ZD
Ziff Davis, Inc.
Advertising Agencies
Market Cap$1.65B
5Y Perf.-36.4%
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Stock Comparison
ZD vs GOOGL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
GOOGL
Alphabet Inc.
Internet Content & Information
Market Cap$4.81T
5Y Perf.+455.2%
ZD vs GOOGL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ZD | GOOGL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Advertising Agencies | Internet Content & Information |
| Market Cap | $1.65B | $4.81T |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.45B | $422.57B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $47M | $160.21B |
| Gross Margin | 77.8% | 60.4% |
| Operating Margin | 13.2% | 32.7% |
| Forward P/E | 7.1x | 29.6x |
| Total Debt | $892M | $59.29B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $607M | $30.71B |
ZD vs GOOGL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ZD
GOOGL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ziff Davis, Inc. (ZD) | 100 | 63.6 | -36.4% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) | 100 | 555.2 | +455.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ZD vs GOOGL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: GOOGL leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Ziff Davis, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ZD
Ziff Davis, Inc.
The Income Pick
ZD is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.19
- Lower volatility, beta 1.19, Low D/E 50.9%, current ratio 1.27x
- Beta 1.19, current ratio 1.27x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
GOOGL
Alphabet Inc.
The Growth Play
GOOGL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 15.1%, EPS growth 34.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 12.5%
- 10.0% 10Y total return vs ZD's -14.2%
- 15.1% revenue growth vs ZD's 3.5%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | GOOGL | 15.1% revenue growth vs ZD's 3.5% |
| Value | ZD | Lower P/E (7.1x vs 29.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | GOOGL | 37.9% margin vs ZD's 3.3% |
| Stability / Safety | ZD | Beta 1.19 vs GOOGL's 1.26 |
| Dividends | GOOGL | 0.2% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | GOOGL | +144.2% vs ZD's +38.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GOOGL | 27.4% ROA vs ZD's 1.3%, ROIC 25.1% vs 7.2% |
ZD vs GOOGL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
ZD vs GOOGL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLGOOGLLAGGINGZD
ZDZiff Davis, Inc.
1leads
GOOGLAlphabet Inc.
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ZDMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
GOOGL4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ZD5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
GOOGL7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
GOOGL5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
GOOGL1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GOOGL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GOOGL is the larger business by revenue, generating $422.6B annually — 291.2x ZD's $1.5B. GOOGL is the more profitable business, keeping 37.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ZD's 3.3%. On growth, GOOGL holds the edge at +21.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ZDZiff Davis, Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.5B | $422.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $420M | $161.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $47M | $160.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $288M | $73.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +77.8% | +60.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.2% | +32.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.3% | +37.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +19.8% | +17.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -1.5% | +21.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -99.3% | +81.9% |
GOOGL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ZD leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 36.8x trailing earnings, GOOGL trades at a 3% valuation discount to ZD's 38.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ZD's 4.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GOOGL's 32.2x.
| Metric | ZDZiff Davis, Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.7B | $4.81T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.9B | $4.84T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 37.98x | 36.80x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.10x | 29.61x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.23x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.48x | 32.21x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.14x | 11.94x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.02x | 11.72x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.74x | 65.69x |
ZD leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GOOGL leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GOOGL delivers a 39.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $39 in annual profit, vs $3 for ZD. GOOGL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.14x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ZD's 0.51x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GOOGL scores 7/9 vs ZD's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ZDZiff Davis, Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.6% | +39.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.3% | +27.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.2% | +25.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.6% | +30.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.51x | 0.14x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $285M | $28.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $607M | $30.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $892M | $59.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.19x | 392.15x |
GOOGL leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
GOOGL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in GOOGL five years ago would be worth $34,180 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,262 for ZD. Over the past 12 months, GOOGL leads with a +144.2% total return vs ZD's +38.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GOOGL at 54.8% vs ZD's -12.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ZDZiff Davis, Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +28.5% | +26.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +38.9% | +144.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -33.3% | +270.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -57.4% | +241.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -14.2% | +1001.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -12.6% | +54.8% |
GOOGL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — ZD and GOOGL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ZD is the less volatile stock with a 1.19 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than GOOGL's 1.26 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. GOOGL currently trades 99.5% from its 52-week high vs ZD's 86.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ZDZiff Davis, Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.19x | 1.26x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $50.55 | $399.85 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $22.45 | $147.84 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.4% | +99.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 54.3 | 81.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.0M | 28.4M |
Evenly matched — ZD and GOOGL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
GOOGL leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ZD as "Buy" and GOOGL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 2.1% upside for GOOGL (target: $406) vs -1.6% for ZD (target: $43). GOOGL is the only dividend payer here at 0.21% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ZDZiff Davis, Inc. | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $43.00 | $406.28 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 82 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.82 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +10.5% | +0.9% |
GOOGL leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
GOOGL leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). ZD leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallAlphabet Inc. (GOOGL)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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ZD vs GOOGL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ZD or GOOGL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Alphabet Inc.
(GOOGL) is the stronger pick with 15. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 5% for Ziff Davis, Inc. (ZD). Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) offers the better valuation at 36. 8x trailing P/E (29. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ziff Davis, Inc. (ZD) 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.
02Which has the better valuation — ZD or GOOGL?
On trailing P/E, Alphabet Inc.
(GOOGL) is the cheapest at 36. 8x versus Ziff Davis, Inc. at 38. 0x. On forward P/E, Ziff Davis, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ZD or GOOGL?
Over the past 5 years, Alphabet Inc.
(GOOGL) delivered a total return of +241. 8%, compared to -57. 4% for Ziff Davis, Inc. (ZD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GOOGL returned +996. 1% versus ZD's -13. 7%. 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 — ZD or GOOGL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ziff Davis, Inc.
(ZD) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 19β versus Alphabet Inc. 's 1. 26β — meaning GOOGL is approximately 6% more volatile than ZD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 14% versus 51% for Ziff Davis, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ZD or GOOGL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Alphabet Inc.
(GOOGL) is pulling ahead at 15. 1% versus 3. 5% for Ziff Davis, Inc. (ZD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alphabet Inc. grew EPS 34. 5% year-over-year, compared to -19. 0% for Ziff Davis, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GOOGL leads at 12. 5% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — ZD or GOOGL?
Alphabet Inc.
(GOOGL) is the more profitable company, earning 32. 8% net margin versus 3. 3% for Ziff Davis, Inc. — meaning it keeps 32. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GOOGL leads at 32. 1% versus 14. 1% for ZD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ZD leads at 70. 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.
07Is ZD or GOOGL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Ziff Davis, Inc.
(ZD) trades at 7. 1x forward P/E versus 29. 6x for Alphabet Inc. — 22. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GOOGL: 2. 1% to $406. 28.
08Which pays a better dividend — ZD or GOOGL?
In this comparison, GOOGL (0.
2% yield) pays a dividend. ZD does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is ZD or GOOGL 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 1. 26), +996. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GOOGL: +996. 1%, ZD: -13. 7%), 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.
10What are the main differences between ZD and GOOGL?
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.
In terms of investment character: ZD is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GOOGL is a mega-cap high-growth stock. 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(ZD: -1.5% · GOOGL: 21.8%)Net Margin>
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(ZD: 3.3% · GOOGL: 37.9%)P/E Ratio<
x
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