Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) vs Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) 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 GOOG's 15.1% |
| Value | META | Lower P/E (21.8x vs 27.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | GOOG | 32.8% net margin vs META's 30.1% |
| Stability / Safety | GOOG | Beta 0.98 vs META's 1.42, lower leverage |
| Dividends | META | 0.3% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs GOOG's 0.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | GOOG | +81.3% vs META's -2.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GOOG | 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
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.
Alphabet is a technology conglomerate best known for its Google search engine and digital ecosystem. It generates over 80% of its revenue from digital advertising—primarily through Google Search, YouTube, and its ad network—with the remainder coming from Google Cloud services and other ventures. Its dominant competitive advantage lies in its massive user data network, which creates powerful network effects and makes its advertising targeting capabilities nearly impossible for competitors to replicate at scale.
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). GOOG leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
GOOG 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% (GOOG) to 30.1% (META). On growth, META holds the edge at +23.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | METAMeta Platforms, I… | GOOGAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $201.0B | $402.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $101.9B | $150.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $60.5B | $132.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $46.1B | $73.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +82.0% | +59.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +41.4% | +32.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +30.1% | +32.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +22.9% | +18.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +23.8% | +18.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +10.6% | +31.2% |
Valuation Metrics
At 27.6x trailing earnings, META trades at a 4% valuation discount to GOOG's 28.8x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), GOOG 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 | METAMeta Platforms, I… | GOOGAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $222.3B | $1.69T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $270.3B | $1.73T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 27.59x | 28.81x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.80x | 27.24x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.50x | 0.97x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 2.65x | 11.52x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.11x | 4.20x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.68x | 9.17x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 4.82x | 23.08x |
Profitability & Efficiency
GOOG delivers a 31.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $32 in annual profit, vs $28 for META. GOOG 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), GOOG scores 7/9 vs META's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | METAMeta Platforms, I… | GOOGAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +27.8% | +31.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +16.5% | +22.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +27.6% | +24.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +29.4% | +30.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.39x | 0.17x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $48.0B | $41.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $35.9B | $30.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $83.9B | $72.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 61.69x | 903.26x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in GOOG five years ago would be worth $30,060 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $24,623 for META. Over the past 12 months, GOOG leads with a +81.3% total return vs META's -2.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors META at 55.1% vs GOOG's 51.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | METAMeta Platforms, I… | GOOGAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -0.3% | -1.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -2.7% | +81.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +272.9% | +246.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +146.2% | +200.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +510.1% | +796.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +55.1% | +51.3% |
Risk & Volatility
GOOG is the less volatile stock with a 0.98 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. GOOG currently trades 88.9% from its 52-week high vs META's 81.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | METAMeta Platforms, I… | GOOGAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.42x | 0.98x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $796.25 | $350.15 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $479.80 | $142.66 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +81.4% | +88.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.4 | 40.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 13.2M | 17.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates META as "Buy" and GOOG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 31.6% upside for META (target: $853) vs 14.6% for GOOG (target: $357). For income investors, META offers the higher dividend yield at 0.32% vs GOOG's 0.26%.
| Metric | METAMeta Platforms, I… | GOOGAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $853.00 | $356.91 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 60 | 79 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.3% | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.07 | $0.82 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +11.8% | +2.7% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 100 | 359.61 | +259.6% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) | 100 | 496.54 | +396.5% |
Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) returned +201% over 5 years vs Meta Platforms, Inc. (META)'s +146%. A $10,000 investment in GOOG 5 years ago would be worth $30,060 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | $27.6B | $201.0B | +627.1% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) | $90.3B | $403.0B | +346.4% |
Meta Platforms, Inc.'s revenue grew from $27.6B (2016) to $201.0B (2025) — a 24.7% CAGR. Alphabet Inc.'s revenue grew from $90.3B (2016) to $403.0B (2025) — a 18.1% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 36.9% | 30.1% | -18.4% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) | 21.6% | 32.8% | +52.0% |
Meta Platforms, Inc.'s net margin went from 37% (2016) to 30% (2025). Alphabet Inc.'s net margin went from 22% (2016) to 33% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 32.7 | 28.1 | -14.1% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) | 58.1 | 29 | -50.1% |
Meta Platforms, Inc. has traded in a 14x–33x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~28x. Alphabet Inc. has traded in a 20x–58x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~29x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 3.49 | 23.49 | +573.1% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) | 1.39 | 10.81 | +677.7% |
Meta Platforms, Inc.'s EPS grew from $3.49 (2016) to $23.49 (2025) — a 24% CAGR. Alphabet Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.39 (2016) to $10.81 (2025) — a 26% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Meta Platforms, Inc. generated $46B FCF in 2025 (+18% vs 2021). Alphabet Inc. generated $73B FCF in 2025 (+9% vs 2021).
META vs GOOG: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is META or GOOG 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 Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) a "Buy" — based on 60 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 — META or GOOG?
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 — META or GOOG?
Over the past 5 years, Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) delivered a total return of +200.6%, compared to +146.2% for Meta Platforms, Inc. (META). A $10,000 investment in GOOG five years ago would be worth approximately $30K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GOOG returned +796.7% 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 — META or GOOG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.98β versus Meta Platforms, Inc.'s 1.42β — meaning META is approximately 45% more volatile than GOOG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) 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 — META or GOOG?
Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) 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 GOOG. 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 META or GOOG 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. (GOOG) 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 27.2x for Alphabet Inc. — 5.4x 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 — META or GOOG?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) offers the highest yield at 0.3%, versus 0.3% for Alphabet Inc. (GOOG).
08Is META or GOOG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.98), +796.7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GOOG: +796.7%, 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 META and GOOG?
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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