Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Sonos, Inc. (SONO) vs Sony Group Corporation (SONY) 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 | SONY | -0.5% revenue growth vs SONO's -4.9% |
| Value | SONY | Lower P/E (0.1x vs 48.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | SONY | 9.2% net margin vs SONO's -1.2% |
| Stability / Safety | SONY | Beta 0.85 vs SONO's 1.52 |
| Dividends | SONY | 0.5% yield; 5-year raise streak; SONO pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | SONO | +16.5% vs SONY's -7.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SONY | 3.2% ROA vs SONO's -1.9%, ROIC 10.7% vs -12.3% |
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
Sonos is a premium wireless multi-room audio system company that designs and sells smart speakers and home theater products. It generates revenue primarily from hardware sales—including speakers, soundbars, and components—with a growing contribution from its software subscription services that offer music streaming and voice control features. The company's key advantage is its proprietary ecosystem that seamlessly integrates multiple speakers across rooms, creating a sticky platform that locks in customers through interoperability and superior user experience.
Sony Group Corporation is a diversified global entertainment and technology conglomerate spanning electronics, gaming, music, and film. It generates revenue primarily through PlayStation gaming hardware and services (~30%), electronics like cameras and TVs (~25%), music publishing and streaming (~20%), and film production and distribution (~15%). Its competitive moat lies in its integrated ecosystem of hardware, software, and content—particularly the dominant PlayStation platform and its extensive entertainment IP library.
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
SONY leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
SONY is the larger business by revenue, generating $12.77T annually — 8879.4x SONO's $1.4B. SONY is the more profitable business, keeping 9.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SONO's -1.2%. On growth, SONY holds the edge at +7.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SONOSonos, Inc. | SONYSony Group Corpor… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.4B | $12.77T |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $49M | $2.60T |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$18M | $1.17T |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $122M | $1.70T |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +44.7% | +29.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +0.1% | +11.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -1.2% | +9.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.5% | +13.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.9% | +7.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +87.5% | +7.8% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, SONY's 12.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SONO's 154.4x.
| Metric | SONOSonos, Inc. | SONYSony Group Corpor… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.9B | $137.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.8B | $145.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -30.20x | 19.16x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 48.89x | 0.12x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.25x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 154.44x | 12.66x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.31x | 1.66x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 5.24x | 2.57x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 17.49x | 12.82x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SONY delivers a 14.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $-4 for SONO. SONO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.32x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SONY's 0.49x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SONY scores 8/9 vs SONO's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SONOSonos, Inc. | SONYSony Group Corpor… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -4.0% | +14.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -1.9% | +3.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -12.3% | +10.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -9.9% | +5.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.32x | 0.49x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$121M | $1.22T |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $175M | $2.98T |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $113M | $4.20T |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -393.13x | 22.32x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SONY five years ago would be worth $10,919 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,749 for SONO. Over the past 12 months, SONO leads with a +16.5% total return vs SONY's -7.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SONY at 11.9% vs SONO's -7.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SONOSonos, Inc. | SONYSony Group Corpor… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -11.9% | -10.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.5% | -7.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -20.7% | +39.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -62.5% | +9.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -22.7% | +466.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -7.5% | +11.9% |
Risk & Volatility
SONY is the less volatile stock with a 0.85 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SONO's 1.52 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | SONOSonos, Inc. | SONYSony Group Corpor… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.52x | 0.85x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $19.82 | $30.34 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.63 | $20.42 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +77.7% | +76.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.6 | 48.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.5M | 5.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SONO as "Buy" and SONY as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 30.1% upside for SONY (target: $30) vs 26.6% for SONO (target: $20). SONY is the only dividend payer here at 0.53% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | SONOSonos, Inc. | SONYSony Group Corpor… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $19.50 | $30.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 16 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $18.97 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.3% | +1.3% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonos, Inc. (SONO) | 100 | 129.32 | +29.3% |
| Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) | 100 | 172.41 | +72.4% |
Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) returned +9% over 5 years vs Sonos, Inc. (SONO)'s -63%. A $10,000 investment in SONY 5 years ago would be worth $10,919 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonos, Inc. (SONO) | $901M | $1.4B | +60.1% |
| Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) | $8.1T | $13.0T | +59.9% |
Sonos, Inc.'s revenue grew from $901M (2016) to $1.4B (2025) — a 5.4% CAGR. Sony Group Corporation's revenue grew from $8.1T (2016) to $13.0T (2025) — a 5.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonos, Inc. (SONO) | -4.2% | -4.2% | +0.1% |
| Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) | 1.8% | 8.8% | +383.2% |
Sonos, Inc.'s net margin went from -4% (2016) to -4% (2025). Sony Group Corporation's net margin went from 2% (2016) to 9% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) | 0.8 | 0.1 | -87.5% |
Sony Group Corporation has traded in a 0x–1x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~19x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonos, Inc. (SONO) | -0.36 | -0.51 | -41.7% |
| Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) | 23.5 | 187.92 | +699.7% |
Sonos, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.36 (2016) to $-0.51 (2025). Sony Group Corporation's EPS grew from $23.50 (2016) to $187.92 (2025) — a 26% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Sonos, Inc. generated $108M FCF in 2025 (-48% vs 2021). Sony Group Corporation generated $1.7T FCF in 2025 (+153% vs 2021).
SONO vs SONY: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SONO or SONY a better buy right now?
Sony Group Corporation (SONY) offers the better valuation at 19.2x trailing P/E (0.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sonos, Inc. (SONO) a "Buy" — based on 9 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 — SONO or SONY?
On forward P/E, Sony Group Corporation is actually cheaper at 0.1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SONO or SONY?
Over the past 5 years, Sony Group Corporation (SONY) delivered a total return of +9.2%, compared to -62.5% for Sonos, Inc. (SONO). A $10,000 investment in SONY five years ago would be worth approximately $11K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SONY returned +466.3% versus SONO's -22.7%. 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 — SONO or SONY?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Sony Group Corporation (SONY) is the lower-risk stock at 0.85β versus Sonos, Inc.'s 1.52β — meaning SONO is approximately 78% more volatile than SONY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Sonos, Inc. (SONO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 49% for Sony Group Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SONO or SONY?
Sony Group Corporation (SONY) is the more profitable company, earning 8.8% net margin versus -4.2% for Sonos, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SONY leads at 10.9% versus -3.5% for SONO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SONO leads at 43.7%, 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 SONO or SONY more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Sony Group Corporation (SONY) trades at 0.1x forward P/E versus 48.9x for Sonos, Inc. — 48.8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SONY: 30.1% to $30.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — SONO or SONY?
In this comparison, SONY (0.5% yield) pays a dividend. SONO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is SONO or SONY better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Sony Group Corporation (SONY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.85), 0.5% yield, +466.3% 10Y return). Sonos, Inc. (SONO) carries a higher beta of 1.52 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SONY: +466.3%, SONO: -22.7%), 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 SONO and SONY?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. SONY pays a dividend while SONO 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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