AAPL vs. CSCO: Apple vs. Cisco Systems Stock Comparison

August 16, 2026

How do Apple (AAPL) and Cisco Systems (CSCO) 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 Cisco Systems (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.

Company profile comparison for Apple (AAPL) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Profile Item	AAPL	CSCO
Name	Apple Inc.	Cisco Systems, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Technology Hardware & Equipment	Technology Hardware & Equipment
GICS Industry	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals	Communications Equipment
GICS Sub-Industry	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals	Communications Equipment
Market Capitalization	4,464.80 billion USD	440.18 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	December 12, 1980	February 16, 1990
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AAPL

CSCO

GSPC

Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO), 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

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Trailing total returns for Apple (AAPL) and Cisco Systems (CSCO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Apple (AAPL) and Cisco Systems (CSCO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Metric	AAPL	CSCO
Total Return (1Y)	31.91%	64.49%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	20.00%	30.91%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	16.04%	17.86%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AAPL

CSCO

GSPC

Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO), 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

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Apple (AAPL) and Cisco Systems (CSCO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Metric	AAPL	CSCO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	24.99%	34.10%
Beta (5Y)	1.07	1.00
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-33.36%	-36.68%
Avg. Volume (3M)	55.84M	25.50M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AAPL and CSCO 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 Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Metric	AAPL	CSCO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.12	1.77
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.64	2.61

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Apple (AAPL) at 148.75% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.32% also sits in the top quartile.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

148.75%

AAPL: 148.75%
Max: 44.01%
Q3: 18.43%
Median: 10.41%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: -24.95%

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.32%

Max: 44.01%
CSCO: 27.32%
Q3: 18.43%
Median: 10.41%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: -24.95%

Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 27.62% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 20.95% also retains a top-quartile share.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.62%

AAPL: 27.62%
Max: 26.11%
Q3: 10.66%
Median: 3.40%
Q1: -0.39%
Min: -11.93%

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

20.95%

Max: 26.11%
CSCO: 20.95%
Q3: 10.66%
Median: 3.40%
Q1: -0.39%
Min: -11.93%

Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 32.62% and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.70% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

32.62%

Max: 36.90%
AAPL: 32.62%
Q3: 17.13%
Median: 7.40%
Q1: 2.09%
Min: -18.45%

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.70%

Max: 36.90%
CSCO: 27.70%
Q3: 17.13%
Median: 7.40%
Q1: 2.09%
Min: -18.45%

Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Metric	AAPL	CSCO
ROE (TTM)	148.75%	27.32%
ROA (TTM)	27.08%	7.98%
Net Margin (TTM)	27.62%	20.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)	32.62%	27.70%
Gross Margin (TTM)	48.65%	64.56%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Apple (AAPL) at 6.43% and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 5.30% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Apple (AAPL) at 22.70% and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 2.76% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Metric	AAPL	CSCO
Revenue Growth (YoY)	6.43%	5.30%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	1.81%	3.19%
EPS Growth (YoY)	22.70%	2.76%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.88%	-2.55%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 1.00 and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.93 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

1.00

Max: 4.95
Q3: 3.05
Median: 1.99
Q1: 1.32
AAPL: 1.00
Min: 0.17

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.93

Max: 4.95
Q3: 3.05
Median: 1.99
Q1: 1.32
CSCO: 0.93
Min: 0.17

Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 0.78 and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.59 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.78

Max: 1.80
Q3: 0.82
AAPL: 0.78
Median: 0.27
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.59

Max: 1.80
Q3: 0.82
CSCO: 0.59
Median: 0.27
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): 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 Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Metric	AAPL	CSCO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.00	0.93
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.78	0.59
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.13	0.73

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 0.34% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 1.46% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.34%

Max: 0.74%
AAPL: 0.34%
Q3: 0.32%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.46%

CSCO: 1.46%
Max: 0.74%
Q3: 0.32%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 12.04% keeps its payout in the industry’s typical band, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 49.85% pays out more than any of its peers — the most stretched cover in its group.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

12.04%

Max: 34.91%
Q3: 14.28%
AAPL: 12.04%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

49.85%

CSCO: 49.85%
Max: 34.91%
Q3: 14.28%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Metric	AAPL	CSCO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.34%	1.46%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	12.04%	49.85%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 35.08 and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 34.15 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

35.08

Max: 106.10
Q3: 62.78
Median: 36.76
AAPL: 35.08
Q1: 22.85
Min: 11.58

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

34.15

Max: 106.10
Q3: 62.78
Median: 36.76
CSCO: 34.15
Q1: 22.85
Min: 11.58

Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 6.95 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Apple (AAPL) at 9.56 sits in the pricier quartile — AAPL costs more per dollar of sales.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

9.56

Max: 17.14
AAPL: 9.56
Q3: 7.76
Median: 3.42
Q1: 1.39
Min: 0.00

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

6.95

Max: 17.14
Q3: 7.76
CSCO: 6.95
Median: 3.42
Q1: 1.39
Min: 0.00

Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 9.01 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Apple (AAPL) at 41.57 prices even higher, above its industry range.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

41.57

AAPL: 41.57
Max: 17.63
Q3: 8.56
Median: 4.23
Q1: 2.14
Min: -1.92

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

9.01

Max: 17.63
CSCO: 9.01
Q3: 8.56
Median: 4.23
Q1: 2.14
Min: -1.92

Apple (AAPL) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Metric	AAPL	CSCO
P/E Ratio (TTM)	35.08	34.15
P/S Ratio (TTM)	9.56	6.95
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	41.57	9.01
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.41%	2.63%