Comparisons

Side-by-side comparisons that help you understand the key differences between stocks, strategies and more. Understand when to use which and why it matters. Part of our free investment articles.

P/E vs EV/EBITDA: Which Multiple to Use When

P/E prices the equity. EV/EBITDA prices the whole business before financing. Learn the formulas, why two firms with the same operations can show opposite verdicts, and which multiple to trust in real stock analysis.

MarketgeniusPublished May 16, 2026

DCF vs DDM: Which Valuation Model Fits Which Stock

DCF discounts every dollar of free cash flow the business produces. DDM discounts only the slice paid out as dividends. Learn the formulas, the stocks each model fits, and when running both at once catches valuation problems neither one spots alone.

MarketgeniusPublished May 13, 2026

Net Income vs FCF: Which Number to Trust

Net income is accrual profit after depreciation and tax. Free cash flow is the cash a business keeps after capex. Learn the formulas, where the two numbers split, and which one to trust for valuation, dividends, and earnings-quality checks.

MarketgeniusUpdated May 13, 2026

Stock Metric Comparisons: P/E, ROIC, EBITDA, More

Compare nine stock metric and model pairings side by side. Each entry covers the formula, an example with real numbers, and the question it answers. Pick the right number for each step of stock analysis.

MarketgeniusUpdated May 13, 2026

Operating Cash Flow vs FCF: Real Cash After Capex

Operating cash flow shows what the business generates from running itself. Free cash flow subtracts the capex needed to keep it running. Learn the formulas, when each metric flatters or misleads, and how to read the gap between them in real stock analysis.

MarketgeniusUpdated May 11, 2026

ROIC vs WACC: The Value Creation Spread Explained

ROIC measures the return a company earns on capital it deployed in operations. WACC measures what that capital cost to raise. The gap between them decides whether every reinvested dollar creates or destroys value. Learn the formulas, the spread that signals a moat, and when growth without excess returns is worse than no growth at all.

MarketgeniusUpdated May 11, 2026

FCF vs EBITDA: Which One Measures Real Cash

EBITDA reports operating profit before capex, taxes, and working capital. Free cash flow subtracts all three. Learn the formulas, when each metric misleads, and how to read the gap between them in real stock analysis.

MarketgeniusUpdated May 11, 2026

Market Cap vs Enterprise Value: The Real Buyout Price

Market cap and enterprise value both put a price tag on a company, but they answer different questions. Market cap measures the equity. Enterprise value measures the full takeover cost. Learn the formulas, the gap they reveal, and when to use each one.

MarketgeniusUpdated May 11, 2026

Graham vs Buffett: Deep Value vs Quality Compounders

Graham bought statistical bargains and sold once price met value. Buffett bought quality businesses at fair prices and held them. See the metrics, holding periods, and synthesis behind both schools of value investing.

MarketgeniusUpdated May 9, 2026

ROIC vs ROA: Capital Deployed vs Assets Held

ROIC measures return on the capital deployed in operations. ROA measures return on every asset on the balance sheet, cash and goodwill included. Cash drag and leverage can drive the two metrics 20 percentage points apart for the same business. Learn the formulas, where each falls short, and which metric fits which question.

MarketgeniusUpdated May 9, 2026

Trailing P/E vs Forward P/E: Which Number to Trust

Trailing P/E is grounded in audited earnings; forward P/E is built on analyst estimates that have averaged 6.9% too high since 1998. Learn when each metric lies, when each one helps, and how the gap between them reveals what consensus is pricing in.

MarketgeniusUpdated May 9, 2026

ROE vs ROIC: Formula, Differences and When to Use

ROE and ROIC both measure how well a company turns capital into profits, but they answer different questions. ROE focuses on the equity slice. ROIC covers debt and equity together. Learn the formulas, where each falls short, and which metric matches which investor question.

MarketgeniusUpdated May 9, 2026

DCF vs Reverse DCF: Which One Should You Run First?

DCF projects future cash flows and solves for fair value. Reverse DCF starts with the market price and solves for the growth rate already baked in. Learn when each method works, why serious practitioners run reverse DCF first, and how to pair them on real stocks.

MarketgeniusUpdated May 9, 2026

P/E Ratio vs PEG Ratio: Key Differences Explained

P/E ratio and PEG ratio both measure what you pay for earnings, but they answer different questions. P/E values current profits. PEG factors in how fast those profits grow. Learn the key differences, where each metric falls short, and how combining them reveals what either misses alone.

MarketgeniusUpdated May 9, 2026

P/S vs P/B: Which Valuation Metric Fits Your Strategy

Price to Sales and Price to Book measure different things about the same company. P/S values revenue generation. P/B values net assets. Learn when each metric works best, where each one fails, and how combining them catches what either misses alone.

MarketgeniusUpdated May 9, 2026

Apple vs BlackBerry: The Survivorship Bias Trap

The 'if you'd just bought Apple stock instead of an iPhone' meme is hindsight bias. At the iPhone launch, BlackBerry was the more attractive stock by every traditional value-investor metric. The lesson is what survivorship bias hides.

MarketgeniusPublished April 27, 2026

GAAP vs Non-GAAP Earnings: Which Number to Trust

GAAP earnings follow FASB rules and capture every recognized expense. Non-GAAP earnings strip out items management labels one-off or non-cash. Learn what each number tells you, why 71% of the S&P 500 publishes both, and how to read the gap using real reconciliations from Apple, Salesforce, and Snap.

MarketgeniusPublished April 24, 2026

Growth vs Value Stocks: One Always Loses

Growth stocks reward investors with rising earnings and share prices. Value stocks offer lower prices relative to fundamentals and often pay dividends. Learn the key differences, which sectors lean which way, and how combining both styles builds a stronger portfolio.

MarketgeniusUpdated April 20, 2026