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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. Class A Common StockTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company 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 Capitalization4,139.34 billion USD2,224.53 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)46.21%84.37%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)36.06%68.71%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)18.91%30.28%

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)31.48%40.37%
Beta (5Y)1.211.38
Max Drawdown (5Y)-44.32%-56.47%
Avg. Volume (3M)30.43M13.05M

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)1.341.99
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.193.10

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Alphabet (GOOGL) at 48.68% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; TSMC (TSM) at 39.97% also sits in the top quartile.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

48.68%

GOOGL
48.68%
Max
45.82%
Q3
16.13%
Median
6.69%
Q1
-4.15%
Min
-26.31%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

39.97%

Max
53.94%
TSM
39.97%
Q3
20.35%
Median
9.12%
Q1
-3.10%
Min
-21.32%
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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 54.77% 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

54.77%

GOOGL
54.77%
Max
29.84%
Q3
9.84%
Median
4.33%
Q1
-3.96%
Min
-17.61%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

49.92%

Max
55.91%
TSM
49.92%
Q3
23.05%
Median
9.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-34.50%
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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)

TSMC (TSM) at 60.34% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Alphabet (GOOGL) at 34.03% also operates in the top quartile.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

34.03%

Max
40.16%
GOOGL
34.03%
Q3
18.59%
Median
10.43%
Q1
0.85%
Min
-19.55%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

60.34%

TSM
60.34%
Max
54.31%
Q3
23.49%
Median
14.56%
Q1
-0.14%
Min
-31.62%
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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)48.68%39.97%
ROA (TTM)12.96%19.00%
Net Margin (TTM)54.77%49.92%
Operating Margin (TTM)34.03%60.34%
Gross Margin (TTM)60.90%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 46.41% 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%46.41%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)33.34%19.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

TSMC (TSM) at 2.46 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Alphabet (GOOGL) at 2.72 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

2.72

Max
4.50
GOOGL
2.72
Q3
2.38
Median
1.41
Q1
0.87
Min
0.23

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.46

Max
10.12
Q3
5.49
Median
3.44
TSM
2.46
Q1
2.30
Min
1.03
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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 0.19 and TSMC (TSM) at 0.17 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

0.19

Max
3.84
Q3
1.70
Median
0.55
GOOGL
0.19
Q1
0.17
Min
0.00

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.17

Max
1.44
Q3
0.65
Median
0.19
TSM
0.17
Q1
0.04
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)2.722.46
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.190.17
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.70-0.77

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Alphabet (GOOGL) at 0.25% pays an industry-typical yield; TSMC (TSM) at 6.23% 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

0.25%

Max
1.40%
Q3
0.58%
GOOGL
0.25%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

6.23%

TSM
6.23%
Max
0.85%
Q3
0.36%
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 4.26% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while TSMC (TSM) at 25.74% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

4.26%

Max
43.37%
Q3
19.42%
GOOGL
4.26%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

25.74%

Max
45.89%
TSM
25.74%
Q3
18.55%
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)0.25%6.23%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)4.26%25.74%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Alphabet (GOOGL) at 16.97 and TSMC (TSM) at 31.84 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

16.97

Max
70.74
Q3
37.84
Median
18.97
GOOGL
16.97
Q1
10.76
Min
1.78

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

31.84

Max
153.66
Q3
87.88
Median
45.74
TSM
31.84
Q1
31.84
Min
10.37
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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 9.28 prices above its industry range — a wide gap in sales valuation between them.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

9.28

GOOGL
9.28
Max
6.88
Q3
3.57
Median
1.43
Q1
0.53
Min
0.00

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.50

Max
32.20
Q3
16.84
Median
6.93
Q1
3.28
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 6.65 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and TSMC (TSM) at 88.29 prices even higher, above its industry range.

GOOGL

Media & Entertainment industry group

6.65

Max
10.81
GOOGL
6.65
Q3
4.77
Median
1.92
Q1
0.74
Min
-4.11

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

88.29

TSM
88.29
Max
24.29
Q3
11.44
Median
5.33
Q1
2.75
Min
0.19
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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)16.9731.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)9.280.50
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.6588.29
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.55%32.85%