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GOOGL vs. PLTR: Alphabet vs. Palantir Stock Comparison

How do Alphabet (GOOGL) and Palantir (PLTR) 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 (GOOGL) is classified in the Communication Services sector (Media & Entertainment), whereas Palantir (PLTR) belongs to Information Technology (Software & Services) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Alphabet (GOOGL) has more than two decades of public-market history since August 19, 2004, whereas Palantir (PLTR) listed on September 30, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Alphabet (GOOGL) and Palantir (PLTR)
Profile ItemGOOGLPLTR
NameAlphabet Inc. Class A Common StockPalantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorCommunication ServicesInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupMedia & EntertainmentSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryInteractive Media & ServicesSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryInteractive Media & ServicesApplication Software
Market Capitalization3,501.09 billion USD386.44 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateAugust 19, 2004September 30, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GOOGL
PLTR
GSPC
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. Palantir (PLTR), 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 (GOOGL) and Palantir (PLTR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Alphabet (GOOGL) and Palantir (PLTR). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alphabet (GOOGL) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricGOOGLPLTR
Total Return (1Y)4.89%-4.94%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)31.25%109.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.61%47.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GOOGL
PLTR
GSPC
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. Palantir (PLTR), 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 (GOOGL) and Palantir (PLTR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alphabet (GOOGL) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricGOOGLPLTR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)33.67%60.50%
Beta (5Y)1.201.63
Max Drawdown (5Y)-44.32%-75.26%
Avg. Volume (3M)28.79M27.20M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GOOGL and PLTR are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. Each dashed Capital Allocation Line uses that stock's own industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Alphabet (GOOGL) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricGOOGLPLTR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.02-0.15
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.03-0.24

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Alphabet (GOOGL) at 44.29% and Palantir (PLTR) at 40.91% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

44.29%

Max
49.92%
GOOGL
44.29%
Q3
17.95%
Median
7.20%
Q1
-4.53%
Min
-26.31%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

40.91%

Max
53.85%
PLTR
40.91%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Media & Entertainment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Alphabet (GOOGL) at 50.03% and Palantir (PLTR) at 50.34% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

50.03%

GOOGL
50.03%
Max
32.91%
Q3
11.75%
Median
5.04%
Q1
-4.17%
Min
-25.14%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

50.34%

PLTR
50.34%
Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Media & Entertainment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Alphabet (GOOGL) at 31.81% and Palantir (PLTR) at 46.89% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

31.81%

Max
40.16%
GOOGL
31.81%
Q3
18.72%
Median
8.63%
Q1
1.90%
Min
-22.08%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

46.89%

PLTR
46.89%
Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Media & Entertainment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alphabet (GOOGL) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricGOOGLPLTR
ROE (TTM)44.29%40.91%
ROA (TTM)12.74%19.31%
Net Margin (TTM)50.03%50.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)31.81%46.89%
Gross Margin (TTM)60.86%84.74%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both companies are growing quickly, but Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% is the standout with revenue growth above its industry range; Alphabet (GOOGL) at 15.09% also sits in the top quartile.

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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 231.06% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Alphabet (GOOGL) at 34.45%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alphabet (GOOGL) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricGOOGLPLTR
Revenue Growth (YoY)15.09%56.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)12.51%32.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)34.45%231.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)33.34%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alphabet (GOOGL) at 2.79 and Palantir (PLTR) at 7.10 post current ratio above their industries’ typical mid-ranges — short-term liquidity appears comfortable, though unusually high readings can point to idle current assets.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

2.79

Max
4.69
GOOGL
2.79
Q3
2.53
Median
1.52
Q1
0.95
Min
0.28

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

7.10

PLTR
7.10
Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Media & Entertainment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Alphabet (GOOGL) at 0.22 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

0.22

Max
3.65
Q3
1.69
Median
0.46
GOOGL
0.22
Q1
0.17
Min
0.00

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.02

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
PLTR
0.02
Min
0.00
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Media & Entertainment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Alphabet (GOOGL) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricGOOGLPLTR
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.797.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.220.02
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.62-3.08

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Alphabet (GOOGL) reports a yield of 0.30%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

0.30%

Max
1.33%
Q3
0.65%
GOOGL
0.30%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

PLTR
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Media & Entertainment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Alphabet (GOOGL) reports a payout of 4.49%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

4.49%

Max
71.43%
Q3
28.98%
GOOGL
4.49%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

PLTR
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Media & Entertainment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alphabet (GOOGL) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricGOOGLPLTR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.30%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)4.49%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Alphabet (GOOGL) at 14.87 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 112.94 sits in the richer quartile — PLTR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

14.87

Max
51.21
Q3
28.90
Median
17.98
GOOGL
14.87
Q1
11.53
Min
1.64

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

112.94

PLTR
112.94
Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Media & Entertainment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Alphabet (GOOGL) at 7.43 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 prices even higher, above its industry range.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

7.43

GOOGL
7.43
Max
7.43
Q3
3.82
Median
1.40
Q1
0.70
Min
0.00

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

53.02

PLTR
53.02
Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Media & Entertainment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Alphabet (GOOGL) at 5.31 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 34.41 prices even higher, above its industry range.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

5.31

Max
11.45
GOOGL
5.31
Q3
5.30
Median
1.84
Q1
0.77
Min
-2.61

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

34.41

PLTR
34.41
Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Media & Entertainment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alphabet (GOOGL) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricGOOGLPLTR
P/E Ratio (TTM)14.87112.94
P/S Ratio (TTM)7.4353.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.3134.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-0.03%0.69%