PHUN vs APPS

For growth investors, Digital Turbine, Inc.

(APPS) is the stronger pick with -9. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -34. 0% for Phunware, Inc. (PHUN). Analysts rate Digital Turbine, Inc. (APPS) a "Hold" — based on 11 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, Digital Turbine, Inc.

(APPS) delivered a total return of -93. 3%, compared to -96. 7% for Phunware, Inc. (PHUN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: APPS returned +359. 1% versus PHUN's -99. 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), Digital Turbine, Inc.

(APPS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 61β versus Phunware, Inc. 's 2. 28β — meaning PHUN is approximately 41% more volatile than APPS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Phunware, Inc. (PHUN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 3% for Digital Turbine, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Digital Turbine, Inc.

(APPS) is pulling ahead at -9. 9% versus -34. 0% for Phunware, Inc. (PHUN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Phunware, Inc. grew EPS 95. 8% year-over-year, compared to 78. 6% for Digital Turbine, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, APPS leads at -13. 1% 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.

Digital Turbine, Inc.

(APPS) is the more profitable company, earning -18. 8% net margin versus -323. 5% for Phunware, Inc. — meaning it keeps -18. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: APPS leads at -11. 0% versus -435. 5% for PHUN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PHUN leads at 45. 6%, 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, Digital Turbine, Inc.

(APPS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+359. 1% 10Y return). Phunware, Inc. (PHUN) carries a higher beta of 2. 28 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (APPS: +359. 1%, PHUN: -99. 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.

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.