APPS vs GOOG

For growth investors, Alphabet Inc.

(GOOG) is the stronger pick with 15. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 9% for Digital Turbine, Inc. (APPS). Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) offers the better valuation at 36. 7x trailing P/E (28. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) a "Buy" — based on 79 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 forward P/E, Digital Turbine, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 10. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Alphabet Inc.

(GOOG) delivered a total return of +240. 5%, compared to -93. 3% for Digital Turbine, Inc. (APPS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GOOG returned +1018% versus APPS's +359. 1%. 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), Alphabet Inc.

(GOOG) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 25β versus Digital Turbine, Inc. 's 1. 61β — meaning APPS is approximately 29% more volatile than GOOG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 14% versus 3% for Digital Turbine, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Alphabet Inc.

(GOOG) is pulling ahead at 15. 1% versus -9. 9% for Digital Turbine, Inc. (APPS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Digital Turbine, Inc. grew EPS 78. 6% year-over-year, compared to 34. 5% for Alphabet Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GOOG leads at 12. 5% 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.

Alphabet Inc.

(GOOG) is the more profitable company, earning 32. 8% net margin versus -18. 8% for Digital Turbine, Inc. — meaning it keeps 32. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GOOG leads at 32. 1% versus -11. 0% for APPS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GOOG leads at 59. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Digital Turbine, Inc.

(APPS) trades at 10. 2x forward P/E versus 28. 7x for Alphabet Inc. — 18. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for APPS: 704. 5% to $32. 50.

In this comparison, GOOG (0.

2% yield) pays a dividend. APPS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Alphabet Inc.

(GOOG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 25), +1018% 10Y return). Digital Turbine, Inc. (APPS) carries a higher beta of 1. 61 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GOOG: +1018%, APPS: +359. 1%), 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 (APPS (Technology) and GOOG (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: APPS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GOOG is a mega-cap high-growth 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.