AAPL vs. COST: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at AAPL and COST, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
AAPL’s market capitalization of 3,189.54 billion USD is substantially larger than COST’s 437.72 billion USD, indicating a significant difference in their market valuations.
With betas of 1.21 for AAPL and 0.99 for COST, both stocks show similar sensitivity to overall market movements.
| Symbol | AAPL | COST |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Apple Inc. | Costco Wholesale Corporation |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Technology | Consumer Defensive |
| Industry | Consumer Electronics | Discount Stores |
| CEO | Timothy D. Cook | Ron M. Vachris |
| Price | 213.55 USD | 987.02 USD |
| Market Cap | 3,189.54 billion USD | 437.72 billion USD |
| Beta | 1.21 | 0.99 |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| IPO Date | December 12, 1980 | July 9, 1986 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of AAPL and COST by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
AAPL
151.31%
Consumer Electronics Industry
- Max
- 14.30%
- Q3
- 14.30%
- Median
- 5.13%
- Q1
- -15.88%
- Min
- -27.23%
AAPL’s Return on Equity of 151.31% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Consumer Electronics industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
COST
31.13%
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 31.68%
- Q3
- 28.60%
- Median
- 15.53%
- Q1
- 12.21%
- Min
- 12.12%
In the upper quartile for the Discount Stores industry, COST’s Return on Equity of 31.13% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Return on Invested Capital
AAPL
47.30%
Consumer Electronics Industry
- Max
- 4.18%
- Q3
- 4.18%
- Median
- 4.09%
- Q1
- -0.34%
- Min
- -0.34%
AAPL’s Return on Invested Capital of 47.30% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Consumer Electronics industry. This demonstrates an outstanding ability to deploy capital efficiently and create significant value.
COST
20.02%
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 20.02%
- Q3
- 12.27%
- Median
- 11.13%
- Q1
- 6.51%
- Min
- 5.03%
In the upper quartile for the Discount Stores industry, COST’s Return on Invested Capital of 20.02% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
Net Profit Margin
AAPL
24.30%
Consumer Electronics Industry
- Max
- 24.30%
- Q3
- 8.81%
- Median
- 8.10%
- Q1
- -4.74%
- Min
- -7.22%
A Net Profit Margin of 24.30% places AAPL in the upper quartile for the Consumer Electronics industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
COST
2.92%
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 2.92%
- Q3
- 2.92%
- Median
- 2.81%
- Q1
- 2.75%
- Min
- 2.75%
COST’s Net Profit Margin of 2.92% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Discount Stores industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin
AAPL
31.81%
Consumer Electronics Industry
- Max
- 31.81%
- Q3
- 16.77%
- Median
- 10.95%
- Q1
- -0.21%
- Min
- -4.78%
An Operating Profit Margin of 31.81% places AAPL in the upper quartile for the Consumer Electronics industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
COST
3.75%
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 5.42%
- Q3
- 5.42%
- Median
- 4.33%
- Q1
- 3.93%
- Min
- 2.10%
COST’s Operating Profit Margin of 3.75% is in the lower quartile for the Discount Stores industry. This indicates weaker profitability from core operations, which may stem from inefficiencies or competitive pressures on pricing.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | COST |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 151.31% | 31.13% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 29.37% | 10.39% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 47.30% | 20.02% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 24.30% | 2.92% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 31.81% | 3.75% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 46.63% | 13.38% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
AAPL
0.82
Consumer Electronics Industry
- Max
- 0.82
- Q3
- 0.82
- Median
- 0.70
- Q1
- 0.64
- Min
- 0.63
AAPL’s Current Ratio of 0.82 aligns with the median group of the Consumer Electronics industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
COST
1.02
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 1.25
- Q3
- 1.23
- Median
- 1.02
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.74
COST’s Current Ratio of 1.02 aligns with the median group of the Discount Stores industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
AAPL
1.47
Consumer Electronics Industry
- Max
- 2.23
- Q3
- 1.47
- Median
- 0.80
- Q1
- 0.51
- Min
- 0.16
AAPL’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.47 is typical for the Consumer Electronics industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
COST
0.30
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 2.34
- Q3
- 1.40
- Median
- 0.80
- Q1
- 0.31
- Min
- 0.20
Falling into the lower quartile for the Discount Stores industry, COST’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.30 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
Interest Coverage Ratio
AAPL
--
Consumer Electronics Industry
- Max
- 14.74
- Q3
- 8.73
- Median
- 3.32
- Q1
- -40.43
- Min
- -114.16
Interest Coverage Ratio data for AAPL is currently unavailable.
COST
916.73
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 18.46
- Q3
- 17.45
- Median
- 13.09
- Q1
- 10.49
- Min
- 1.08
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 916.73, COST demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Discount Stores industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | COST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 0.82 | 1.02 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.78 | 0.52 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 1.47 | 0.30 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.30 | 0.11 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 0.50 | -0.49 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -- | 916.73 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for AAPL and COST. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
AAPL
0.47%
Consumer Electronics Industry
- Max
- 1.88%
- Q3
- 0.53%
- Median
- 0.50%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
AAPL’s Dividend Yield of 0.47% is consistent with its peers in the Consumer Electronics industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
COST
0.48%
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 4.51%
- Q3
- 0.91%
- Median
- 0.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
COST’s Dividend Yield of 0.48% is consistent with its peers in the Discount Stores industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio
AAPL
15.74%
Consumer Electronics Industry
- Max
- 98.30%
- Q3
- 15.74%
- Median
- 10.10%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
AAPL’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 15.74% is within the typical range for the Consumer Electronics industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
COST
19.69%
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 44.99%
- Q3
- 36.65%
- Median
- 19.69%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
COST’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 19.69% is within the typical range for the Discount Stores industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | COST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.47% | 0.48% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.74% | 19.69% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
AAPL
32.91
Consumer Electronics Industry
- Max
- 51.71
- Q3
- 41.35
- Median
- 30.99
- Q1
- 25.46
- Min
- 19.94
AAPL’s P/E Ratio of 32.91 is within the middle range for the Consumer Electronics industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
COST
55.87
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 55.76
- Q3
- 45.00
- Median
- 33.38
- Q1
- 22.25
- Min
- 10.79
At 55.87, COST’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Discount Stores industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
AAPL
3.79
Consumer Electronics Industry
- Max
- 7.16
- Q3
- 5.62
- Median
- 3.99
- Q1
- 2.77
- Min
- 2.43
The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Consumer Electronics industry.
COST
5.06
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 5.06
- Q3
- 3.70
- Median
- 2.97
- Q1
- 2.24
- Min
- 1.25
A Forward PEG Ratio of 5.06 places COST in the upper quartile for the Discount Stores industry. This suggests the stock is potentially expensive compared to its peers relative to its growth forecast, which may warrant caution.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
AAPL
7.97
Consumer Electronics Industry
- Max
- 7.50
- Q3
- 4.17
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 0.88
- Min
- 0.16
With a P/S Ratio of 7.97, AAPL trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Consumer Electronics industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
COST
1.63
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 2.07
- Q3
- 1.63
- Median
- 0.96
- Q1
- 0.64
- Min
- 0.43
COST’s P/S Ratio of 1.63 is in the upper echelon for the Discount Stores industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio
AAPL
47.94
Consumer Electronics Industry
- Max
- 3.36
- Q3
- 3.36
- Median
- 2.83
- Q1
- 2.78
- Min
- 2.78
At 47.94, AAPL’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Consumer Electronics industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
COST
16.15
Discount Stores Industry
- Max
- 16.12
- Q3
- 9.30
- Median
- 5.40
- Q1
- 3.27
- Min
- 2.73
At 16.15, COST’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Discount Stores industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | COST |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 32.91 | 55.87 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 3.79 | 5.06 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 7.97 | 1.63 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 47.94 | 16.15 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 32.39 | 59.82 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 23.47 | 37.31 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 8.14 | 1.61 |