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DELL vs NTAP
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Dell Technologies (DELL) vs. NetApp (NTAP) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- DELL is levered to the AI-server build-out, with a record backlog and sharply raised revenue guidance; NTAP offers steadier, higher-margin exposure to data storage and cloud.
- DELL is growing much faster on the top line but carries a lower margin profile and higher debt; NTAP grows more slowly but is highly profitable and returns substantial cash to shareholders.
- Both companies benefit from the same AI-infrastructure theme but capture it at different points in the technology stack.
- Recent market activity shows DELL reacting more strongly to AI catalysts, while NTAP has been rewarded for margin discipline and all-flash momentum.
- Risk profiles differ: DELL faces commodity cost and competitive pressures in servers; NTAP faces softer public-sector demand and slower overall growth.
Introduction
Dell Technologies (DELL) and NetApp (NTAP) are two established technology names that frequently appear side by side in screens of AI-infrastructure and enterprise-IT plays, yet they occupy very different positions in the market. Dell is a large-scale hardware original equipment manufacturer (OEM) spanning personal computers, servers, networking, and storage, while NetApp is a specialist in intelligent data infrastructure and enterprise storage. This stock comparison is most relevant for investors weighing high-growth, lower-margin AI hardware exposure against a steadier, margin-rich storage franchise. Understanding their relative performance and market positioning can help traders assess which profile better fits current conditions.
DELL Overview and Recent Performance
Dell Technologies is a global leader in PCs and, increasingly, in AI-optimized servers and data-center infrastructure. In recent weeks, investor attention has centered on the strength of its Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG), the segment that houses servers, networking, and storage. ISG revenue rose 24% year over year, driven by a 37% jump in servers and networking, as demand for AI systems remained robust. The company reported $12.3 billion in new AI-server orders in its most recent quarter, lifting its AI-server order backlog to a record $18.4 billion.
That momentum prompted management to raise its full-year revenue outlook and to increase its AI-server shipment forecast. These catalysts have supported a relatively positive sentiment around DELL, although the shares have also contended with concerns about thin AI-server margins, component costs such as DRAM (dynamic random-access memory), and competitive pressure. Dell's valuation remains modest relative to its growth, but its higher debt load and lower overall margins are trade-offs investors continue to weigh.
NTAP Overview and Recent Performance
NetApp positions itself as an intelligent data infrastructure company, focused on unified storage software, all-flash arrays, and public-cloud storage services built around its ONTAP platform. In recent market activity, NTAP has drawn favorable attention for earnings beats driven by margin expansion rather than aggressive revenue growth. Recent results showed revenue of roughly $1.7 billion, up about 3% year over year, while non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS, or net income divided by shares outstanding) exceeded consensus estimates.
All-flash array revenue grew about 9% year over year, and public-cloud revenue rose roughly 32%, supported by first-party and marketplace storage services. Billings grew for an eighth consecutive quarter. NetApp has also announced partnerships across AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Cisco, and Red Hat, reinforcing its hybrid-cloud and AI positioning. The company returns a large share of free cash flow to shareholders through dividends and buybacks, and its high operating margins provide a contrasting profile to Dell's volume-driven model.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
The core contrast between these two stocks lies in how each converts AI demand into financial results. DELL is a volume business: it ships servers and systems at scale, which produces rapid revenue growth but thinner operating margins and exposes earnings to component pricing and competition. Its growth engine is concentrated in AI servers and enterprise hardware, with a large but slower-growing PC segment attached.
NTAP operates with a software-led, higher-margin model. Its revenue grows more slowly, but profitability is strong and durable, and its exposure to cloud platforms is more recurring in nature. Risk factors also differ: Dell contends with supply-chain constraints, DRAM cycles, and hardware pricing, while NetApp faces macroeconomic uncertainty and temporary U.S. public-sector headwinds that have kept its near-term revenue guidance conservative. From a market-positioning standpoint, Dell offers higher beta to the AI-infrastructure cycle, whereas NetApp offers more stability and capital-return discipline at a lower growth rate.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors, Tickeron's AI would likely view DELL as the stronger momentum candidate, given its trend consistency, record AI-server backlog, and upward guidance revisions, which are precisely the kinds of catalysts that align with higher-conviction, growth-oriented signals. At the same time, NTAP presents a more stable, margin-driven profile that may appeal to risk-aware models focused on capital preservation and steady returns. The relative positioning suggests a probabilistic lean toward Dell for trend and catalyst strength, while NetApp remains a steadier alternative for stability-oriented strategies. Neither reading is definitive, and each reflects a different risk-reward trade-off.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is DELL is a Buy and NTAP is a StrongBuy.
DELL | NTAP | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 98 | 50 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 46 Fair valued | 82 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 2 | 13 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 17 | 13 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 34 | 7 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 11 | 14 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 25 | 15 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
DELL's Valuation (46) in the Computer Processing Hardware industry is somewhat better than the same rating for NTAP (82) in the Computer Peripherals industry. This means that DELL’s stock grew somewhat faster than NTAP’s over the last 12 months.
DELL's Profit vs Risk Rating (2) in the Computer Processing Hardware industry is in the same range as NTAP (13) in the Computer Peripherals industry. This means that DELL’s stock grew similarly to NTAP’s over the last 12 months.
NTAP's SMR Rating (13) in the Computer Peripherals industry is in the same range as DELL (17) in the Computer Processing Hardware industry. This means that NTAP’s stock grew similarly to DELL’s over the last 12 months.
NTAP's Price Growth Rating (7) in the Computer Peripherals industry is in the same range as DELL (34) in the Computer Processing Hardware industry. This means that NTAP’s stock grew similarly to DELL’s over the last 12 months.
DELL's P/E Growth Rating (11) in the Computer Processing Hardware industry is in the same range as NTAP (14) in the Computer Peripherals industry. This means that DELL’s stock grew similarly to NTAP’s over the last 12 months.
| DELL | NTAP | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | 4 days ago 54% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 85% | 4 days ago 60% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 61% | 4 days ago 75% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 72% | 4 days ago 60% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 62% | 4 days ago 66% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 80% | 4 days ago 64% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 80% | 4 days ago 65% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 65% | 26 days ago 56% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 69% | 4 days ago 63% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 86% | 4 days ago 64% |
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is overvalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
DELL’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green while NTAP’s FA Score has 4 green FA rating(s).
- DELL’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- NTAP’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
DELL’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while NTAP’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- DELL’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- NTAP’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
DELL (@Computer Processing Hardware) experienced а -0.07% price change this week, while NTAP (@Computer Communications) price change was +12.49% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Computer Processing Hardware industry was +3.42%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.03%, and the average quarterly price growth was +38.88%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Computer Communications industry was +0.88%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -3.19%, and the average quarterly price growth was +21.37%.
Reported Earning Dates
DELL is expected to report earnings on Dec 01, 2026.
NTAP is expected to report earnings on Dec 01, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Computer Processing Hardware (+3.42% weekly)Computer Processing Hardware industry produces central processing unit, monitor, keyboard, computer data storage devices, and graphics card. Business activity and economic growth are potential drivers of this industry – if more businesses are growing or flourishing, so would their investments in computer equipment. Dell Technologies, Inc, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., NCR Corporation are key producers of computer processing hardware.
@Computer Communications (+0.88% weekly)Computer communications industry develops technology that allows computing devices to exchange data with each other using connections/data links between nodes. Common types of computer network include Cloud (IAN), Internet, Wide (WAN, Local (LAN)/Wireless(WLAN) etc. The industry is an ever-more important part of technology, and is set to become even bigger as the Internet of Things (IoT) rapidly forays into the various aspects of our lives. Cisco Systems, Inc., Palo Alto Networks, Inc. and Arista Networks, Inc., Fortinet, Inc. are some of the major computer communications companies.
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DELL and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, DELL has been loosely correlated with NTAP. These tickers have moved in lockstep 60% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if DELL jumps, then NTAP could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To DELL | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DELL | 100% | +3.84% | ||
| NTAP - DELL | 60% Loosely correlated | +5.22% | ||
| SMCI - DELL | 49% Loosely correlated | +4.22% | ||
| HPQ - DELL | 47% Loosely correlated | -0.09% | ||
| LOGI - DELL | 46% Loosely correlated | +0.97% | ||
| P - DELL | 42% Loosely correlated | +4.48% | ||
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