Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Pinterest, Inc. (PINS) vs Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) 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 | META | 22.2% revenue growth vs PINS's 15.8% |
| Value | PINS | Lower P/E (9.9x vs 21.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | META | 30.1% net margin vs PINS's 9.9% |
| Stability / Safety | META | Beta 1.42 vs PINS's 1.51 |
| Dividends | META | 0.3% yield; 2-year raise streak; PINS pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | META | -2.7% vs PINS's -53.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | META | 16.5% ROA vs PINS's 7.6%, ROIC 27.6% vs 6.2% |
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
Pinterest is a visual discovery platform where users find inspiration for everything from recipes to home decor through personalized image and video pins. It generates revenue primarily through advertising — selling promoted pins and shopping ads to brands — with advertising accounting for nearly all of its revenue. Its competitive advantage lies in its unique intent-based discovery model where users actively seek inspiration, creating a high-intent advertising environment distinct from social media feeds.
Meta Platforms operates a family of social media and messaging apps — Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger — that connect billions of users globally. It generates nearly all its revenue from digital advertising across these platforms, with its Reality Labs segment — which includes VR hardware and software — currently operating at a loss. The company's massive network effects and user data advantage create a powerful moat, making it difficult for competitors to challenge its dominant position in social media.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
META leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). PINS leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
META is the larger business by revenue, generating $201.0B annually — 47.6x PINS's $4.2B. META is the more profitable business, keeping 30.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PINS's 9.9%. On growth, META holds the edge at +23.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PINSPinterest, Inc. | METAMeta Platforms, I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.2B | $201.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $339M | $101.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $417M | $60.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.3B | $46.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +80.1% | +82.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.6% | +41.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.9% | +30.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +29.7% | +22.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.3% | +23.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -84.7% | +10.6% |
Valuation Metrics
At 27.6x trailing earnings, META trades at a 2% valuation discount to PINS's 28.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PINS's 1.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than META's 2.7x.
| Metric | PINSPinterest, Inc. | METAMeta Platforms, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.4B | $222.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $616M | $270.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 28.08x | 27.59x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.91x | 21.80x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.50x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 1.93x | 2.65x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.32x | 1.11x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.48x | 7.68x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 1.09x | 4.82x |
Profitability & Efficiency
META delivers a 27.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $28 in annual profit, vs $9 for PINS. PINS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.05x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to META's 0.39x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PINS scores 6/9 vs META's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | PINSPinterest, Inc. | METAMeta Platforms, I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.8% | +27.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.6% | +16.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.2% | +27.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.4% | +29.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.05x | 0.39x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$749M | $48.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $969M | $35.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $221M | $83.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.38x | 61.69x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in META five years ago would be worth $24,623 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,056 for PINS. Over the past 12 months, META leads with a -2.7% total return vs PINS's -53.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors META at 55.1% vs PINS's -12.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PINSPinterest, Inc. | METAMeta Platforms, I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -35.5% | -0.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -53.7% | -2.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -31.8% | +272.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -79.4% | +146.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -29.8% | +510.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -12.0% | +55.1% |
Risk & Volatility
META is the less volatile stock with a 1.42 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PINS's 1.51 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. META currently trades 81.4% from its 52-week high vs PINS's 42.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PINSPinterest, Inc. | METAMeta Platforms, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.51x | 1.42x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $39.93 | $796.25 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $13.84 | $479.80 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +42.9% | +81.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.1 | 50.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 13.8M | 13.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PINS as "Buy" and META as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 47.9% upside for PINS (target: $25) vs 31.6% for META (target: $853). META is the only dividend payer here at 0.32% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | PINSPinterest, Inc. | METAMeta Platforms, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $25.33 | $853.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 46 | 60 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $2.07 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +67.9% | +11.8% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinterest, Inc. (PINS) | 100 | 110 | +10.0% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 100 | 359.61 | +259.6% |
Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) returned +146% over 5 years vs Pinterest, Inc. (PINS)'s -79%. A $10,000 investment in META 5 years ago would be worth $24,623 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinterest, Inc. (PINS) | $473M | $4.2B | +792.8% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | $27.6B | $201.0B | +627.1% |
Meta Platforms, Inc.'s revenue grew from $27.6B (2016) to $201.0B (2025) — a 24.7% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinterest, Inc. (PINS) | -27.5% | 9.9% | +135.9% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 36.9% | 30.1% | -18.4% |
Meta Platforms, Inc.'s net margin went from 37% (2016) to 30% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinterest, Inc. (PINS) | 88.7 | 42.4 | -52.2% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 32.7 | 28.1 | -14.1% |
Pinterest, Inc. has traded in a 11x–89x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~28x. Meta Platforms, Inc. has traded in a 14x–33x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~28x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinterest, Inc. (PINS) | -0.29 | 0.61 | +310.3% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 3.49 | 23.49 | +573.1% |
Meta Platforms, Inc.'s EPS grew from $3.49 (2016) to $23.49 (2025) — a 24% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Pinterest, Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2025 (+68% vs 2021). Meta Platforms, Inc. generated $46B FCF in 2025 (+18% vs 2021).
PINS vs META: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PINS or META a better buy right now?
Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) offers the better valuation at 27.6x trailing P/E (21.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Pinterest, Inc. (PINS) a "Buy" — based on 46 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 — PINS or META?
On trailing P/E, Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) is the cheapest at 27.6x versus Pinterest, Inc. at 28.1x. On forward P/E, Pinterest, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9.9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PINS or META?
Over the past 5 years, Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) delivered a total return of +146.2%, compared to -79.4% for Pinterest, Inc. (PINS). A $10,000 investment in META five years ago would be worth approximately $25K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: META returned +510.1% versus PINS's -29.8%. 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 — PINS or META?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) is the lower-risk stock at 1.42β versus Pinterest, Inc.'s 1.51β — meaning PINS is approximately 6% more volatile than META relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Pinterest, Inc. (PINS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 39% for Meta Platforms, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — PINS or META?
Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) is the more profitable company, earning 30.1% net margin versus 9.9% for Pinterest, Inc. — meaning it keeps 30.1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: META leads at 41.4% versus 7.6% for PINS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — META leads at 82.0%, 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 PINS or META more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Pinterest, Inc. (PINS) trades at 9.9x forward P/E versus 21.8x for Meta Platforms, Inc. — 11.9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PINS: 47.9% to $25.33.
07Which pays a better dividend — PINS or META?
In this comparison, META (0.3% yield) pays a dividend. PINS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is PINS or META better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+510.1% 10Y return). Pinterest, Inc. (PINS) carries a higher beta of 1.51 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (META: +510.1%, PINS: -29.8%), 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 PINS and META?
These companies operate in different sectors (PINS (Communication Services) and META (Technology)), 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.
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