CAN vs MARA

For growth investors, Canaan Inc.

(CAN) is the stronger pick with 96. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 38. 2% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (MARA). Analysts rate Canaan Inc. (CAN) a "Buy" — based on 6 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, Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc.

(MARA) delivered a total return of -58. 5%, compared to -92. 0% for Canaan Inc. (CAN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MARA returned -50. 3% versus CAN's -89. 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), Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc.

(MARA) is the lower-risk stock at 3. 11β versus Canaan Inc. 's 4. 41β — meaning CAN is approximately 42% more volatile than MARA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Canaan Inc. (CAN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 13% versus 105% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(CAN) is pulling ahead at 96. 7% versus 38. 2% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (MARA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Canaan Inc. grew EPS 51. 1% year-over-year, compared to -314. 5% for Marathon Digital Holdings, 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.

Canaan Inc.

(CAN) is the more profitable company, earning -39. 7% net margin versus -144. 6% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps -39. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CAN leads at -21. 2% versus -90. 6% for MARA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CAN leads at 7. 8%, 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, Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc.

(MARA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Canaan Inc. (CAN) carries a higher beta of 4. 41 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MARA: -50. 3%, CAN: -89. 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 (CAN (Technology) 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.