Seek Returns

AAPL vs. CDW: Apple vs. CDW Stock Comparison

How do Apple (AAPL) and CDW (CDW) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Apple (AAPL) and CDW (CDW) both fall under the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group, but AAPL is classified in Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals while CDW is classified in Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components.

Company profile comparison for Apple (AAPL) and CDW (CDW)
Profile ItemAAPLCDW
NameApple Inc.CDW Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryTechnology Hardware, Storage & PeripheralsElectronic Equipment, Instruments & Components
GICS Sub-IndustryTechnology Hardware, Storage & PeripheralsTechnology Distributors
Market Capitalization4,975.38 billion USD19.60 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateDecember 12, 1980June 27, 2013
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AAPL
CDW
GSPC
Loading price history…
Apple (AAPL) vs. CDW (CDW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Apple (AAPL) and CDW (CDW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Apple (AAPL) and CDW (CDW). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Apple (AAPL) and CDW (CDW)
MetricAAPLCDW
Total Return (1Y)31.02%16.85%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.87%-6.46%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)18.93%-1.35%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AAPL
CDW
GSPC
Loading price history…
Apple (AAPL) vs. CDW (CDW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Apple (AAPL) and CDW (CDW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Apple (AAPL) and CDW (CDW)
MetricAAPLCDW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.99%48.60%
Beta (5Y)1.080.90
Max Drawdown (5Y)-33.36%-60.37%
Avg. Volume (3M)42.44M1.60M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
AAPL and CDW are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Apple (AAPL) and CDW (CDW)
MetricAAPLCDW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.070.26
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.580.37

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Apple (AAPL) at 142.26% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; CDW (CDW) at 42.47% also sits in the top quartile.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

142.26%

AAPL
142.26%
Max
42.47%
Q3
19.13%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

42.47%

CDW
42.47%
Max
42.47%
Q3
19.13%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%
Loading chart…
Apple (AAPL) vs. CDW (CDW): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 27.60% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of CDW (CDW) at 4.48%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.60%

AAPL
27.60%
Max
27.60%
Q3
11.66%
Median
4.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

4.48%

Max
27.60%
Q3
11.66%
CDW
4.48%
Median
4.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%
Loading chart…
Apple (AAPL) vs. CDW (CDW): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 31.13% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of CDW (CDW) at 8.14%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

31.13%

Max
36.27%
AAPL
31.13%
Q3
18.36%
Median
8.84%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

8.14%

Max
36.27%
Q3
18.36%
Median
8.84%
CDW
8.14%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%
Loading chart…
Apple (AAPL) vs. CDW (CDW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Apple (AAPL) and CDW (CDW)
MetricAAPLCDW
ROE (TTM)142.26%42.47%
ROA (TTM)25.87%6.47%
Net Margin (TTM)27.60%4.48%
Operating Margin (TTM)31.13%8.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)48.79%21.00%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Apple (AAPL) at 15.06% and CDW (CDW) at 6.79% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Apple (AAPL) vs. CDW (CDW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Apple (AAPL) at 20.38% and CDW (CDW) at 1.38% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Apple (AAPL) vs. CDW (CDW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Apple (AAPL) and CDW (CDW)
MetricAAPLCDW
Revenue Growth (YoY)15.06%6.79%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.70%-1.89%
EPS Growth (YoY)20.38%1.38%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)13.57%-0.21%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 1.02 and CDW (CDW) at 1.27 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.02

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
Q1
1.32
AAPL
1.02
Min
0.17

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.27

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
Q1
1.32
CDW
1.27
Min
0.17
Loading chart…
Apple (AAPL) vs. CDW (CDW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but CDW is more stretched: Apple (AAPL) at 0.84 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and CDW (CDW) at 2.98 is above its industry benchmark range.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.84

Max
1.76
AAPL
0.84
Q3
0.78
Median
0.24
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

2.98

CDW
2.98
Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
Median
0.24
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01
Loading chart…
Apple (AAPL) vs. CDW (CDW): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Apple (AAPL) and CDW (CDW)
MetricAAPLCDW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.021.27
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.842.98
Net Debt / EBITDA0.223.01

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 0.31% pays an industry-typical yield; CDW (CDW) at 1.59% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.31%

Max
0.73%
Q3
0.31%
AAPL
0.31%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.59%

CDW
1.59%
Max
0.73%
Q3
0.31%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Apple (AAPL) vs. CDW (CDW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 11.80% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while CDW (CDW) at 29.40% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

11.80%

Max
32.27%
Q3
14.48%
AAPL
11.80%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

29.40%

Max
32.27%
CDW
29.40%
Q3
14.48%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Apple (AAPL) vs. CDW (CDW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Apple (AAPL) and CDW (CDW)
MetricAAPLCDW
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.31%1.59%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)11.80%29.40%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

CDW (CDW) at 18.32 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Apple (AAPL) at 38.13 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for CDW, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

38.13

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
AAPL
38.13
Median
26.39
Q1
19.36
Min
6.07

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

18.32

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
Median
26.39
Q1
19.36
CDW
18.32
Min
6.07
Loading chart…
Apple (AAPL) vs. CDW (CDW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

CDW (CDW) at 0.80 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Apple (AAPL) at 10.39 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

10.39

Max
11.30
AAPL
10.39
Q3
5.82
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
Min
0.00

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.80

Max
11.30
Q3
5.82
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
CDW
0.80
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Apple (AAPL) vs. CDW (CDW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: CDW (CDW) at 7.45 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Apple (AAPL) at 44.39 prices even higher, above its industry range.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

44.39

AAPL
44.39
Max
10.75
Q3
5.52
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.45

Max
10.75
CDW
7.45
Q3
5.52
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33
Loading chart…
Apple (AAPL) vs. CDW (CDW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Apple (AAPL) and CDW (CDW)
MetricAAPLCDW
P/E Ratio (TTM)38.1318.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)10.390.80
P/B Ratio (MRQ)44.397.45
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.12%4.43%