AAPL vs. STX: Apple vs. Seagate Technology Stock Comparison

August 10, 2026

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.

Company profile comparison for Apple (AAPL) and Seagate Technology (STX)
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	4,572.79 billion USD	184.21 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

AAPL

STX

GSPC

Apple (AAPL) vs. Seagate Technology (STX), 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 Seagate Technology (STX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Seagate Technology (STX)
Metric	AAPL	STX
Total Return (1Y)	42.97%	453.32%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	21.11%	133.42%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	17.04%	59.24%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AAPL

STX

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

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 1.08 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.

Risk profile metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Seagate Technology (STX)
Metric	AAPL	STX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	25.28%	72.41%
Beta (5Y)	1.08	2.05
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-33.36%	-56.99%
Avg. Volume (3M)	56.56M	4.68M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AAPL and STX 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 Seagate Technology (STX)
Metric	AAPL	STX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.54	6.20
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.30	10.39

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 148.75% and Seagate Technology (STX) at 371.53% 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

148.75%

AAPL: 148.75%
Max: 44.01%
Q3: 18.40%
Median: 10.42%
Q1: 1.19%
Min: -24.11%

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

371.53%

STX: 371.53%
Max: 44.01%
Q3: 18.40%
Median: 10.42%
Q1: 1.19%
Min: -24.11%

Apple (AAPL) vs. Seagate Technology (STX): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Apple (AAPL) at 27.62% and Seagate Technology (STX) at 26.11% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.62%

AAPL: 27.62%
Max: 27.62%
Q3: 11.20%
Median: 4.01%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -11.93%

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

26.11%

Max: 27.62%
STX: 26.11%
Q3: 11.20%
Median: 4.01%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -11.93%

Apple (AAPL) vs. Seagate Technology (STX): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Seagate Technology (STX) at 43.07% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Apple (AAPL) at 32.62% also operates in the top quartile.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

32.62%

Max: 36.90%
AAPL: 32.62%
Q3: 17.45%
Median: 7.35%
Q1: 3.09%
Min: -18.29%

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

43.07%

STX: 43.07%
Max: 36.90%
Q3: 17.45%
Median: 7.35%
Q1: 3.09%
Min: -18.29%

Apple (AAPL) vs. Seagate Technology (STX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Seagate Technology (STX)
Metric	AAPL	STX
ROE (TTM)	148.75%	371.53%
ROA (TTM)	27.08%	29.36%
Net Margin (TTM)	27.62%	26.11%
Operating Margin (TTM)	32.62%	43.07%
Gross Margin (TTM)	48.65%	45.58%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Seagate Technology (STX) at 34.06% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Apple (AAPL) at 6.43% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for STX.

Apple (AAPL) vs. Seagate Technology (STX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Seagate Technology (STX) at 105.32% 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 STX.

Apple (AAPL) vs. Seagate Technology (STX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Seagate Technology (STX)
Metric	AAPL	STX
Revenue Growth (YoY)	6.43%	34.06%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	1.81%	18.20%
EPS Growth (YoY)	22.70%	105.32%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.88%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Seagate Technology (STX) at 1.67 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Apple (AAPL) at 1.00 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for AAPL.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.00

Max: 4.95
Q3: 3.00
Median: 1.95
Q1: 1.30
AAPL: 1.00
Min: 0.37

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.67

Max: 4.95
Q3: 3.00
Median: 1.95
STX: 1.67
Q1: 1.30
Min: 0.37

Apple (AAPL) vs. Seagate Technology (STX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Apple (AAPL) at 0.78 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Seagate Technology (STX) at 1.80 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.78

Max: 2.20
Q3: 0.91
AAPL: 0.78
Median: 0.28
Q1: 0.05
Min: 0.00

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.80

Max: 2.20
STX: 1.80
Q3: 0.91
Median: 0.28
Q1: 0.05
Min: 0.00

Apple (AAPL) vs. Seagate Technology (STX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Seagate Technology (STX)
Metric	AAPL	STX
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.00	1.67
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.78	1.80
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.13	0.49

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Seagate Technology (STX) at 0.34% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Apple (AAPL) at 0.34% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, STX the richer one.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.34%

Max: 0.83%
AAPL: 0.34%
Q3: 0.34%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.34%

Max: 0.83%
STX: 0.34%
Q3: 0.34%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Apple (AAPL) vs. Seagate Technology (STX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 12.04% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Seagate Technology (STX) at 21.15% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

12.04%

Max: 43.66%
Q3: 17.57%
AAPL: 12.04%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

21.15%

Max: 43.66%
STX: 21.15%
Q3: 17.57%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Apple (AAPL) vs. Seagate Technology (STX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Seagate Technology (STX)
Metric	AAPL	STX
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.34%	0.34%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	12.04%	21.15%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 35.85 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Seagate Technology (STX) at 61.34 sits in the richer quartile — STX needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

35.85

Max: 104.64
Q3: 61.25
Median: 36.79
AAPL: 35.85
Q1: 24.13
Min: 10.43

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

61.34

Max: 104.64
STX: 61.34
Q3: 61.25
Median: 36.79
Q1: 24.13
Min: 10.43

Apple (AAPL) vs. Seagate Technology (STX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 9.80 and Seagate Technology (STX) at 15.11 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

9.80

Max: 15.76
AAPL: 9.80
Q3: 7.67
Median: 3.31
Q1: 1.48
Min: 0.00

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

15.11

Max: 15.76
STX: 15.11
Q3: 7.67
Median: 3.31
Q1: 1.48
Min: 0.00

Apple (AAPL) vs. Seagate Technology (STX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Apple (AAPL) at 42.57 and Seagate Technology (STX) at 166.55 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

42.57

AAPL: 42.57
Max: 16.24
Q3: 8.74
Median: 4.09
Q1: 2.09
Min: -1.33

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

166.55

STX: 166.55
Max: 16.24
Q3: 8.74
Median: 4.09
Q1: 2.09
Min: -1.33

Apple (AAPL) vs. Seagate Technology (STX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Seagate Technology (STX)
Metric	AAPL	STX
P/E Ratio (TTM)	35.85	61.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)	9.80	15.11
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	42.57	166.55
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.36%	1.06%