BTM vs COIN vs MARA vs RIOT vs CLSK

For growth investors, CleanSpark, Inc.

(CLSK) is the stronger pick with 102. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 2% for Bitcoin Depot Inc. (BTM). CleanSpark, Inc. (CLSK) offers the better valuation at 12. 7x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Bitcoin Depot Inc. (BTM) a "Buy" — based on 2 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, CleanSpark, Inc.

(CLSK) is the cheapest at 12. 7x versus Coinbase Global, Inc. at 45. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, CleanSpark, Inc.

(CLSK) delivered a total return of -11. 8%, compared to -92. 6% for Bitcoin Depot Inc. (BTM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RIOT returned +786. 6% versus BTM's -92. 6%. 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), Bitcoin Depot Inc.

(BTM) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 91β versus Riot Platforms, Inc. 's 3. 92β — meaning RIOT is approximately 35% more volatile than BTM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 10% versus 6% for Bitcoin Depot Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(CLSK) is pulling ahead at 102. 2% versus 7. 2% for Bitcoin Depot Inc. (BTM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CleanSpark, Inc. grew EPS 262. 3% 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.

CleanSpark, Inc.

(CLSK) is the more profitable company, earning 47. 6% net margin versus -144. 6% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 47. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CLSK leads at 41. 6% versus -90. 6% for MARA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — COIN leads at 74. 6%, 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 BTM: 473.

1% to $29. 17.

In this comparison, CLSK (0.

2% yield) pays a dividend. BTM, COIN, MARA, RIOT 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 (+786. 6% 10Y return). Bitcoin Depot Inc. (BTM) carries a higher beta of 2. 91 — 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: +786. 6%, BTM: -92. 6%), 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 (BTM (Financial Services) and COIN (Financial Services) and MARA (Financial Services) and RIOT (Financial Services) and CLSK (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: BTM is a small-cap quality compounder stock; COIN is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MARA is a small-cap high-growth stock; RIOT is a small-cap high-growth stock; CLSK is a small-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.