AAPL vs. STX: Apple vs. Seagate Technology Stock Comparison
How do Apple (AAPL) and Seagate Technology (STX) 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 Seagate Technology (STX) 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.
| Profile Item | AAPL | STX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Apple Inc. | Seagate Technology Holdings plc |
| Country/Region | United States | Singapore |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Technology Hardware & Equipment | Technology Hardware & Equipment |
| GICS Industry | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals |
| Market Capitalization | 4,249.93 billion USD | 218.33 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | December 12, 1980 | December 11, 2002 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AAPL | STX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 41.59% | 574.13% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Seagate Technology (STX) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.05, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Apple (AAPL) is closer to market-like at 1.10 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AAPL | STX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 23.73% | 67.02% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.10 | 2.05 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 52.80M | 4.27M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 141.47% and Seagate Technology (STX) at 1,787.97% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
141.47%
- AAPL
- 141.47%
- Max
- 44.16%
- Q3
- 19.25%
- Median
- 10.96%
- Q1
- 0.71%
- Min
- -25.92%
STX
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
1,787.97%
- STX
- 1,787.97%
- Max
- 44.16%
- Q3
- 19.25%
- Median
- 10.96%
- Q1
- 0.71%
- Min
- -25.92%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Apple (AAPL) at 27.15% and Seagate Technology (STX) at 21.60% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
27.15%
- Max
- 30.43%
- AAPL
- 27.15%
- Q3
- 12.33%
- Median
- 4.57%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -14.09%
STX
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
21.60%
- Max
- 30.43%
- STX
- 21.60%
- Q3
- 12.33%
- Median
- 4.57%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -14.09%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 32.28% and Seagate Technology (STX) at 35.67% 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
32.28%
- Max
- 35.67%
- AAPL
- 32.28%
- Q3
- 15.50%
- Median
- 6.62%
- Q1
- 1.99%
- Min
- -18.24%
STX
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
35.67%
- STX
- 35.67%
- Max
- 35.67%
- Q3
- 15.50%
- Median
- 6.62%
- Q1
- 1.99%
- Min
- -18.24%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AAPL | STX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 141.47% | 1,787.97% |
| ROA (TTM) | 26.23% | 24.66% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 27.15% | 21.60% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 32.28% | 35.67% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 47.86% | 41.57% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | AAPL | STX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.43% | 38.86% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.81% | -7.94% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | AAPL | STX |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 22.70% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.88% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Seagate Technology (STX) at 1.33 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical 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
- 1.27
- AAPL
- 1.07
- Min
- 0.40
STX
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
1.33
- Max
- 5.80
- Q3
- 3.18
- Median
- 1.90
- STX
- 1.33
- Q1
- 1.27
- Min
- 0.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Apple (AAPL) at 0.80 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Seagate Technology (STX) at 3.82 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
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
STX
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
3.82
- STX
- 3.82
- Max
- 2.02
- Q3
- 0.88
- Median
- 0.31
- Q1
- 0.06
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AAPL | STX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.07 | 1.33 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.80 | 3.82 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.10 | 0.86 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Apple (AAPL) at 0.37% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Seagate Technology (STX) at 0.30% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, AAPL the richer one.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.37%
- Max
- 0.72%
- AAPL
- 0.37%
- Q3
- 0.35%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
STX
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.30%
- Max
- 0.72%
- Q3
- 0.35%
- STX
- 0.30%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Apple (AAPL) at 12.59% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Seagate Technology (STX) at 27.70% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
12.59%
- Max
- 32.92%
- Q3
- 13.87%
- AAPL
- 12.59%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
STX
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
27.70%
- Max
- 32.92%
- STX
- 27.70%
- Q3
- 13.87%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AAPL | STX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.37% | 0.30% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 12.59% | 27.70% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Apple (AAPL) at 35.07 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Seagate Technology (STX) at 91.73 sits in the richer quartile — STX needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
35.07
- Max
- 164.07
- Q3
- 82.72
- Median
- 38.67
- AAPL
- 35.07
- Q1
- 23.21
- Min
- 8.13
STX
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
91.73
- Max
- 164.07
- STX
- 91.73
- Q3
- 82.72
- Median
- 38.67
- Q1
- 23.21
- Min
- 8.13
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Apple (AAPL) at 9.41 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Seagate Technology (STX) at 19.83 prices even higher, above its industry range.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
9.41
- Max
- 18.69
- AAPL
- 9.41
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 3.88
- Q1
- 1.49
- Min
- 0.00
STX
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
19.83
- STX
- 19.83
- Max
- 18.69
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 3.88
- Q1
- 1.49
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both Apple (AAPL) at 39.86 and Seagate Technology (STX) at 197.75 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
39.86
- AAPL
- 39.86
- Max
- 19.99
- Q3
- 9.52
- Median
- 4.43
- Q1
- 2.28
- Min
- -3.84
STX
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
197.75
- STX
- 197.75
- Max
- 19.99
- Q3
- 9.52
- Median
- 4.43
- Q1
- 2.28
- Min
- -3.84
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AAPL | STX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 35.07 | 91.73 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 9.41 | 19.83 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 39.86 | 197.75 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.38% | 0.74% |