Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare PodcastOne, Inc. (PODC) vs 36Kr Holdings Inc. (KRKR) 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 | PODC | 20.4% revenue growth vs KRKR's -32.1% |
| Quality / Margins | PODC | -6.7% net margin vs KRKR's -26.6% |
| Stability / Safety | PODC | Beta 0.69 vs KRKR's 0.76 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | PODC | +52.0% vs KRKR's -21.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PODC | -16.3% ROA vs KRKR's -19.7%, ROIC -33.3% vs -30.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
PodcastOne operates as a podcast platform and publisher that distributes original and exclusive audio content across major listening platforms. It generates revenue primarily through advertising sales on its podcast network — supplemented by branded content deals, live events, and its self-publishing platform LaunchPadOne. The company's competitive advantage lies in its exclusive talent roster and established distribution relationships that create a scaled content ecosystem.
36Kr is a Chinese digital media and business services platform focused on technology and innovation coverage. It generates revenue primarily through online advertising services and enterprise value-added services — including integrated marketing, event management, and consulting — with additional income from subscription services for investors and businesses. The company's competitive advantage lies in its specialized focus on China's tech ecosystem and its established brand as a trusted source for startup and innovation insights.
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
PODC leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Valuation Metrics.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
KRKR is the larger business by revenue, generating $340M annually — 5.7x PODC's $60M. PODC is the more profitable business, keeping -6.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to KRKR's -26.6%. On growth, PODC holds the edge at +24.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PODCPodcastOne, Inc. | KRKR36Kr Holdings Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $60M | $340M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$4M | -$92M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$4M | -$91M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $3M | $253,372 |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +11.3% | +53.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -6.7% | -27.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -6.7% | -26.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.7% | +0.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +24.8% | +7.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +84.5% | +11.8% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PODCPodcastOne, Inc. | KRKR36Kr Holdings Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $50M | $3.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $49M | $3.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -10.00x | -0.30x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 0.09x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.95x | 94.78x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.14x | 0.34x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
PODC delivers a -25.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-26 in annual profit, vs $-35 for KRKR. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PODC scores 4/9 vs KRKR's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | PODCPodcastOne, Inc. | KRKR36Kr Holdings Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -25.5% | -34.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -16.3% | -19.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -33.3% | -30.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -40.8% | -37.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.25x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$1M | -$7M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1M | $37M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $30M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in PODC five years ago would be worth $5,923 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $440 for KRKR. Over the past 12 months, PODC leads with a +52.0% total return vs KRKR's -21.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PODC at -16.0% vs KRKR's -46.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PODCPodcastOne, Inc. | KRKR36Kr Holdings Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +10.6% | -23.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +52.0% | -21.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -40.8% | -84.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -40.8% | -95.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -40.8% | -98.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -16.0% | -46.1% |
Risk & Volatility
PODC is the less volatile stock with a 0.69 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KRKR's 0.76 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PODC currently trades 77.6% from its 52-week high vs KRKR's 16.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PODCPodcastOne, Inc. | KRKR36Kr Holdings Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.69x | 0.76x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $3.35 | $21.36 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $1.28 | $3.15 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +77.6% | +16.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 46.9 | 36.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 137K | 6K |
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | PODCPodcastOne, Inc. | KRKR36Kr Holdings Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 1 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Sep 23 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| PodcastOne, Inc. (PODC) | 100 | 60.59 | -39.4% |
| 36Kr Holdings Inc. (KRKR) | 100 | 27.08 | -72.9% |
PodcastOne, Inc. (PODC) returned -41% over 5 years vs 36Kr Holdings Inc. (KRKR)'s -96%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| PodcastOne, Inc. (PODC) | $24M | $52M | +118.6% |
| 36Kr Holdings Inc. (KRKR) | $121M | $231M | +91.7% |
36Kr Holdings Inc.'s revenue grew from $121M (2017) to $231M (2024) — a 9.7% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| PodcastOne, Inc. (PODC) | -13.7% | -12.4% | +9.5% |
| 36Kr Holdings Inc. (KRKR) | 6.6% | -59.1% | -999.3% |
36Kr Holdings Inc.'s net margin went from 7% (2017) to -59% (2024).
Chart 4EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| PodcastOne, Inc. (PODC) | -0.02 | -0.26 | -1076.5% |
| 36Kr Holdings Inc. (KRKR) | 17 | -81.75 | -580.9% |
36Kr Holdings Inc.'s EPS grew from $17.00 (2017) to $-81.75 (2024) — a NaN% CAGR.
Chart 5Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
PodcastOne, Inc. generated $-0M FCF in 2024 (+84% vs 2021). 36Kr Holdings Inc. generated $-33M FCF in 2024 (-117% vs 2021).
PODC vs KRKR: Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PODC or KRKR a better buy right now?
Analysts rate 36Kr Holdings Inc. (KRKR) a "Buy" — based on 1 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 is the better long-term investment — PODC or KRKR?
Over the past 5 years, PodcastOne, Inc. (PODC) delivered a total return of -40.8%, compared to -95.6% for 36Kr Holdings Inc. (KRKR). A $10,000 investment in PODC five years ago would be worth approximately $6K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PODC returned -40.8% versus KRKR's -98.6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — PODC or KRKR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), PodcastOne, Inc. (PODC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.69β versus 36Kr Holdings Inc.'s 0.76β — meaning KRKR is approximately 10% more volatile than PODC relative to the S&P 500.
04Which has better profit margins — PODC or KRKR?
PodcastOne, Inc. (PODC) is the more profitable company, earning -12.4% net margin versus -59.1% for 36Kr Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps -12.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PODC leads at -12.3% versus -33.7% for KRKR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KRKR leads at 48.6%, 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.
05Which pays a better dividend — PODC or KRKR?
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.
06Is PODC or KRKR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, PodcastOne, Inc. (PODC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.69)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PODC: -40.8%, KRKR: -98.6%), 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.
07What are the main differences between PODC and KRKR?
Both stocks operate in the Communication Services 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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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 5%
- Gross Margin > 32%