Apple (AAPL) vs. Alphabet (GOOGL)
This page compares Apple (AAPL) with Alphabet (GOOGL) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.
Company Profile
Apple (AAPL) is classified in the Information Technology sector (Technology Hardware & Equipment), whereas Alphabet (GOOGL) belongs to Communication Services (Media & Entertainment) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.
| Symbol | AAPL | GOOGL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Apple Inc. | Alphabet Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Communication Services |
| GICS Industry Group | Technology Hardware & Equipment | Media & Entertainment |
| GICS Industry | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | Interactive Media & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | Interactive Media & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 4,275.93 billion USD | 4,386.27 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | December 12, 1980 | August 19, 2004 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 35.20 and Alphabet (GOOGL) at 27.48 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
35.20
- Max
- 171.43
- Q3
- 83.19
- Median
- 39.13
- Q1
- 23.68
- Min
- 9.35
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
27.48
- Max
- 71.35
- Q3
- 37.05
- Median
- 21.91
- Q1
- 11.66
- Min
- 1.74
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Apple (AAPL) at 9.47 sits in the upper Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) quartile, and Alphabet (GOOGL) at 10.38 prices even higher, above its industry range.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
9.47
- Max
- 19.39
- Q3
- 9.05
- Median
- 4.10
- Q1
- 1.42
- Min
- 0.00
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
10.38
- Max
- 8.58
- Q3
- 3.91
- Median
- 1.48
- Q1
- 0.55
- Min
- 0.00
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Alphabet (GOOGL) at 9.10 sits in the upper Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) quartile, and Apple (AAPL) at 40.10 prices even higher, above its industry range.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
40.10
- Max
- 17.76
- Q3
- 9.32
- Median
- 4.56
- Q1
- 2.09
- Min
- -3.27
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
9.10
- Max
- 11.21
- Q3
- 5.56
- Median
- 1.93
- Q1
- 0.82
- Min
- -2.89
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | GOOGL |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 35.20 | 27.48 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 9.47 | 10.38 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 40.10 | 9.10 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 2.36% | 0.64% |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
Apple (AAPL) leads with Return on Equity (TTM) of 141.47%, above its industry benchmark range, while Alphabet (GOOGL) at 38.89% also ranks strongly in the top quartile.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
141.47%
- Max
- 44.16%
- Q3
- 19.25%
- Median
- 10.96%
- Q1
- 0.71%
- Min
- -25.92%
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
38.89%
- Max
- 46.65%
- Q3
- 16.35%
- Median
- 6.52%
- Q1
- -4.21%
- Min
- -29.59%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
Alphabet (GOOGL) at 37.92% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s Net Profit Margin (TTM) range — and Apple (AAPL) at 27.15% also retains a top-quartile share.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
27.15%
- Max
- 30.43%
- Q3
- 12.35%
- Median
- 4.45%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -14.09%
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
37.92%
- Max
- 30.77%
- Q3
- 10.51%
- Median
- 3.81%
- Q1
- -3.12%
- Min
- -20.69%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 32.28% and Alphabet (GOOGL) at 36.12% squeeze more operating profit from each sales dollar than most peers, ranking in the top Operating Profit Margin (TTM) quartile of their industries.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
32.28%
- Max
- 35.67%
- Q3
- 15.55%
- Median
- 6.62%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -18.45%
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
36.12%
- Max
- 41.37%
- Q3
- 16.41%
- Median
- 8.47%
- Q1
- -3.09%
- Min
- -26.23%
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | GOOGL |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 141.47% | 38.89% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 26.23% | 14.64% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 27.15% | 37.92% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 32.28% | 36.12% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 47.86% | 60.37% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | GOOGL |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Revenue Growth | 6.43% | 15.09% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | 1.81% | 12.51% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | GOOGL |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year EPS Growth | 22.70% | 34.45% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | 6.88% | 33.34% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Alphabet (GOOGL) at 1.92 keeps Current Ratio (MRQ) within its industry mid-range, while Apple (AAPL) at 1.07 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for AAPL.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
1.07
- Max
- 5.80
- Q3
- 3.18
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- 0.40
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
1.92
- Max
- 4.23
- Q3
- 2.26
- Median
- 1.36
- Q1
- 0.89
- Min
- 0.31
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 0.80 and Alphabet (GOOGL) at 0.20 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
- 2.02
- Q3
- 0.88
- Median
- 0.31
- Q1
- 0.05
- Min
- 0.00
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.20
- Max
- 2.46
- Q3
- 1.30
- Median
- 0.54
- Q1
- 0.17
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | GOOGL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.07 | 1.92 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.80 | 0.20 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.10 | -0.19 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 0.37% and Alphabet (GOOGL) at 0.24% report Dividend Yield (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on cash yield relative to share price.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.37%
- Max
- 1.30%
- Q3
- 0.54%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.24%
- Max
- 2.67%
- Q3
- 1.17%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 12.59% and Alphabet (GOOGL) at 6.41% maintain Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around their industries’ median — balanced dividend policy on both sides, returning cash while leaving part of reported earnings available for reinvestment or balance-sheet flexibility.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
12.59%
- Max
- 37.10%
- Q3
- 15.46%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GOOGL
Media & Entertainment industry group
6.41%
- Max
- 57.34%
- Q3
- 24.40%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | GOOGL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.37% | 0.24% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 12.59% | 6.41% |
Performance & Risk
Performance & Risk at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | GOOGL |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Return | 46.73% | 105.30% |
| 1-Year Volatility | 22.69% | 29.34% |
| Beta | 1.10 | 1.25 |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 46.45M | 29.40M |