Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Autohome Inc. (ATHM) vs Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | GOOGL | 15.1% revenue growth vs ATHM's -2.0% |
| Value | ATHM | Lower P/E (11.5x vs 27.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | GOOGL | 32.8% net margin vs ATHM's 23.6% |
| Stability / Safety | ATHM | Beta 0.64 vs GOOGL's 0.99, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ATHM | 9.3% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs GOOGL's 0.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | GOOGL | +83.6% vs ATHM's -27.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GOOGL | 22.2% ROA vs ATHM's 5.6%, ROIC 24.7% vs 3.4% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Autohome operates China's leading online automotive content and transaction platform, connecting car buyers with automakers and dealers. It generates revenue primarily through media services — automaker advertising and regional marketing campaigns — and leads generation services — dealer subscriptions and advertising — with additional income from its Autohome Mall transaction platform and commissions on auto-financing and insurance products. The company's moat lies in its dominant market position as China's most visited automotive website, creating a powerful network effect where more consumers attract more dealers and automakers, which in turn draws more consumers.
Alphabet is a technology conglomerate best known as the parent company of Google, which dominates the digital advertising market through search, YouTube, and display ads. It generates over 80% of its revenue from advertising, with the remainder coming from Google Cloud services, hardware sales, and subscription products like YouTube Premium. Its primary moat is the massive network effect of its search ecosystem — billions of users, advertisers, and content creators locked into its platforms through data, scale, and habit.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
GOOGL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ATHM leads in 1 (Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
GOOGL is the larger business by revenue, generating $402.9B annually — 59.6x ATHM's $6.8B. GOOGL is the more profitable business, keeping 32.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ATHM's 23.6%. On growth, GOOGL holds the edge at +18.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ATHMAutohome Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.8B | $402.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $906M | $150.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.6B | $132.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $0 | $73.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +72.1% | +59.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +12.9% | +32.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +23.6% | +32.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +17.5% | +18.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.3% | +18.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -119.9% | +31.2% |
Valuation Metrics
At 9.9x trailing earnings, ATHM trades at a 66% valuation discount to GOOGL's 28.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, GOOGL's 11.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ATHM's 49.3x.
| Metric | ATHMAutohome Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $9.2B | $1.69T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $9.0B | $1.73T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 9.89x | 28.84x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.49x | 27.26x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.97x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 49.25x | 11.54x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 8.96x | 4.20x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.64x | 9.18x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 51.14x | 23.10x |
Profitability & Efficiency
GOOGL delivers a 31.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $32 in annual profit, vs $6 for ATHM. ATHM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GOOGL's 0.17x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GOOGL scores 7/9 vs ATHM's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ATHMAutohome Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.3% | +31.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.6% | +22.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.4% | +24.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.9% | +30.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 0.17x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$1.6B | $41.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.7B | $30.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $97M | $72.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 903.26x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in GOOGL five years ago would be worth $30,266 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,138 for ATHM. Over the past 12 months, GOOGL leads with a +83.6% total return vs ATHM's -27.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GOOGL at 51.5% vs ATHM's -7.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ATHMAutohome Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -15.4% | -1.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -27.2% | +83.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -20.1% | +247.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -78.6% | +202.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +11.4% | +773.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -7.2% | +51.5% |
Risk & Volatility
ATHM is the less volatile stock with a 0.64 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than GOOGL's 0.99 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. GOOGL currently trades 89.3% from its 52-week high vs ATHM's 60.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ATHMAutohome Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.64x | 0.99x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $31.50 | $349.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $19.08 | $140.53 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +60.9% | +89.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 30.2 | 40.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 368K | 28.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ATHM as "Buy" and GOOGL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 127.7% upside for ATHM (target: $44) vs 14.6% for GOOGL (target: $357). For income investors, ATHM offers the higher dividend yield at 9.25% vs GOOGL's 0.26%.
| Metric | ATHMAutohome Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $43.67 | $357.19 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 81 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +9.3% | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $12.17 | $0.82 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | +2.7% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 100 | 26.7 | -73.3% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) | 100 | 495.8 | +395.8% |
Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) returned +203% over 5 years vs Autohome Inc. (ATHM)'s -79%. A $10,000 investment in GOOGL 5 years ago would be worth $30,266 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | $6.0B | $7.0B | +18.1% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) | $90.3B | $403.0B | +346.4% |
Alphabet Inc.'s revenue grew from $90.3B (2016) to $403.0B (2025) — a 18.1% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 20.6% | 25.5% | +23.6% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) | 21.6% | 32.8% | +52.0% |
Alphabet Inc.'s net margin went from 22% (2016) to 33% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 3.8 | 1.9 | -50.0% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) | 58.5 | 29 | -50.4% |
Autohome Inc. has traded in a 0x–4x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~10x. Alphabet Inc. has traded in a 19x–59x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~29x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 10.58 | 13.31 | +25.8% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) | 1.39 | 10.81 | +677.7% |
Alphabet Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.39 (2016) to $10.81 (2025) — a 26% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Autohome Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2024 (-63% vs 2021). Alphabet Inc. generated $73B FCF in 2025 (+9% vs 2021).
ATHM vs GOOGL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ATHM or GOOGL a better buy right now?
Autohome Inc. (ATHM) offers the better valuation at 9.9x trailing P/E (11.5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Autohome Inc. (ATHM) a "Buy" — based on 22 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.
02Which has the better valuation — ATHM or GOOGL?
On trailing P/E, Autohome Inc. (ATHM) is the cheapest at 9.9x versus Alphabet Inc. at 28.8x. On forward P/E, Autohome Inc. is actually cheaper at 11.5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ATHM or GOOGL?
Over the past 5 years, Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) delivered a total return of +202.7%, compared to -78.6% for Autohome Inc. (ATHM). A $10,000 investment in GOOGL five years ago would be worth approximately $30K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GOOGL returned +773.4% versus ATHM's +11.4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ATHM or GOOGL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Autohome Inc. (ATHM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.64β versus Alphabet Inc.'s 0.99β — meaning GOOGL is approximately 56% more volatile than ATHM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Autohome Inc. (ATHM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 17% for Alphabet Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ATHM or GOOGL?
Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) is the more profitable company, earning 32.8% net margin versus 25.5% for Autohome Inc. — meaning it keeps 32.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GOOGL leads at 32.1% versus 14.3% for ATHM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ATHM leads at 78.9%, 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.
06Is ATHM or GOOGL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Autohome Inc. (ATHM) trades at 11.5x forward P/E versus 27.3x for Alphabet Inc. — 15.8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ATHM: 127.7% to $43.67.
07Which pays a better dividend — ATHM or GOOGL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Autohome Inc. (ATHM) offers the highest yield at 9.3%, versus 0.3% for Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL).
08Is ATHM or GOOGL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Autohome Inc. (ATHM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.64), 9.3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ATHM: +11.4%, GOOGL: +773.4%), 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.
09What are the main differences between ATHM and GOOGL?
These companies operate in different sectors (ATHM (Communication Services) and GOOGL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. In terms of investment character: ATHM is a small-cap deep-value stock; GOOGL is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. ATHM pays a dividend while GOOGL does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.
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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Net Margin > 14%
- Dividend Yield > 3.7%