Compare CleanSpark, Inc. (CLSKW) vs Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) Stock

CleanSpark, Inc. (CLSKW) offers the better valuation at 0.3x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) a "Buy" — based on 18 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. (CLSKW) is the cheapest at 0.3x versus Riot Platforms, Inc. at 47.9x.

Over the past 5 years, CleanSpark, Inc. (CLSKW) delivered a total return of +468.2%, compared to -69.6% for Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT). A $10,000 investment in CLSKW five years ago would be worth approximately $57K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RIOT returned +540.4% versus CLSKW's +468.2%. 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), CleanSpark, Inc. (CLSKW) is the lower-risk stock at 2.34β versus Riot Platforms, Inc.'s 2.35β — meaning RIOT is approximately 1% more volatile than CLSKW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 20% versus 38% for CleanSpark, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

CleanSpark, Inc. (CLSKW) is the more profitable company, earning 47.6% net margin versus 29.0% for Riot Platforms, Inc. — meaning it keeps 47.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CLSKW leads at 41.6% versus 40.8% for RIOT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CLSKW leads at 55.2%, 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.

In this comparison, CLSKW (10.8% yield) pays a dividend. RIOT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, CleanSpark, Inc. (CLSKW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (10.8% yield, +468.2% 10Y return). Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) carries a higher beta of 2.35 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CLSKW: +468.2%, RIOT: +540.4%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. In terms of investment character: CLSKW is a small-cap deep-value stock; RIOT is a small-cap quality compounder stock. CLSKW pays a dividend while RIOT does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.