GPUS vs APLD vs WULF vs IREN vs CORZ

For growth investors, IREN Limited (IREN) is the stronger pick with 167.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -37. 5% for Core Scientific, Inc. (CORZ). IREN Limited (IREN) offers the better valuation at 145. 8x trailing P/E (139. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) a "Buy" — based on 13 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, IREN Limited is actually cheaper at 139.

2x.

Over the past 5 years, Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) delivered a total return of +756.

3%, compared to -100. 0% for Hyperscale Data, Inc. (GPUS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: APLD returned +756. 3% versus GPUS's -100. 0%. 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), Hyperscale Data, Inc.

(GPUS) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 34β versus TeraWulf Inc. 's 3. 25β — meaning WULF is approximately 39% more volatile than GPUS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, IREN Limited (IREN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 53% versus 58% for Hyperscale Data, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), IREN Limited (IREN) is pulling ahead at 167.

7% versus -37. 5% for Core Scientific, Inc. (CORZ). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IREN Limited grew EPS 234. 5% year-over-year, compared to 11. 5% for Applied Digital Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, APLD leads at 193. 2% 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.

IREN Limited (IREN) is the more profitable company, earning 17.

4% net margin versus -107. 2% for Applied Digital Corporation — meaning it keeps 17. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IREN leads at 3. 5% versus -54. 4% for WULF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IREN leads at 68. 3%, 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, IREN Limited (IREN) trades at 139.

2x forward P/E versus 267. 1x for Core Scientific, Inc. — 128. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for APLD: 46. 9% to $61. 00.

In this comparison, GPUS (100.

0% yield) pays a dividend. APLD, WULF, IREN, CORZ do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+756.

3% 10Y return). IREN Limited (IREN) carries a higher beta of 2. 97 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (APLD: +756. 3%, IREN: +132. 5%), 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 (GPUS (Industrials) and APLD (Technology) and WULF (Financial Services) and IREN (Financial Services) and CORZ (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: GPUS is a small-cap income-oriented stock; APLD is a mid-cap high-growth stock; WULF is a mid-cap high-growth stock; IREN is a mid-cap high-growth stock; CORZ is a small-cap quality compounder stock. GPUS pays a dividend while APLD, WULF, IREN, CORZ do 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.