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GOOG vs. NFLX: Alphabet vs. Netflix Stock Comparison

How do Alphabet (GOOG) and Netflix (NFLX) 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 Netflix (NFLX) both fall under the Media & Entertainment industry group, but GOOG is classified in Interactive Media & Services while NFLX is classified in Entertainment.

Company profile comparison for Alphabet (GOOG) and Netflix (NFLX)
Profile ItemGOOGNFLX
NameAlphabet Inc.Netflix, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorCommunication ServicesCommunication Services
GICS Industry GroupMedia & EntertainmentMedia & Entertainment
GICS IndustryInteractive Media & ServicesEntertainment
GICS Sub-IndustryInteractive Media & ServicesMovies & Entertainment
Market Capitalization4,361.81 billion USD298.60 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateAugust 19, 2004May 23, 2002
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GOOG
NFLX
GSPC
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Alphabet (GOOG) vs. Netflix (NFLX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Alphabet (GOOG) and Netflix (NFLX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Alphabet (GOOG) and Netflix (NFLX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alphabet (GOOG) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricGOOGNFLX
Total Return (1Y)85.46%-38.15%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)39.30%17.77%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)21.62%6.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GOOG
NFLX
GSPC
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Alphabet (GOOG) vs. Netflix (NFLX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Alphabet (GOOG) and Netflix (NFLX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alphabet (GOOG) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricGOOGNFLX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)31.73%34.80%
Beta (5Y)1.231.51
Max Drawdown (5Y)-44.60%-75.95%
Avg. Volume (3M)22.61M43.61M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GOOG and NFLX are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Alphabet (GOOG) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricGOOGNFLX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.57-1.21
Sortino Ratio (1Y)4.55-1.61

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Netflix (NFLX) at 49.54% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Alphabet (GOOG) at 48.68% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

49.54%

NFLX
49.54%
Max
48.68%
Q3
16.74%
Median
6.46%
Q1
-5.13%
Min
-37.13%
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Alphabet (GOOG) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their ROE against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Alphabet (GOOG) at 54.77% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Netflix (NFLX) at 28.22% 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%

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

28.22%

Max
30.77%
NFLX
28.22%
Q3
9.84%
Median
3.58%
Q1
-4.22%
Min
-24.17%
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Alphabet (GOOG) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their net margin against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 34.03% and Netflix (NFLX) at 33.38% 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%

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

33.38%

Max
41.37%
NFLX
33.38%
Q3
17.93%
Median
9.02%
Q1
-1.89%
Min
-27.39%
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Alphabet (GOOG) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alphabet (GOOG) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricGOOGNFLX
ROE (TTM)48.68%49.54%
ROA (TTM)12.96%16.09%
Net Margin (TTM)54.77%28.22%
Operating Margin (TTM)34.03%33.38%
Gross Margin (TTM)60.90%49.12%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 15.09% and Netflix (NFLX) at 15.85% sit in the top peer quartile for revenue growth, so each is growing its top line faster than typical industry peers.

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Alphabet (GOOG) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Alphabet (GOOG) at 34.45% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Netflix (NFLX) at 27.58% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for GOOG.

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Alphabet (GOOG) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alphabet (GOOG) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricGOOGNFLX
Revenue Growth (YoY)15.09%15.85%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)12.51%12.64%
EPS Growth (YoY)34.45%27.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)33.34%36.49%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Netflix (NFLX) at 1.14 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

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

1.14

Max
4.86
Q3
2.72
Median
1.56
NFLX
1.14
Q1
0.87
Min
0.09
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Alphabet (GOOG) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 0.19 and Netflix (NFLX) at 0.55 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

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

0.55

Max
2.58
Q3
1.26
NFLX
0.55
Median
0.52
Q1
0.17
Min
0.00
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Alphabet (GOOG) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Alphabet (GOOG) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricGOOGNFLX
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.721.14
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.190.55
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.700.51

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Netflix (NFLX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Alphabet (GOOG) reports a yield of 0.25%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

0.00%

Max
0.24%
Q3
0.12%
NFLX
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alphabet (GOOG) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Netflix (NFLX) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Alphabet (GOOG) reports a payout of 4.26%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

0.00%

Max
34.19%
Q3
14.58%
NFLX
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alphabet (GOOG) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alphabet (GOOG) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricGOOGNFLX
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.25%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)4.26%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 17.89 and Netflix (NFLX) at 22.55 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

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

22.55

Max
74.32
Q3
36.91
NFLX
22.55
Median
20.53
Q1
11.74
Min
1.83
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Alphabet (GOOG) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Netflix (NFLX) at 6.17 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

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

6.17

Max
6.92
NFLX
6.17
Q3
3.80
Median
1.58
Q1
0.67
Min
0.00
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Alphabet (GOOG) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 7.01 and Netflix (NFLX) at 9.90 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

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

9.90

Max
13.02
NFLX
9.90
Q3
5.78
Median
2.08
Q1
0.83
Min
-5.00
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Alphabet (GOOG) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alphabet (GOOG) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricGOOGNFLX
P/E Ratio (TTM)17.8922.55
P/S Ratio (TTM)9.786.17
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.019.90
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.52%8.50%