GOOG vs. SPOT: Alphabet vs. Spotify Stock Comparison
How do Alphabet (GOOG) and Spotify (SPOT) 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 Spotify (SPOT) both fall under the Media & Entertainment industry group, but GOOG is classified in Interactive Media & Services while SPOT is classified in Entertainment.
| Profile Item | GOOG | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Alphabet Inc. Class C Common Stock | Spotify Technology S.A. |
| Country/Region | United States | Sweden |
| GICS Sector | Communication Services | Communication Services |
| GICS Industry Group | Media & Entertainment | Media & Entertainment |
| GICS Industry | Interactive Media & Services | Entertainment |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Interactive Media & Services | Movies & Entertainment |
| Market Capitalization | 3,880.31 billion USD | 120.11 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | August 19, 2004 | April 3, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 25.37% | -13.30% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 32.43% | 55.76% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 18.23% | 18.22% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 31.18% | 46.46% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.19 | 1.51 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -44.60% | -76.39% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 17.53M | 1.74M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.67 | -0.38 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.07 | -0.57 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Alphabet (GOOG) at 48.68% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Spotify (SPOT) at 35.81% also sits in the top quartile.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
48.68%
- GOOG
- 48.68%
- Max
- 45.82%
- Q3
- 17.46%
- Median
- 7.50%
- Q1
- -3.05%
- Min
- -26.31%
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
35.81%
- Max
- 45.82%
- SPOT
- 35.81%
- Q3
- 17.46%
- Median
- 7.50%
- Q1
- -3.05%
- Min
- -26.31%
Net Margin (TTM)
Alphabet (GOOG) at 54.77% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Spotify (SPOT) at 15.73% also retains a top-quartile share.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
54.77%
- GOOG
- 54.77%
- Max
- 32.91%
- Q3
- 11.58%
- Median
- 5.49%
- Q1
- -3.17%
- Min
- -25.14%
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
15.73%
- Max
- 32.91%
- SPOT
- 15.73%
- Q3
- 11.58%
- Median
- 5.49%
- Q1
- -3.17%
- Min
- -25.14%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Alphabet (GOOG) at 34.03% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Spotify (SPOT) at 13.52%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
34.03%
- Max
- 40.16%
- GOOG
- 34.03%
- Q3
- 18.63%
- Median
- 10.04%
- Q1
- 0.29%
- Min
- -19.55%
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
13.52%
- Max
- 40.16%
- Q3
- 18.63%
- SPOT
- 13.52%
- Median
- 10.04%
- Q1
- 0.29%
- Min
- -19.55%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 48.68% | 35.81% |
| ROA (TTM) | 12.96% | 11.82% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 54.77% | 15.73% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 34.03% | 13.52% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 60.90% | 33.12% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Alphabet (GOOG) at 15.09% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Spotify (SPOT) at 9.65% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for GOOG.
EPS Growth
Spotify (SPOT) at 91.09% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Alphabet (GOOG) at 34.45% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for SPOT.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 15.09% | 9.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.51% | 13.59% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 34.45% | 91.09% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 33.34% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Spotify (SPOT) at 2.13 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
- 4.50
- GOOG
- 2.72
- Q3
- 2.42
- Median
- 1.53
- Q1
- 0.90
- Min
- 0.25
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
2.13
- Max
- 4.50
- Q3
- 2.42
- SPOT
- 2.13
- Median
- 1.53
- Q1
- 0.90
- Min
- 0.25
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Spotify (SPOT) at 0.05 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Alphabet (GOOG) at 0.19 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.19
- Max
- 3.84
- Q3
- 1.71
- Median
- 0.60
- GOOG
- 0.19
- Q1
- 0.17
- Min
- 0.00
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.05
- Max
- 3.84
- Q3
- 1.71
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.17
- SPOT
- 0.05
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.72 | 2.13 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.19 | 0.05 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.70 | -2.40 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Spotify (SPOT) 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 0.27%, ranking against industry peers normally.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.27%
- Max
- 1.70%
- Q3
- 0.69%
- GOOG
- 0.27%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 1.70%
- Q3
- 0.69%
- SPOT
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Spotify (SPOT) 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
- 60.80%
- Q3
- 28.16%
- GOOG
- 4.26%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 60.80%
- Q3
- 28.16%
- SPOT
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.27% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 4.26% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 15.92 and Spotify (SPOT) at 35.60 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
15.92
- Max
- 73.62
- Q3
- 36.70
- Median
- 19.19
- GOOG
- 15.92
- Q1
- 10.72
- Min
- 1.50
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
35.60
- Max
- 73.62
- Q3
- 36.70
- SPOT
- 35.60
- Median
- 19.19
- Q1
- 10.72
- Min
- 1.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 8.70 and Spotify (SPOT) at 6.39 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
8.70
- Max
- 8.78
- GOOG
- 8.70
- Q3
- 3.91
- Median
- 1.61
- Q1
- 0.65
- Min
- 0.00
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
6.39
- Max
- 8.78
- SPOT
- 6.39
- Q3
- 3.91
- Median
- 1.61
- Q1
- 0.65
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Alphabet (GOOG) at 6.23 and Spotify (SPOT) at 12.23 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
GOOG
Media & Entertainment industry group
6.23
- Max
- 12.23
- GOOG
- 6.23
- Q3
- 5.66
- Median
- 1.94
- Q1
- 0.76
- Min
- -1.97
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
12.23
- SPOT
- 12.23
- Max
- 12.23
- Q3
- 5.66
- Median
- 1.94
- Q1
- 0.76
- Min
- -1.97
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | GOOG | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.92 | 35.60 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.70 | 6.39 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.23 | 12.23 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 0.58% | 1.19% |