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Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco (CSCO)

This page compares Apple (AAPL) with Cisco (CSCO) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

Apple (AAPL) and Cisco (CSCO) both fall under the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group, but AAPL is classified in Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals while CSCO is classified in Communications Equipment.

SymbolAAPLCSCO
Company NameApple Inc.Cisco Systems, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryTechnology Hardware, Storage & PeripheralsCommunications Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryTechnology Hardware, Storage & PeripheralsCommunications Equipment
Market Capitalization4,391.08 billion USD455.74 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqGSNasdaqGS
Listing DateDecember 12, 1980February 16, 1990
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

AAPL
CSCO
Loading price history…
Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco (CSCO): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolAAPLCSCO
5-Day Price Return0.03%13.26%
13-Week Price Return13.30%50.14%
26-Week Price Return8.62%60.90%
52-Week Price Return43.20%80.51%
Month-to-Date Return10.18%26.10%
Year-to-Date Return9.97%49.79%
10-Day Avg. Volume46.38M34.14M
3-Month Avg. Volume47.13M23.77M
3-Month Volatility22.79%37.21%
Beta1.070.94

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) leads with Return on Equity (TTM) of 146.69%, above its industry benchmark range, while Cisco (CSCO) at 25.14% also ranks strongly in the top quartile.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

146.69%

Max
42.37%
Q3
19.29%
Median
10.72%
Q1
2.35%
Min
-22.20%

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

25.14%

Max
42.37%
Q3
19.29%
Median
10.72%
Q1
2.35%
Min
-22.20%
Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco (CSCO): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) leads with Net Profit Margin (TTM) of 27.15%, above its industry benchmark range, while Cisco (CSCO) at 19.69% also ranks strongly in the top quartile.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.15%

Max
21.96%
Q3
11.10%
Median
4.46%
Q1
0.81%
Min
-14.09%

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

19.69%

Max
21.96%
Q3
11.10%
Median
4.46%
Q1
0.81%
Min
-14.09%
Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco (CSCO): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 32.64% and Cisco (CSCO) at 23.36% rank in the top quartile for Operating Profit Margin (TTM) among industry peers, indicating both companies convert revenue into operating income more strongly than typical competitors.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

32.64%

Max
32.64%
Q3
14.87%
Median
5.34%
Q1
1.80%
Min
-13.71%

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

23.36%

Max
32.64%
Q3
14.87%
Median
5.34%
Q1
1.80%
Min
-13.71%
Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco (CSCO): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolAAPLCSCO
Return on Equity (TTM)146.69%25.14%
Return on Assets (TTM)34.02%9.72%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)27.15%19.69%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)32.64%23.36%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)47.86%64.33%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 1.07 and Cisco (CSCO) at 0.92 run Current Ratio (MRQ) in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.07

Max
5.80
Q3
3.12
Median
1.99
Q1
1.31
Min
0.01

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.92

Max
5.80
Q3
3.12
Median
1.99
Q1
1.31
Min
0.01
Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco (CSCO): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 0.80 and Cisco (CSCO) at 0.64 post Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on leverage.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.80

Max
2.21
Q3
0.89
Median
0.37
Q1
0.00
Min
0.00

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.64

Max
2.21
Q3
0.89
Median
0.37
Q1
0.00
Min
0.00
Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco (CSCO): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) leads with Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) of 622.51, above its industry benchmark range, while Cisco (CSCO) at 22.76 also ranks strongly in the top quartile.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

622.51

Max
34.79
Q3
17.83
Median
5.62
Q1
-0.32
Min
-23.93

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

22.76

Max
34.79
Q3
17.83
Median
5.62
Q1
-0.32
Min
-23.93
Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco (CSCO): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolAAPLCSCO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.070.92
Quick Ratio (MRQ)1.020.81
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.800.64
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)622.5122.76

Growth

Revenue Growth

Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco (CSCO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolAAPLCSCO
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)16.60%11.96%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)12.76%9.21%
3-Year Revenue CAGR1.81%3.19%
5-Year Revenue CAGR8.68%2.82%

EPS Growth

Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco (CSCO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolAAPLCSCO
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)22.04%36.10%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)29.01%22.99%
3-Year EPS CAGR6.89%-3.32%
5-Year EPS CAGR17.91%-0.69%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Cisco (CSCO) at 1.43% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Apple (AAPL) at 0.36%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.36%

Max
1.45%
Q3
0.62%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.43%

Max
1.45%
Q3
0.62%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco (CSCO): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 12.69% maintains Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around its industry median — a balanced dividend policy. Cisco (CSCO) at 54.52% sits outside the typical mid-range, leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

12.69%

Max
43.52%
Q3
18.99%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

54.52%

Max
43.52%
Q3
18.99%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco (CSCO): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolAAPLCSCO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.36%1.43%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)12.69%54.52%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 35.72 and Cisco (CSCO) at 38.11 post Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing earnings multiple.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

35.72

Max
97.61
Q3
59.60
Median
38.11
Q1
19.88
Min
0.99

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

38.11

Max
97.61
Q3
59.60
Median
38.11
Q1
19.88
Min
0.99
Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco (CSCO): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 9.70 and Cisco (CSCO) at 7.50 trade in the higher-multiple quartile for Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) among industry peers, indicating higher trailing revenue multiples than typical peers.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

9.70

Max
13.42
Q3
6.44
Median
3.14
Q1
1.20
Min
0.05

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.50

Max
13.42
Q3
6.44
Median
3.14
Q1
1.20
Min
0.05
Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco (CSCO): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Cisco (CSCO) at 7.13 hovers around the typical industry Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while Apple (AAPL) at 34.00 sits above its industry benchmark range — an elevated book-value multiple for AAPL relative to peers.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

34.00

Max
16.66
Q3
8.19
Median
3.51
Q1
1.65
Min
0.33

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.13

Max
16.66
Q3
8.19
Median
3.51
Q1
1.65
Min
0.33
Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco (CSCO): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolAAPLCSCO
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)35.7238.11
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)9.707.50
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)34.007.13
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)33.8938.66