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GOOGL vs. TSM: Alphabet vs. TSMC Stock Comparison

How do Alphabet (GOOGL) and TSMC (TSM) 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 TSMC (TSM) belongs to Information Technology (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Alphabet (GOOGL) trades as ordinary local shares, while TSMC (TSM) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Alphabet (GOOGL) and TSMC (TSM)
Profile ItemGOOGLTSM
NameAlphabet Inc.Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesTaiwan
GICS SectorCommunication ServicesInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupMedia & EntertainmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS IndustryInteractive Media & ServicesSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryInteractive Media & ServicesSemiconductors
Market Capitalization4,236.12 billion USD2,202.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateAugust 19, 2004October 9, 1997
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GOOGL
TSM
GSPC
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. TSMC (TSM), 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 TSMC (TSM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alphabet (GOOGL) and TSMC (TSM)
MetricGOOGLTSM
Total Return (1Y)83.14%79.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)42.90%65.77%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)22.39%31.34%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alphabet (GOOGL) and TSMC (TSM)
MetricGOOGLTSM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.50%39.80%
Beta (5Y)1.241.38
Max Drawdown (5Y)-44.32%-56.47%
Avg. Volume (3M)31.71M14.21M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GOOGL and TSM 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 TSMC (TSM)
MetricGOOGLTSM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.591.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)4.682.95

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Alphabet (GOOGL) at 38.89% and TSMC (TSM) at 39.97% 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
16.35%
Median
6.52%
Q1
-3.39%
Min
-29.59%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

39.97%

TSM
39.97%
Max
39.97%
Q3
17.11%
Median
6.75%
Q1
-4.17%
Min
-35.15%
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Media & Entertainment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Alphabet (GOOGL) at 37.92% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and TSMC (TSM) at 49.92% also retains a top-quartile share.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

37.92%

GOOGL
37.92%
Max
30.77%
Q3
11.05%
Median
3.73%
Q1
-3.12%
Min
-24.17%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

49.92%

Max
57.72%
TSM
49.92%
Q3
21.04%
Median
7.16%
Q1
-3.57%
Min
-32.92%
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Media & Entertainment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Alphabet (GOOGL) at 36.12% and TSMC (TSM) at 60.34% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

36.12%

Max
41.37%
GOOGL
36.12%
Q3
15.96%
Median
7.22%
Q1
-3.48%
Min
-27.39%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

60.34%

Max
61.85%
TSM
60.34%
Q3
21.10%
Median
10.43%
Q1
-6.83%
Min
-46.64%
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Media & Entertainment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alphabet (GOOGL) and TSMC (TSM)
MetricGOOGLTSM
ROE (TTM)38.89%39.97%
ROA (TTM)14.64%19.01%
Net Margin (TTM)37.92%49.92%
Operating Margin (TTM)36.12%60.34%
Gross Margin (TTM)60.37%64.23%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Alphabet (GOOGL) at 15.09% and TSMC (TSM) at 31.61% 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 (GOOGL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

TSMC (TSM) at 44.69% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Alphabet (GOOGL) at 34.45% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for TSM.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alphabet (GOOGL) and TSMC (TSM)
MetricGOOGLTSM
Revenue Growth (YoY)15.09%31.61%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)12.51%18.94%
EPS Growth (YoY)34.45%44.69%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)33.34%18.65%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alphabet (GOOGL) at 1.92 and TSMC (TSM) at 2.46 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
2.40
GOOGL
1.92
Median
1.44
Q1
1.02
Min
0.31

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.46

Max
11.30
Q3
6.01
Median
3.31
TSM
2.46
Q1
2.40
Min
0.51
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Media & Entertainment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Alphabet (GOOGL) at 0.20 and TSMC (TSM) at 0.15 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

0.20

Max
2.46
Q3
1.10
Median
0.47
GOOGL
0.20
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.15

Max
1.44
Q3
0.63
Median
0.23
TSM
0.15
Q1
0.05
Min
0.00
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Media & Entertainment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Alphabet (GOOGL) and TSMC (TSM)
MetricGOOGLTSM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.922.46
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.200.15
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.19-0.80

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Alphabet (GOOGL) at 0.24% pays an industry-typical yield; TSMC (TSM) at 2.98% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

0.24%

Max
1.97%
Q3
0.88%
GOOGL
0.24%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.98%

TSM
2.98%
Max
0.58%
Q3
0.26%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Media & Entertainment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Alphabet (GOOGL) at 6.41% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while TSMC (TSM) at 27.93% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

6.41%

Max
41.30%
Q3
17.37%
GOOGL
6.41%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

27.93%

Max
47.82%
TSM
27.93%
Q3
20.31%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Media & Entertainment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alphabet (GOOGL) and TSMC (TSM)
MetricGOOGLTSM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.24%2.98%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)6.41%27.93%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

TSMC (TSM) at 34.98 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Alphabet (GOOGL) at 26.89 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for TSM, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

26.89

Max
78.62
Q3
41.37
GOOGL
26.89
Median
23.47
Q1
12.58
Min
1.74

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

34.98

Max
239.97
Q3
120.44
Median
60.23
Q1
38.22
TSM
34.98
Min
10.70
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Media & Entertainment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

TSMC (TSM) at 0.50 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Alphabet (GOOGL) at 10.03 prices above its industry range — a wide gap in sales valuation between them.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

10.03

GOOGL
10.03
Max
7.60
Q3
3.84
Median
1.52
Q1
0.68
Min
0.00

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.50

Max
38.55
Q3
19.36
Median
9.29
Q1
3.87
TSM
0.50
Min
0.01
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Media & Entertainment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Alphabet (GOOGL) at 8.79 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and TSMC (TSM) at 88.45 prices even higher, above its industry range.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

8.79

Max
13.29
GOOGL
8.79
Q3
5.93
Median
2.00
Q1
0.76
Min
-3.80

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

88.45

TSM
88.45
Max
22.39
Q3
11.52
Median
7.03
Q1
3.43
Min
0.18
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Alphabet (GOOGL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Media & Entertainment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alphabet (GOOGL) and TSMC (TSM)
MetricGOOGLTSM
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.8934.98
P/S Ratio (TTM)10.030.50
P/B Ratio (MRQ)8.7988.45
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.66%33.56%