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AAPL vs. DELL: Apple vs. Dell Stock Comparison

How do Apple (AAPL) and Dell (DELL) 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 Dell (DELL) are both classified in the Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals sub-industry within the broader Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Apple (AAPL) and Dell (DELL)
Profile ItemAAPLDELL
NameApple Inc.Dell Technologies Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryTechnology Hardware, Storage & PeripheralsTechnology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
GICS Sub-IndustryTechnology Hardware, Storage & PeripheralsTechnology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
Market Capitalization4,813.63 billion USD261.14 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateDecember 12, 1980August 17, 2016
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AAPL
DELL
GSPC
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Dell (DELL), 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 Dell (DELL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Dell (DELL)
MetricAAPLDELL
Total Return (1Y)54.86%218.68%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)20.08%99.77%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)18.25%55.61%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AAPL
DELL
GSPC
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Dell (DELL), 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 Dell (DELL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Dell (DELL)
MetricAAPLDELL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.54%68.63%
Beta (5Y)1.091.33
Max Drawdown (5Y)-33.36%-59.59%
Avg. Volume (3M)54.88M8.68M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AAPL and DELL 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 Dell (DELL)
MetricAAPLDELL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.073.13
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.336.03

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Apple (AAPL) earns 141.47% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Dell (DELL) has no ROE this period.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

141.47%

AAPL
141.47%
Max
44.16%
Q3
18.89%
Median
10.96%
Q1
0.11%
Min
-25.92%

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

--

Max
44.16%
Q3
18.89%
Median
10.96%
Q1
0.11%
Min
-25.92%
DELL
--
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Dell (DELL): DELL does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; AAPL is benchmarked against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 27.15% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Dell (DELL) at 6.28%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.15%

AAPL
27.15%
Max
27.15%
Q3
12.01%
Median
4.40%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-14.09%

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

6.28%

Max
27.15%
Q3
12.01%
DELL
6.28%
Median
4.40%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-14.09%
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 32.28% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Dell (DELL) at 8.86%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

32.28%

AAPL
32.28%
Max
32.28%
Q3
15.14%
Median
6.42%
Q1
1.49%
Min
-18.45%

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

8.86%

Max
32.28%
Q3
15.14%
DELL
8.86%
Median
6.42%
Q1
1.49%
Min
-18.45%
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Dell (DELL)
MetricAAPLDELL
ROE (TTM)141.47%--
ROA (TTM)26.23%7.00%
Net Margin (TTM)27.15%6.28%
Operating Margin (TTM)32.28%8.86%
Gross Margin (TTM)47.86%19.21%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Apple (AAPL) at 6.43% and Dell (DELL) at 18.80% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Dell (DELL) at 36.05% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Apple (AAPL) at 22.70% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for DELL.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Dell (DELL)
MetricAAPLDELL
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.43%18.80%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.81%3.54%
EPS Growth (YoY)22.70%36.05%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.88%38.89%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 1.07 and Dell (DELL) at 0.95 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

1.07

Max
5.80
Q3
3.15
Median
1.96
Q1
1.29
AAPL
1.07
Min
0.40

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.95

Max
5.80
Q3
3.15
Median
1.96
Q1
1.29
DELL
0.95
Min
0.40
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Apple (AAPL) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80 against its industry range, while Dell (DELL) reports no figure this period.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.80

Max
2.02
Q3
0.88
AAPL
0.80
Median
0.31
Q1
0.06
Min
0.00

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

--

Max
2.02
Q3
0.88
Median
0.31
Q1
0.06
Min
0.00
DELL
--
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Dell (DELL): DELL does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; AAPL is benchmarked against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Dell (DELL)
MetricAAPLDELL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.070.95
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.80--
Net Debt / EBITDA0.101.45

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Dell (DELL) at 0.58% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Apple (AAPL) at 0.32% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, DELL the richer one.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.32%

Max
0.84%
Q3
0.36%
AAPL
0.32%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.58%

Max
0.84%
DELL
0.58%
Q3
0.36%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 12.59% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Dell (DELL) at 17.57% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

12.59%

Max
37.10%
Q3
15.24%
AAPL
12.59%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

17.57%

Max
37.10%
DELL
17.57%
Q3
15.24%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Dell (DELL)
MetricAAPLDELL
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.32%0.58%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)12.59%17.57%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 39.53 and Dell (DELL) at 30.39 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

39.53

Max
144.77
Q3
72.63
AAPL
39.53
Median
37.17
Q1
22.68
Min
8.96

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

30.39

Max
144.77
Q3
72.63
Median
37.17
DELL
30.39
Q1
22.68
Min
8.96
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Dell (DELL) at 1.95 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Apple (AAPL) at 10.66 sits in the pricier quartile — AAPL costs more per dollar of sales.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

10.66

Max
16.05
AAPL
10.66
Q3
7.77
Median
3.47
Q1
1.40
Min
0.00

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.95

Max
16.05
Q3
7.77
Median
3.47
DELL
1.95
Q1
1.40
Min
0.00
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Dell (DELL) reports a negative P/B ratio of -186.85, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Apple (AAPL) reports 45.14, ranking against industry peers normally.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

45.14

AAPL
45.14
Max
17.07
Q3
8.65
Median
3.87
Q1
2.08
Min
-0.84

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

-186.85

Max
17.07
Q3
8.65
Median
3.87
Q1
2.08
Min
-0.84
DELL
-186.85
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Apple (AAPL) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Dell (DELL)
MetricAAPLDELL
P/E Ratio (TTM)39.5330.39
P/S Ratio (TTM)10.661.95
P/B Ratio (MRQ)45.14-186.85
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.10%2.08%