Meta Platforms vs Alphabet: Which Is the Stronger Buy Today?
Even as Alphabet surged 11% during the past Week, its peer Meta Platforms may be a better choice. Consistently evaluating alternatives is core to sound investment approach. Meta Platforms (META) stock offers superior revenue growth across key periods, better profitability, and relatively lower valuation vs Alphabet (GOOGL) stock, suggesting you may be better off investing in META
- META’s quarterly revenue growth was 26.2%, vs. GOOGL’s 15.9%.
- In addition, its Last 12 Months revenue growth came in at 21.3%, ahead of GOOGL’s 13.4%.
- META leads on profitability over both periods – LTM margin of 43.2% and 3-year average of 37.4%.
A single stock can be risky, but there is a huge value to a broader, diversified approach we take with the Trefis High Quality Portfolio. Separately, consider what the long-term performance for your portfolio could be if you combined 10% commodities, 10% gold, and 2% crypto with equities.
GOOGL operates through Google Services, Cloud, and Other Bets, offering products like ads, Android, Chrome, hardware, apps, health technology, and internet services. META develops products for connecting people via mobile, PC, VR headsets, wearables, and in-home devices, including augmented and virtual reality solutions for immersive experiences.
Valuation & Performance Overview
| GOOGL | META | Preferred | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valuation | |||
| P/EBIT Ratio | 27.4 | 20.5 | META |
| Revenue Growth | |||
| Last Quarter | 15.9% | 26.2% | META |
| Last 12 Months | 13.4% | 21.3% | META |
| Last 3 Year Average | 11.0% | 17.3% | META |
| Operating Margins | |||
| Last 12 Months | 32.2% | 43.2% | META |
| Last 3 Year Average | 29.9% | 37.4% | META |
| Momentum | |||
| Last 3 Year Return | 194.3% | 576.0% | GOOGL |
Note: For “Last 3 Year Return” metric, preferred stock is one with higher returns unless the returns are too high (>300%) which creates risk of sell off.
See more revenue details: GOOGL Revenue Comparison | META Revenue Comparison
See more margin details: GOOGL Operating Income Comparison | META Operating Income Comparison
But do these numbers tell the full story? Read Buy or Sell META Stock to see if Meta Platforms’s edge holds up under the hood or if Alphabet still has cards to play (see Buy or Sell GOOGL Stock).
Historical Market Performance
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total [1] | Avg | Best | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||||
| GOOGL Return | 31% | 65% | -39% | 58% | 36% | 49% | 291% | <=== | |
| META Return | 33% | 23% | -64% | 194% | 66% | 14% | 262% | ||
| S&P 500 Return | 16% | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 16% | 110% | ||
| Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||||
| GOOGL Win Rate | 58% | 83% | 25% | 67% | 67% | 78% | 63% | ||
| META Win Rate | 58% | 67% | 33% | 92% | 67% | 44% | 60% | ||
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 58% | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 67% | 64% | <=== | |
| Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||||
| GOOGL Max Drawdown | -21% | -2% | -42% | -2% | -6% | -23% | -16% | ||
| META Max Drawdown | -29% | -10% | -74% | 0% | -3% | -17% | -22% | ||
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -31% | -1% | -25% | -1% | -2% | -15% | -12% | <=== | |
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] 2025 data is for the year up to 10/30/2025 (YTD)
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
No matter how good the numbers, stock investment is never a smooth ride. There is a risk you must factor in. Read META Dip Buyer Analyses to see how the stock has fallen and recovered in the past.
The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming its benchmark that includes all 3 — the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.