Cloudflare vs. Fastly: Which CDN Player is a Safe Investment Bet?

Core Insights - Cloudflare (NET) and Fastly (FSLY) are prominent players in the content delivery network (CDN) market, with Cloudflare focusing on global expansion and Fastly emphasizing high-performance, programmable solutions [1][2] Cloudflare Overview - Cloudflare's CDN offers a globally distributed, high-performance platform that enhances content delivery while ensuring secure web connectivity [3] - The company employs techniques such as tiered caching and Argo smart routing to optimize delivery efficiency, supporting advanced protocols like HTTP/3 [3] - Cloudflare serves approximately 80% of leading AI companies globally, which has led to increased enterprise adoption and long-term commitments [4] - The company has over 55 revenue-generating products, with its security solutions like Magic Transit and Zero Trust gaining traction [5] - Cloudflare's AI inference strategy maximizes system efficiency, leading to a projected 21.3% year-over-year earnings growth for 2025, with upward revisions in estimates over the past 60 days [6] Fastly Overview - Fastly's Managed CDN provides customers with control and flexibility, allowing dedicated server setups within private networks [9][10] - The platform includes DDoS protection, bot management, and advanced rate limiting, enhancing its appeal to large streaming companies [10][11] - Fastly's security revenue has grown by 30% year-over-year, driven by platform expansion and AI integration [12] - The company faces a challenge with $188.6 million in convertible senior notes maturing in March 2026, which may complicate refinancing due to high interest rates [13] Stock Performance and Valuation - In the last three months, Fastly's shares increased by 21.6%, while Cloudflare's shares decreased by 7.3% [14] - Cloudflare trades at a forward sales multiple of 26.23X, whereas Fastly trades at a significantly lower multiple of 2.34X [15] Conclusion - Cloudflare is viewed as a safer investment option due to its larger scale, broader product portfolio, and stronger enterprise traction, with a clearer pathway for AI monetization translating into earnings growth [17]