Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) vs Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | META | 22.2% revenue growth vs GOOGL's 15.1% |
| Value | META | Lower P/E (21.8x vs 27.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | GOOGL | 32.8% net margin vs META's 30.1% |
| Stability / Safety | GOOGL | Beta 0.99 vs META's 1.42, lower leverage |
| Dividends | META | 0.3% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs GOOGL's 0.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | GOOGL | +83.6% vs META's -2.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GOOGL | 22.2% ROA vs META's 16.5%, ROIC 24.7% vs 27.6% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Alphabet is a technology conglomerate best known as the parent company of Google, which dominates the digital advertising market through search, YouTube, and display ads. It generates over 80% of its revenue from advertising, with the remainder coming from Google Cloud services, hardware sales, and subscription products like YouTube Premium. Its primary moat is the massive network effect of its search ecosystem — billions of users, advertisers, and content creators locked into its platforms through data, scale, and habit.
Meta Platforms operates a family of social media and messaging apps — Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger — that connect billions of users globally. It generates nearly all its revenue from digital advertising across these platforms, with its Reality Labs segment — which includes VR hardware and software — currently operating at a loss. The company's massive network effects and user data advantage create a powerful moat, making it difficult for competitors to challenge its dominant position in social media.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
META leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). GOOGL leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
GOOGL is the larger business by revenue, generating $402.9B annually — 2.0x META's $201.0B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 32.8% (GOOGL) to 30.1% (META). On growth, META holds the edge at +23.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. | METAMeta Platforms, I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $402.9B | $201.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $150.2B | $101.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $132.2B | $60.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $73.3B | $46.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +59.7% | +82.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +32.0% | +41.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +32.8% | +30.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +18.2% | +22.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +18.1% | +23.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +31.2% | +10.6% |
Valuation Metrics
At 27.6x trailing earnings, META trades at a 4% valuation discount to GOOGL's 28.8x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), GOOGL offers better value at 0.97x vs META's 1.50x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. | METAMeta Platforms, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.69T | $222.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.73T | $270.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 28.84x | 27.59x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 27.26x | 21.80x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.97x | 1.50x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.54x | 2.65x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.20x | 1.11x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 9.18x | 7.68x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 23.10x | 4.82x |
Profitability & Efficiency
GOOGL delivers a 31.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $32 in annual profit, vs $28 for META. GOOGL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.17x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to META's 0.39x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GOOGL scores 7/9 vs META's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. | METAMeta Platforms, I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +31.8% | +27.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +22.2% | +16.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +24.7% | +27.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +30.3% | +29.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.17x | 0.39x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $41.3B | $48.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $30.7B | $35.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $72.0B | $83.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 903.26x | 61.69x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in GOOGL five years ago would be worth $30,266 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $24,623 for META. Over the past 12 months, GOOGL leads with a +83.6% total return vs META's -2.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors META at 55.1% vs GOOGL's 51.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. | METAMeta Platforms, I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -1.1% | -0.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +83.6% | -2.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +247.8% | +272.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +202.7% | +146.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +773.4% | +510.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +51.5% | +55.1% |
Risk & Volatility
GOOGL is the less volatile stock with a 0.99 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than META's 1.42 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. GOOGL currently trades 89.3% from its 52-week high vs META's 81.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. | METAMeta Platforms, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.99x | 1.42x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $349.00 | $796.25 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $140.53 | $479.80 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +89.3% | +81.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 40.8 | 50.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 28.2M | 13.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GOOGL as "Buy" and META as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 31.6% upside for META (target: $853) vs 14.6% for GOOGL (target: $357). For income investors, META offers the higher dividend yield at 0.32% vs GOOGL's 0.26%.
| Metric | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. | METAMeta Platforms, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $357.19 | $853.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 81 | 60 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.3% | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.82 | $2.07 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.7% | +11.8% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) | 100 | 495.8 | +395.8% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 100 | 359.61 | +259.6% |
Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) returned +203% over 5 years vs Meta Platforms, Inc. (META)'s +146%. A $10,000 investment in GOOGL 5 years ago would be worth $30,266 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) | $90.3B | $403.0B | +346.4% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | $27.6B | $201.0B | +627.1% |
Alphabet Inc.'s revenue grew from $90.3B (2016) to $403.0B (2025) — a 18.1% CAGR. Meta Platforms, Inc.'s revenue grew from $27.6B (2016) to $201.0B (2025) — a 24.7% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) | 21.6% | 32.8% | +52.0% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 36.9% | 30.1% | -18.4% |
Alphabet Inc.'s net margin went from 22% (2016) to 33% (2025). Meta Platforms, Inc.'s net margin went from 37% (2016) to 30% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) | 58.5 | 29 | -50.4% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 32.7 | 28.1 | -14.1% |
Alphabet Inc. has traded in a 19x–59x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~29x. Meta Platforms, Inc. has traded in a 14x–33x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~28x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) | 1.39 | 10.81 | +677.7% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 3.49 | 23.49 | +573.1% |
Alphabet Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.39 (2016) to $10.81 (2025) — a 26% CAGR. Meta Platforms, Inc.'s EPS grew from $3.49 (2016) to $23.49 (2025) — a 24% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Alphabet Inc. generated $73B FCF in 2025 (+9% vs 2021). Meta Platforms, Inc. generated $46B FCF in 2025 (+18% vs 2021).
GOOGL vs META: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GOOGL or META a better buy right now?
Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) offers the better valuation at 27.6x trailing P/E (21.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) a "Buy" — based on 81 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.
02Which has the better valuation — GOOGL or META?
On trailing P/E, Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) is the cheapest at 27.6x versus Alphabet Inc. at 28.8x. On forward P/E, Meta Platforms, Inc. is actually cheaper at 21.8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Alphabet Inc. wins at 0.91x versus Meta Platforms, Inc.'s 1.18x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GOOGL or META?
Over the past 5 years, Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) delivered a total return of +202.7%, compared to +146.2% for Meta Platforms, Inc. (META). A $10,000 investment in GOOGL five years ago would be worth approximately $30K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GOOGL returned +773.4% versus META's +510.1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — GOOGL or META?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.99β versus Meta Platforms, Inc.'s 1.42β — meaning META is approximately 44% more volatile than GOOGL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 39% for Meta Platforms, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — GOOGL or META?
Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) is the more profitable company, earning 32.8% net margin versus 30.1% for Meta Platforms, Inc. — meaning it keeps 32.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: META leads at 41.4% versus 32.1% for GOOGL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — META leads at 82.0%, 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.
06Is GOOGL or META more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.91x versus Meta Platforms, Inc.'s 1.18x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) trades at 21.8x forward P/E versus 27.3x for Alphabet Inc. — 5.5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for META: 31.6% to $853.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — GOOGL or META?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) offers the highest yield at 0.3%, versus 0.3% for Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL).
08Is GOOGL or META better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.99), +773.4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GOOGL: +773.4%, META: +510.1%), 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.
09What are the main differences between GOOGL and META?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. 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.
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