APLD vs HUT

For growth investors, Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) is the stronger pick with 57.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -90. 7% for Hut 8 Corp. (HUT). 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.

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

3%, compared to +296. 0% for Hut 8 Corp. (HUT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: APLD returned +756. 3% versus HUT's +462. 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), Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) is the lower-risk stock at 3.

23β versus Hut 8 Corp. 's 4. 51β — meaning HUT is approximately 40% more volatile than APLD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hut 8 Corp. (HUT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 25% versus 111% for Applied Digital Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) is pulling ahead at 57.

7% versus -90. 7% for Hut 8 Corp. (HUT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Applied Digital Corporation grew EPS 11. 5% year-over-year, compared to -162. 9% for Hut 8 Corp.. 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.

Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) is the more profitable company, earning -107.

2% net margin versus -1499. 6% for Hut 8 Corp. — meaning it keeps -107. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: APLD leads at -33. 5% versus -21. 0% for HUT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — APLD leads at 10. 5%, 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, 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). Hut 8 Corp. (HUT) carries a higher beta of 4. 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 (APLD: +756. 3%, HUT: +462. 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 HUT (Financial Services)), 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; HUT is a mid-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.