GOOG vs. META: Alphabet vs. Meta Platforms Stock Comparison
How do Alphabet (GOOG) and Meta Platforms (META) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Alphabet (GOOG) and Meta Platforms (META) are both classified in the Interactive Media & Services sub-industry within the broader Interactive Media & Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | GOOG | META |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Alphabet Inc. | Meta Platforms Inc Class A |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Communication Services | Communication Services |
| GICS Industry Group | Media & Entertainment | Media & Entertainment |
| GICS Industry | Interactive Media & Services | Interactive Media & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Interactive Media & Services | Interactive Media & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 4,361.81 billion USD | 1,508.38 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | August 19, 2004 | May 18, 2012 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | META |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 85.46% | -22.02% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 39.30% | 23.57% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 21.62% | 10.44% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | META |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 31.73% | 38.34% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.23 | 1.25 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -44.60% | -76.74% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 22.61M | 18.00M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | META |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 2.57 | -0.68 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 4.55 | -0.95 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 48.68% and Meta Platforms (META) at 29.85% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
48.68%
- GOOG
- 48.68%
- Max
- 48.68%
- Q3
- 16.74%
- Median
- 6.46%
- Q1
- -5.13%
- Min
- -37.13%
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
29.85%
- Max
- 48.68%
- META
- 29.85%
- Q3
- 16.74%
- Median
- 6.46%
- Q1
- -5.13%
- Min
- -37.13%
Net Margin (TTM)
Alphabet (GOOG) at 54.77% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Meta Platforms (META) at 29.84% also retains a top-quartile share.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
54.77%
- GOOG
- 54.77%
- Max
- 30.77%
- Q3
- 9.84%
- Median
- 3.58%
- Q1
- -4.22%
- Min
- -24.17%
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
29.84%
- Max
- 30.77%
- META
- 29.84%
- Q3
- 9.84%
- Median
- 3.58%
- Q1
- -4.22%
- Min
- -24.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 34.03% and Meta Platforms (META) at 34.83% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
34.03%
- Max
- 41.37%
- GOOG
- 34.03%
- Q3
- 17.93%
- Median
- 9.02%
- Q1
- -1.89%
- Min
- -27.39%
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
34.83%
- Max
- 41.37%
- META
- 34.83%
- Q3
- 17.93%
- Median
- 9.02%
- Q1
- -1.89%
- Min
- -27.39%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | META |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 48.68% | 29.85% |
| ROA (TTM) | 12.96% | 14.59% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 54.77% | 29.84% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 34.03% | 34.83% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 60.90% | 81.75% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 15.09% and Meta Platforms (META) at 22.17% sit in the top peer quartile for revenue growth, so each is growing its top line faster than typical industry peers.
EPS Growth
Alphabet (GOOG) at 34.45% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Meta Platforms (META) at -1.55% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for GOOG.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | META |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 15.09% | 22.17% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.51% | 19.89% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 34.45% | -1.55% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 33.34% | 39.84% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Meta Platforms (META) at 2.23 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Alphabet (GOOG) at 2.72 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
2.72
- Max
- 4.86
- GOOG
- 2.72
- Q3
- 2.72
- Median
- 1.56
- Q1
- 0.87
- Min
- 0.09
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
2.23
- Max
- 4.86
- Q3
- 2.72
- META
- 2.23
- Median
- 1.56
- Q1
- 0.87
- Min
- 0.09
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 0.19 and Meta Platforms (META) at 0.43 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.19
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.26
- Median
- 0.52
- GOOG
- 0.19
- Q1
- 0.17
- Min
- 0.00
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.43
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.26
- Median
- 0.52
- META
- 0.43
- Q1
- 0.17
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | META |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.72 | 2.23 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.19 | 0.43 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.70 | 0.20 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 0.25% and Meta Platforms (META) at 0.36% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.25%
- GOOG
- 0.25%
- Max
- 0.24%
- Q3
- 0.12%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.36%
- META
- 0.36%
- Max
- 0.24%
- Q3
- 0.12%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 4.26% and Meta Platforms (META) at 7.91% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
4.26%
- Max
- 34.19%
- Q3
- 14.58%
- GOOG
- 4.26%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
7.91%
- Max
- 34.19%
- Q3
- 14.58%
- META
- 7.91%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | META |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.25% | 0.36% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 4.26% | 7.91% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 17.89 and Meta Platforms (META) at 22.23 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
17.89
- Max
- 74.32
- Q3
- 36.91
- Median
- 20.53
- GOOG
- 17.89
- Q1
- 11.74
- Min
- 1.83
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
22.23
- Max
- 74.32
- Q3
- 36.91
- META
- 22.23
- Median
- 20.53
- Q1
- 11.74
- Min
- 1.83
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Meta Platforms (META) at 6.61 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Alphabet (GOOG) at 9.78 prices even higher, above its industry range.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
9.78
- GOOG
- 9.78
- Max
- 6.92
- Q3
- 3.80
- Median
- 1.58
- Q1
- 0.67
- Min
- 0.00
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
6.61
- Max
- 6.92
- META
- 6.61
- Q3
- 3.80
- Median
- 1.58
- Q1
- 0.67
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 7.01 and Meta Platforms (META) at 6.17 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
7.01
- Max
- 13.02
- GOOG
- 7.01
- Q3
- 5.78
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 0.83
- Min
- -5.00
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
6.17
- Max
- 13.02
- META
- 6.17
- Q3
- 5.78
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 0.83
- Min
- -5.00
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | META |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 17.89 | 22.23 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 9.78 | 6.61 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 7.01 | 6.17 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 0.52% | 1.43% |