CleanSpark (NASDAQ:CLSK – Get Free Report) and MARA (NASDAQ:MARA – Get Free Report) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, earnings and profitability.
Profitability
This table compares CleanSpark and MARA’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| CleanSpark | -38.47% | -2.36% | -2.18% |
| MARA | 27.48% | -8.40% | -6.92% |
Risk and Volatility
CleanSpark has a beta of 4.26, indicating that its stock price is 326% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, MARA has a beta of 5.76, indicating that its stock price is 476% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Analyst Ratings
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| CleanSpark | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3.00 |
| MARA | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2.40 |
CleanSpark currently has a consensus price target of $23.17, suggesting a potential upside of 107.96%. MARA has a consensus price target of $25.67, suggesting a potential upside of 30.35%. Given CleanSpark’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe CleanSpark is more favorable than MARA.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
43.1% of CleanSpark shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 44.5% of MARA shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.0% of CleanSpark shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.0% of MARA shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Valuation & Earnings
This table compares CleanSpark and MARA”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| CleanSpark | $378.97 million | 8.60 | -$145.78 million | ($0.58) | -19.21 |
| MARA | $387.51 million | 16.35 | $261.17 million | $0.79 | 24.92 |
MARA has higher revenue and earnings than CleanSpark. CleanSpark is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than MARA, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Summary
MARA beats CleanSpark on 8 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About CleanSpark
CleanSpark, Inc. operates as a bitcoin miner in the Americas. It owns and operates data centers that primarily run on low-carbon power. Its infrastructure supports Bitcoin, a digital commodity and a tool for financial independence and inclusion. The company was formerly known as Stratean Inc. and changed its name to CleanSpark, Inc. in November 2016. CleanSpark, Inc. was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Henderson, Nevada.
About MARA
MARA Holdings, Inc. operates as a digital asset technology company that mines digital assets with a focus on the bitcoin ecosystem in United States. The company was formerly known as Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to MARA Holdings, Inc. in August 2024. MARA Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
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