GOOGL vs. SPOT: Alphabet vs. Spotify Technology Stock Comparison
How do Alphabet (GOOGL) and Spotify Technology (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 (GOOGL) and Spotify Technology (SPOT) both fall under the Media & Entertainment industry group, but GOOGL is classified in Interactive Media & Services while SPOT is classified in Entertainment.
| Profile Item | GOOGL | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Alphabet Inc. | 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 | 4,360.83 billion USD | 94.41 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
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GOOGL | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 103.36% | -40.17% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | GOOGL | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 29.88% | 45.29% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.25 | 1.56 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 31.86M | 2.13M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Alphabet (GOOGL) at 38.89% and Spotify Technology (SPOT) at 37.99% 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
38.89%
- GOOGL
- 38.89%
- Max
- 38.89%
- Q3
- 15.20%
- Median
- 6.34%
- Q1
- -4.34%
- Min
- -29.59%
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
37.99%
- Max
- 38.89%
- SPOT
- 37.99%
- Q3
- 15.20%
- Median
- 6.34%
- Q1
- -4.34%
- Min
- -29.59%
Net Margin (TTM)
Alphabet (GOOGL) at 37.92% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Spotify Technology (SPOT) at 15.45% also retains a top-quartile share.
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
37.92%
- GOOGL
- 37.92%
- Max
- 30.77%
- Q3
- 10.56%
- Median
- 3.30%
- Q1
- -3.48%
- Min
- -24.17%
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
15.45%
- Max
- 30.77%
- SPOT
- 15.45%
- Q3
- 10.56%
- Median
- 3.30%
- Q1
- -3.48%
- Min
- -24.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Alphabet (GOOGL) at 36.12% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Spotify Technology (SPOT) at 15.77%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
36.12%
- Max
- 41.37%
- GOOGL
- 36.12%
- Q3
- 17.31%
- Median
- 7.79%
- Q1
- -3.29%
- Min
- -27.39%
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
15.77%
- Max
- 41.37%
- Q3
- 17.31%
- SPOT
- 15.77%
- Median
- 7.79%
- Q1
- -3.29%
- Min
- -27.39%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | GOOGL | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 38.89% | 37.99% |
| ROA (TTM) | 14.64% | 11.64% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 37.92% | 15.45% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 36.12% | 15.77% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 60.37% | 32.32% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | GOOGL | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 15.09% | 9.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.51% | 13.59% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | GOOGL | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 34.45% | 91.09% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 33.34% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Alphabet (GOOGL) at 1.92 and Spotify Technology (SPOT) at 2.06 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
1.92
- Max
- 4.37
- Q3
- 2.32
- GOOGL
- 1.92
- Median
- 1.41
- Q1
- 0.90
- Min
- 0.31
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
2.06
- Max
- 4.37
- Q3
- 2.32
- SPOT
- 2.06
- Median
- 1.41
- Q1
- 0.90
- Min
- 0.31
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Spotify Technology (SPOT) at 0.06 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Alphabet (GOOGL) at 0.20 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.20
- Max
- 2.46
- Q3
- 1.30
- Median
- 0.52
- GOOGL
- 0.20
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.06
- Max
- 2.46
- Q3
- 1.30
- Median
- 0.52
- Q1
- 0.16
- SPOT
- 0.06
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | GOOGL | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.92 | 2.06 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.20 | 0.06 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.19 | -2.38 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Spotify Technology (SPOT) 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 0.24%, ranking against industry peers normally.
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.24%
- Max
- 2.04%
- Q3
- 1.04%
- GOOGL
- 0.24%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 2.04%
- Q3
- 1.04%
- SPOT
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Spotify Technology (SPOT) 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 6.41%, ranking against industry peers normally.
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
6.41%
- Max
- 45.76%
- Q3
- 21.24%
- GOOGL
- 6.41%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 45.76%
- Q3
- 21.24%
- SPOT
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | GOOGL | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.24% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 6.41% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Alphabet (GOOGL) at 27.24 and Spotify Technology (SPOT) at 31.25 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
27.24
- Max
- 76.08
- Q3
- 38.11
- GOOGL
- 27.24
- Median
- 21.79
- Q1
- 11.83
- Min
- 1.57
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
31.25
- Max
- 76.08
- Q3
- 38.11
- SPOT
- 31.25
- Median
- 21.79
- Q1
- 11.83
- Min
- 1.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Spotify Technology (SPOT) at 5.39 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Alphabet (GOOGL) at 10.32 prices even higher, above its industry range.
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
10.32
- GOOGL
- 10.32
- Max
- 7.60
- Q3
- 3.81
- Median
- 1.44
- Q1
- 0.61
- Min
- 0.00
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
5.39
- Max
- 7.60
- SPOT
- 5.39
- Q3
- 3.81
- Median
- 1.44
- Q1
- 0.61
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Alphabet (GOOGL) at 9.04 and Spotify Technology (SPOT) at 10.35 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
9.04
- Max
- 10.50
- GOOGL
- 9.04
- Q3
- 4.87
- Median
- 1.80
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -3.65
SPOT
Media & Entertainment industry group
10.35
- Max
- 10.50
- SPOT
- 10.35
- Q3
- 4.87
- Median
- 1.80
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -3.65
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | GOOGL | SPOT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 27.24 | 31.25 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 10.32 | 5.39 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 9.04 | 10.35 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 0.64% | 0.75% |