APLD vs BTBT vs CIFR vs IREN vs CORZ

For growth investors, Bit Digital, Inc.

(BTBT) is the stronger pick with 264. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -37. 5% for Core Scientific, Inc. (CORZ). Bit Digital, Inc. (BTBT) offers the better valuation at 9. 2x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) a "Buy" — based on 13 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.

On trailing P/E, Bit Digital, Inc.

(BTBT) is the cheapest at 9. 2x versus IREN Limited at 145. 8x. On forward P/E, IREN Limited is actually cheaper at 139. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) delivered a total return of +756.

3%, compared to -84. 6% for Bit Digital, Inc. (BTBT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: APLD returned +756. 3% versus BTBT's -60. 4%. 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), Core Scientific, Inc.

(CORZ) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 50β versus Cipher Mining Inc. 's 3. 87β — meaning CIFR is approximately 55% more volatile than CORZ relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Bit Digital, Inc. (BTBT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 3% for Cipher Mining Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Bit Digital, Inc.

(BTBT) is pulling ahead at 264. 6% versus -37. 5% for Core Scientific, Inc. (CORZ). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IREN Limited grew EPS 234. 5% year-over-year, compared to -1435. 7% for Cipher Mining Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, APLD leads at 193. 2% annualised revenue growth. 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.

IREN Limited (IREN) is the more profitable company, earning 17.

4% net margin versus -367. 2% for Cipher Mining Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BTBT leads at 16. 8% versus -150. 7% for CIFR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IREN leads at 68. 3%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, IREN Limited (IREN) trades at 139.

2x forward P/E versus 267. 1x for Core Scientific, Inc. — 128. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BTBT: 173. 2% to $5. 00.

In this comparison, BTBT (0.

3% yield) pays a dividend. APLD, CIFR, IREN, CORZ do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+756.

3% 10Y return). Bit Digital, Inc. (BTBT) carries a higher beta of 3. 37 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (APLD: +756. 3%, BTBT: -60. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (APLD (Technology) and BTBT (Financial Services) and CIFR (Financial Services) and IREN (Financial Services) and CORZ (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: APLD is a mid-cap high-growth stock; BTBT is a small-cap high-growth stock; CIFR is a small-cap high-growth stock; IREN is a mid-cap high-growth stock; CORZ is a small-cap quality compounder stock. 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.