT) demonstrated positive revenue growth of +3.7% year-over-year. Although modest, this steady expansion signals resilience and continued demand for its services in a dynamic market, especially when compared to FTV’s contraction. For investors seeking companies with stronger momentum and a clear path to increasing sales, IT appears to have a more favorable growth profile. This positive growth, coupled with its larger revenue base of $6.50 billion, positions IT as the clear leader in terms of recent growth performance and indicates it has better momentum heading into 2026.

FTV vs IT profitability

Examining the profitability metrics provides a nuanced view in the FTV vs IT comparison. Fortive (FTV) reports a net margin of 11.26%, which is marginally higher than Gartner’s (IT) net margin of 11.22%. This indicates that FTV is slightly more efficient at converting its revenue into net income. However, both companies exhibit robust net profitability, suggesting sound business models capable of generating healthy earnings. The absence of Return on Equity (ROE) data for both companies prevents a comprehensive comparison of how effectively they utilize shareholder equity to generate profits.

Where FTV truly stands out in terms of profitability is its EBITDA margin, which is a strong 22.73% compared to IT’s 18.92%. This suggests that FTV has superior operational efficiency, generating more profit from its core operations before accounting for non-operating expenses like interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. However, IT counters this with a significantly higher Free Cash Flow (FCF) yield of 10.3%, nearly double FTV’s 5.57%. A higher FCF yield indicates that IT is generating more cash relative to its market capitalization, which is a crucial metric for financial health, flexibility, and potential for shareholder returns.

Analyst ratings: FTV vs IT

Analyst sentiment offers another angle for the ftv vs it stock comparison 2026. Fortive (FTV) is covered by a larger pool of 30 analysts, with 33.3% issuing a “Buy” rating. The consensus among these analysts is a “Hold,” with an average target price of $61, representing a potential upside of +10.3% from its current price. This suggests a cautious but moderately optimistic outlook from the analyst community on FTV’s near-term potential.

Gartner (IT), while covered by fewer analysts (18 in total), garners a slightly higher percentage of “Buy” ratings at 38.9%. Similar to FTV, the overall consensus for IT is also a “Hold.” However, the average price target for IT is $206.3, which implies a substantial +30.3% upside from its current trading price. This indicates that while the consensus is “Hold” for both, analysts see significantly more potential price appreciation for IT in the coming period. This makes IT the more favored stock among analysts when looking at price target upside, despite the lower number of analysts covering it.

Should I buy FTV or IT stock in 2026?

For growth investors prioritizing top-line expansion and market momentum, Gartner (IT) presents a more compelling case. With a positive revenue growth of +3.7% year-over-year, IT demonstrates an ability to expand its business, contrasting sharply with Fortive’s (FTV) revenue decline of -17.5%. This makes IT the clear choice if your investment strategy revolves around companies with active growth trajectories, suggesting it has stronger momentum as we assess “should i buy ftv or it stock 2026.”

When considering ftv vs it fundamentals and valuation for value-oriented investors, the picture becomes more nuanced. IT’s P/E ratio of 15.63x is significantly lower than FTV’s 30.2x, making IT appear much cheaper on an earnings basis. Furthermore, IT’s impressive DCF upside of +152.4% points to a potentially deep undervaluation by the market, offering substantial long-term appreciation. However, FTV boasts a much more attractive P/B ratio of 2.71x compared to IT’s 35.64x, indicating that FTV’s price is more aligned with its tangible assets. Investors must weigh whether they prioritize earnings-based valuation and future cash flow potential (IT) or asset-backed valuation (FTV).

For income-focused investors, neither Fortive (FTV) nor Gartner (IT) currently offers a dividend. Both companies have a 0.0% dividend yield, meaning they retain all earnings for reinvestment or other corporate purposes rather than distributing them to shareholders. Therefore, if generating regular income from your investments is a primary objective, you would need to explore other opportunities outside of these two stocks. This is not investment advice; always conduct thorough personal research before making investment decisions.

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FAQ: FTV vs IT