Apple (AAPL) vs. Meta Platforms (META)
This page compares Apple (AAPL) with Meta Platforms (META) 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 Meta Platforms (META) belongs to Communication Services (Media & Entertainment) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.
| Symbol | AAPL | META |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Apple Inc. | Meta Platforms Inc Class A |
| 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 | 4,514.01 billion USD | 1,505.28 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | December 12, 1980 | May 18, 2012 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 37.16 and Meta Platforms (META) at 21.55 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
37.16
- Max
- 168.36
- Q3
- 83.42
- Median
- 39.68
- Q1
- 24.69
- Min
- 9.74
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
21.55
- Max
- 75.28
- Q3
- 38.15
- Median
- 23.04
- Q1
- 12.03
- Min
- 1.76
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 10.00 and Meta Platforms (META) at 7.00 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) quartile of their industries.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
10.00
- Max
- 21.53
- Q3
- 9.61
- Median
- 4.12
- Q1
- 1.37
- Min
- 0.00
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
7.00
- Max
- 7.64
- Q3
- 3.67
- Median
- 1.46
- Q1
- 0.54
- Min
- 0.00
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Meta Platforms (META) at 6.18 sits in the upper Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) quartile, and Apple (AAPL) at 42.33 prices even higher, above its industry range.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
42.33
- Max
- 17.94
- Q3
- 10.33
- Median
- 4.81
- Q1
- 2.24
- Min
- -3.74
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
6.18
- Max
- 11.13
- Q3
- 4.94
- Median
- 1.95
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- -2.89
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | META |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 37.16 | 21.55 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 10.00 | 7.00 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 42.33 | 6.18 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 2.24% | 1.70% |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
Apple (AAPL) leads with Return on Equity (TTM) of 141.47%, above its industry benchmark range, while Meta Platforms (META) at 32.93% also ranks strongly in the top quartile.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
141.47%
- Max
- 44.16%
- Q3
- 18.89%
- Median
- 10.74%
- Q1
- 0.08%
- Min
- -25.92%
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
32.93%
- Max
- 38.89%
- Q3
- 15.20%
- Median
- 6.34%
- Q1
- -4.34%
- Min
- -29.59%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
Meta Platforms (META) at 32.84% 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
- 12.32%
- Median
- 4.35%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -14.09%
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
32.84%
- Max
- 30.77%
- Q3
- 10.36%
- Median
- 3.37%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -20.69%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 32.28% and Meta Platforms (META) at 40.62% 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
- 15.20%
- Median
- 6.36%
- Q1
- 1.06%
- Min
- -18.45%
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
40.62%
- Max
- 41.37%
- Q3
- 16.41%
- Median
- 7.22%
- Q1
- -3.67%
- Min
- -26.23%
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | META |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 141.47% | 32.93% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 26.23% | 16.40% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 27.15% | 32.84% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 32.28% | 40.62% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 47.86% | 81.94% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | META |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Revenue Growth | 6.43% | 22.17% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | 1.81% | 19.89% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | META |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year EPS Growth | 22.70% | -1.55% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | 6.88% | 39.84% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Meta Platforms (META) at 2.35 carries Current Ratio (MRQ) above its industry mid-range, while Apple (AAPL) at 1.07 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
1.07
- Max
- 5.80
- Q3
- 3.18
- Median
- 2.01
- Q1
- 1.31
- Min
- 0.61
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
2.35
- Max
- 4.37
- Q3
- 2.32
- Median
- 1.37
- Q1
- 0.89
- Min
- 0.31
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 0.80 and Meta Platforms (META) at 0.36 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
- 1.84
- Q3
- 0.86
- Median
- 0.30
- Q1
- 0.05
- Min
- 0.00
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.36
- Max
- 2.46
- Q3
- 1.35
- Median
- 0.53
- Q1
- 0.17
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | META |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.07 | 2.35 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.80 | 0.36 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.10 | 0.05 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 0.35% and Meta Platforms (META) at 0.35% 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
0.35%
- Max
- 1.29%
- Q3
- 0.52%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
0.35%
- Max
- 2.58%
- Q3
- 1.17%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 12.59% and Meta Platforms (META) at 7.64% 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
- 14.99%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
META
Media & Entertainment industry group
7.64%
- Max
- 49.56%
- Q3
- 21.65%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | META |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.35% | 0.35% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 12.59% | 7.64% |
Performance & Risk
Performance & Risk at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | META |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Return | 53.80% | -13.11% |
| 1-Year Volatility | 22.36% | 35.59% |
| Beta | 1.08 | 1.24 |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 44.97M | 16.63M |