Alphabet (GOOGL) vs Meta Platforms (META): Stock Comparison
Data as of November 7, 2026. Refreshed weekly from SEC filings and market data.
Alphabet is cheaper on earnings, at 14.9 times against 20.6; Alphabet keeps the higher net margin (50.0% against 31.1%); Meta Platforms grew revenue faster over the last year (27.5% against 22.2%); dividend yield is about the same (0.3% and 0.3%). Alphabet clears 4 of this site's 8 value filters and Meta Platforms 5. Figures are as of November 7, 2026; each is on the page below with its source.
How do Alphabet and Meta Platforms compare on the numbers?
| Measure | Alphabet (GOOGL) | Meta Platforms (META) | Clearer lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share price | $284.78 | $610.15 | |
| Market value | $3.51 trillion | $1.55 trillion | |
| P/E ratio (trailing) | 14.9 | 20.6 | GOOGL |
| PEG ratio | 0.88 | 1.53 | GOOGL |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 1.8% | 2.6% | About the same |
| Net profit margin | 50.0% | 31.1% | GOOGL |
| Revenue growth, last year | 22.2% | 27.5% | META |
| Return on equity | 42.6% | 30.3% | GOOGL |
| Debt to equity | 0.18 | 0.30 | GOOGL |
| Dividend yield | 0.3% | 0.3% | About the same |
| Margin of safety (DCF) | -219.0% | -121.1% | META |
| Value filters passed (of 8) | 4 | 5 | META |
| Distance from 52-week high | -29.3% | -21.5% |
How have Alphabet and Meta Platforms shares done against each other?
Alphabet 191Meta Platforms 180
Each share price set to 100 on Nov 2021, to Nov 2026. Price only: dividends are not included.
From Nov 2021 to Nov 2026, Alphabet shares are up 91% and Meta Platforms shares up 80%, so Alphabet has pulled ahead of Meta Platforms by 11 points of the starting price. The deepest fall from a prior high in that window was 42% for Alphabet and 73% for Meta Platforms.
| Period | Alphabet (GOOGL) | Meta Platforms (META) |
|---|---|---|
| Last 1 year | +0.0% | -1.4% |
| Last 3 years | +118.6% | +93.2% |
| Last 5 years | +91.3% | +78.9% |
Which has grown faster, Alphabet or Meta Platforms?
Over 5 years, Alphabet grew revenue 17.2% a year and earnings per share 29.8% a year; Meta Platforms grew revenue 18.5% and earnings per share 18.4%. Its net margin averaged 27.2% at Alphabet and 30.1% at Meta Platforms.
| Measure | Alphabet (GOOGL) | Meta Platforms (META) |
|---|---|---|
| Latest fiscal year ended | Dec 2025 | Dec 2025 |
| Revenue, first year to latest | $183 billion to $403 billion | $86 billion to $201 billion |
| Revenue growth per year | 17.2% | 18.5% |
| Earnings per share, first year to latest | $2.93 to $10.81 | $10.09 to $23.49 |
| Earnings per share growth per year | 29.8% | 18.4% |
| Net margin, latest year | 32.8% | 30.1% |
| Net margin, average of the years | 27.2% | 30.1% |
| Free cash flow margin, latest year | 18.2% | 22.9% |
From each company's 10-K filings (SEC EDGAR), over its latest 5 years.
What growth does each share price assume?
| Measure | Alphabet (GOOGL) | Meta Platforms (META) |
|---|---|---|
| Free cash flow growth the price implies | 38.6% a year | 28.5% a year |
| Free cash flow per share | $5.23 | $16.16 |
| Margin of safety on this site's DCF | -219.0% | -121.1% |
At $284.78, Alphabet's price implies free cash flow growth of 38.6% a year, fading to 2.5% over 10 years. That is more growth than the 8% baseline.
At $610.15, Meta Platforms's price implies free cash flow growth of 28.5% a year, fading to 2.5% over 10 years. That is more growth than the 8% baseline.
The same model and baseline as every stock page. A price that asks for less growth is not a better company, only a lower bar to clear.
Where is each stronger?
Where Alphabet leads
- Lower P/E: 14.9 against 20.6
- Lower PEG: 0.88 against 1.53
- Higher net margin: 50.0% against 31.1%
- Higher return on equity: 42.6% against 30.3%
- Less debt for its equity: 0.18 against 0.30
- Faster earnings-per-share growth over its filed record: 29.8% against 18.4%
- A higher net margin in its latest filed year: 32.8% against 30.1%
Where Meta Platforms leads
- Faster revenue growth last year: 27.5% against 22.2%
- Higher margin of safety on this site's DCF: -121.1% against -219.0%
- More of the 8 value filters: 5 against 4
- Faster revenue growth over its filed record: 18.5% against 17.2%
- A higher average net margin: 30.1% against 27.2%
- A higher free-cash-flow margin in its latest filed year: 22.9% against 18.2%
About the same on: free-cash-flow yield, dividend yield. A lead needs a clear gap (10% apart on a ratio, 1 point on a percentage), so a rounding difference never names a winner. A lead on one measure is not a verdict on the company.
How do the businesses differ?
Alphabet. Alphabet is the parent of Google. It earns most of its money from advertising on Google Search, YouTube and its ad network, and sells cloud computing through Google Cloud. It also funds long-shot bets such as self-driving company Waymo.
Meta Platforms. Meta Platforms owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, used by billions of people, and earns almost all of its revenue from advertising shown on them. It also spends heavily on AI and on virtual and mixed-reality hardware.
Both are in the Media industry on this site. Both earn most of their revenue from online advertising. Alphabet adds Google Cloud, YouTube and its other bets, while Meta's revenue still comes almost entirely from ads on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
What stands out about Alphabet
- Misses 2 of the 8 value filters. It fails Price/Sales < 7 (7.45) and EPS Growth YoY > -5% (-25.3%); the other 4 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- Close to its 52-week low. At $284.78, GOOGL is 6.5% above its low of $267.47 and 29.3% below its high of $402.62.
- Weakest against peers: dividend yield. At 0.30% (peer median 1.04%) it ranks 7th of 7 among media stocks this site tracks.
What stands out about Meta Platforms
- Misses 1 of the 8 value filters. It fails PEG Ratio < 1.5 (1.53); the other 5 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- The margin of safety is rising. It went from -170% on Oct 7 to -121% on Nov 7 across 8 weekly readings.
- Strongest against peers: net margin. At 31.1% (peer median 8.9%) it ranks 4th of 14 among media stocks this site tracks.
Frequently asked questions about Alphabet and Meta Platforms
Which is cheaper, Alphabet or Meta Platforms?
On trailing earnings, Alphabet is cheaper: Alphabet trades at 14.9 times and Meta Platforms at 20.6 times. On free cash flow, the yields are 1.8% and 2.6%. Cheaper is not the same as better value: read the growth each price assumes below.
Which pays the higher dividend, Alphabet or Meta Platforms?
Their yields are about the same: Alphabet 0.3% and Meta Platforms 0.3% over the last year.
Which has grown faster, Alphabet or Meta Platforms?
Over their latest filed five years, Alphabet grew revenue 17.2% a year and Meta Platforms 18.5%; earnings per share grew 29.8% and 18.4% a year.
Which has more debt, Alphabet or Meta Platforms?
Meta Platforms has more debt for its equity: debt to equity is 0.18 for Alphabet and 0.30 for Meta Platforms. A very high figure can also come from buybacks that shrank equity.
Which is more profitable, Alphabet or Meta Platforms?
Alphabet keeps more of each sales dollar as profit: 50.0% for Alphabet and 31.1% for Meta Platforms, with a return on equity of 42.6% and 30.3%.
Which passes more of the 8 value filters?
Meta Platforms clears more: Alphabet 4 of 8 and Meta Platforms 5 of 8. The filters are this site's own value rules, not a prediction.
Where do these numbers come from?
Prices, ratios and yield are from this site's weekly data as of November 7, 2026; growth and margins by year are from each company's 10-K filings (sources on Alphabet and Meta Platforms). The DCF is the same model on every stock page. See Editorial Standards. Educational, not investment advice.