AAPL vs. PLTR: Apple vs. Palantir Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Apple (AAPL) and Palantir (PLTR) 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 Palantir (PLTR) share the Information Technology sector but sit in different industry groups — AAPL in Technology Hardware & Equipment and PLTR in Software & Services.

Apple (AAPL) has more than two decades of public-market history since December 12, 1980, whereas Palantir (PLTR) listed on September 30, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Apple (AAPL) and Palantir (PLTR)
Profile Item	AAPL	PLTR
Name	Apple Inc.	Palantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Technology Hardware & Equipment	Software & Services
GICS Industry	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals	Software
GICS Sub-Industry	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals	Application Software
Market Capitalization	4,975.38 billion USD	386.44 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	December 12, 1980	September 30, 2020
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AAPL

PLTR

GSPC

Apple (AAPL) vs. Palantir (PLTR), 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 Palantir (PLTR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	AAPL	PLTR
Total Return (1Y)	31.02%	-4.94%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.87%	109.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	18.93%	47.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AAPL

PLTR

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	AAPL	PLTR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	24.99%	60.50%
Beta (5Y)	1.08	1.63
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-33.36%	-75.26%
Avg. Volume (3M)	42.44M	27.20M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AAPL and PLTR are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. Each dashed Capital Allocation Line uses that stock's own industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	AAPL	PLTR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.07	-0.15
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.58	-0.24

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Apple (AAPL) at 142.26% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Palantir (PLTR) at 40.91% also sits in the top quartile.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

142.26%

AAPL: 142.26%
Max: 42.47%
Q3: 19.13%
Median: 11.00%
Q1: 1.63%
Min: -20.62%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

40.91%

Max: 53.85%
PLTR: 40.91%
Q3: 17.90%
Median: 6.59%
Q1: -9.59%
Min: -50.52%

Apple (AAPL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 50.34% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Apple (AAPL) at 27.60% also retains a top-quartile share.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.60%

AAPL: 27.60%
Max: 27.60%
Q3: 11.66%
Median: 4.08%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -11.02%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

50.34%

PLTR: 50.34%
Max: 41.17%
Q3: 15.28%
Median: 4.63%
Q1: -5.42%
Min: -33.17%

Apple (AAPL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 31.13% and Palantir (PLTR) at 46.89% 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

31.13%

Max: 36.27%
AAPL: 31.13%
Q3: 18.36%
Median: 8.84%
Q1: 1.46%
Min: -21.39%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

46.89%

PLTR: 46.89%
Max: 46.89%
Q3: 17.64%
Median: 8.73%
Q1: -2.13%
Min: -30.45%

Apple (AAPL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	AAPL	PLTR
ROE (TTM)	142.26%	40.91%
ROA (TTM)	25.87%	19.31%
Net Margin (TTM)	27.60%	50.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)	31.13%	46.89%
Gross Margin (TTM)	48.79%	84.74%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Apple (AAPL) at 15.06%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

EPS Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 231.06% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Apple (AAPL) at 20.38%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	AAPL	PLTR
Revenue Growth (YoY)	15.06%	56.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.70%	32.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)	20.38%	231.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	13.57%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) at 7.10 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Apple (AAPL) at 1.02 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.02

Max: 5.34
Q3: 3.02
Median: 1.95
Q1: 1.32
AAPL: 1.02
Min: 0.17

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

7.10

PLTR: 7.10
Max: 5.11
Q3: 2.77
Median: 1.67
Q1: 1.01
Min: 0.03

Apple (AAPL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Apple (AAPL) at 0.84 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.84

Max: 1.76
AAPL: 0.84
Q3: 0.78
Median: 0.24
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.01

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.02

Max: 2.52
Q3: 1.13
Median: 0.40
Q1: 0.07
PLTR: 0.02
Min: 0.00

Apple (AAPL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	AAPL	PLTR
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.02	7.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.84	0.02
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.22	-3.08

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Apple (AAPL) reports a yield of 0.31%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.31%

Max: 0.73%
Q3: 0.31%
AAPL: 0.31%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

PLTR: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Apple (AAPL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Apple (AAPL) reports a payout of 11.80%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

11.80%

Max: 32.27%
Q3: 14.48%
AAPL: 11.80%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

PLTR: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Apple (AAPL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	AAPL	PLTR
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.31%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	11.80%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 38.13 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 112.94 sits in the richer quartile — PLTR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

38.13

Max: 69.48
Q3: 41.02
AAPL: 38.13
Median: 26.39
Q1: 19.36
Min: 6.07

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

112.94

PLTR: 112.94
Max: 112.94
Q3: 60.32
Median: 32.91
Q1: 18.77
Min: 6.69

Apple (AAPL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Apple (AAPL) at 10.39 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 prices even higher, above its industry range.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

10.39

Max: 11.30
AAPL: 10.39
Q3: 5.82
Median: 2.56
Q1: 1.05
Min: 0.00

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

53.02

PLTR: 53.02
Max: 17.91
Q3: 8.78
Median: 4.25
Q1: 2.23
Min: 0.02

Apple (AAPL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Apple (AAPL) at 44.39 and Palantir (PLTR) at 34.41 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

44.39

AAPL: 44.39
Max: 10.75
Q3: 5.52
Median: 3.17
Q1: 1.79
Min: 0.33

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

34.41

PLTR: 34.41
Max: 16.63
Q3: 8.50
Median: 4.30
Q1: 1.92
Min: -3.90

Apple (AAPL) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Palantir (PLTR)
Metric	AAPL	PLTR
P/E Ratio (TTM)	38.13	112.94
P/S Ratio (TTM)	10.39	53.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	44.39	34.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.12%	0.69%