APLD vs IREN vs RIOT vs BTBT vs MARA

For growth investors, Bit Digital, Inc.

(BTBT) is the stronger pick with 264. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 38. 2% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (MARA). 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.

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: RIOT returned +787. 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), IREN Limited (IREN) is the lower-risk stock at 2.

97β versus Riot Platforms, Inc. 's 3. 87β — meaning RIOT is approximately 30% more volatile than IREN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Bit Digital, Inc. (BTBT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 111% for Applied Digital Corporation — 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 38. 2% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (MARA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IREN Limited grew EPS 234. 5% 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.

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

4% net margin versus -144. 6% for Marathon Digital Holdings, 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 -90. 6% for MARA. 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.

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, IREN, RIOT, MARA do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for 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). 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 (RIOT: +787. 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 IREN (Financial Services) and RIOT (Financial Services) and BTBT (Financial Services) and MARA (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.