COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF BITCOIN CRYPTOASSET, GOLD, AND APPLE INC. STOCKS AS INVESTMENT ALTERNATIVES

This research aims to compare the performance of three investment instruments Bitcoin, gold, and Apple Inc. stocks, which are often considered as alternative hedges against inflation and global economic uncertainty. The research employs a quantitative method with a descriptive-comparative approach, using secondary data in the form of monthly closing prices of the three assets from February 1, 2015, to February 1, 2025, totaling 363 observations. Investment performance is measured by calculating return and risk using standard deviation. Normality and homogeneity tests were applied to determine the appropriate statistical analysis, followed by ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests. The findings indicate significant differences in the performance of the three instruments. Bitcoin offers the highest potential return but is accompanied by the highest risk. Gold tends to be more stable with the lowest level of risk, while Apple Inc. stocks offer a balanced combination of return and risk. These results can serve as a reference for investors to align their investment choices with their respective risk profiles.