CAN vs MARA vs RIOT

For growth investors, Canaan Inc.

(CAN) is the stronger pick with 96. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 38. 2% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (MARA). Analysts rate Canaan Inc. (CAN) a "Buy" — based on 6 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.

Over the past 5 years, Riot Platforms, Inc.

(RIOT) delivered a total return of -27. 8%, compared to -92. 3% for Canaan Inc. (CAN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RIOT returned +787. 3% versus CAN's -90. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc.

(MARA) is the lower-risk stock at 3. 11β versus Canaan Inc. 's 4. 41β — meaning CAN is approximately 42% more volatile than MARA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 10% versus 105% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Canaan Inc.

(CAN) is pulling ahead at 96. 7% versus 38. 2% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (MARA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Canaan Inc. grew EPS 51. 1% year-over-year, compared to -673. 5% for Riot Platforms, Inc.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Canaan Inc.

(CAN) is the more profitable company, earning -39. 7% net margin versus -144. 6% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps -39. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CAN leads at -21. 2% versus -90. 6% for MARA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CAN leads at 7. 8%, 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.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Riot Platforms, Inc.

(RIOT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+787. 3% 10Y return). Canaan Inc. (CAN) carries a higher beta of 4. 41 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (RIOT: +787. 3%, CAN: -90. 1%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CAN (Technology) and MARA (Financial Services) and RIOT (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.