Apple (AAPL) vs. Tesla (TSLA)
This page compares Apple (AAPL) with Tesla (TSLA) 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 Tesla (TSLA) belongs to Consumer Discretionary (Automobiles & Components) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.
| Symbol | AAPL | TSLA |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Apple Inc. | Tesla, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Consumer Discretionary |
| GICS Industry Group | Technology Hardware & Equipment | Automobiles & Components |
| GICS Industry | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | Automobiles |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | Automobile Manufacturers |
| Market Capitalization | 4,275.93 billion USD | 1,489.82 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | December 12, 1980 | June 29, 2010 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
Apple (AAPL) at 35.20 hovers around the typical industry Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while Tesla (TSLA) at 370.73 sits above its industry benchmark range — an elevated trailing earnings multiple for TSLA relative to peers.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
35.20
- Max
- 171.43
- Q3
- 83.19
- Median
- 39.13
- Q1
- 23.68
- Min
- 9.35
TSLA
Automobiles & Components industry group
370.73
- Max
- 49.81
- Q3
- 34.42
- Median
- 20.26
- Q1
- 13.70
- Min
- 6.98
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 Tesla (TSLA) at 15.22 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
TSLA
Automobiles & Components industry group
15.22
- Max
- 2.80
- Q3
- 1.54
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.31
- Min
- 0.00
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both Apple (AAPL) at 40.10 and Tesla (TSLA) at 18.12 look expensive — each Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
40.10
- Max
- 17.76
- Q3
- 9.32
- Median
- 4.56
- Q1
- 2.09
- Min
- -3.27
TSLA
Automobiles & Components industry group
18.12
- Max
- 4.80
- Q3
- 2.41
- Median
- 1.43
- Q1
- 0.67
- Min
- -1.76
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | TSLA |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 35.20 | 370.73 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 9.47 | 15.22 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 40.10 | 18.12 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 2.36% | 0.35% |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
Apple (AAPL) posts Return on Equity (TTM) of 141.47%, above its industry benchmark range, while Tesla (TSLA) at 4.90% sits closer to the industry mid-range.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
141.47%
- Max
- 44.16%
- Q3
- 19.25%
- Median
- 10.96%
- Q1
- 0.71%
- Min
- -25.92%
TSLA
Automobiles & Components industry group
4.90%
- Max
- 41.97%
- Q3
- 11.32%
- Median
- 5.13%
- Q1
- -14.13%
- Min
- -49.98%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
Apple (AAPL) at 27.15% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Tesla (TSLA) at 3.95%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
27.15%
- Max
- 30.43%
- Q3
- 12.35%
- Median
- 4.45%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -14.09%
TSLA
Automobiles & Components industry group
3.95%
- Max
- 15.12%
- Q3
- 4.34%
- Median
- 1.53%
- Q1
- -3.18%
- Min
- -13.87%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Apple (AAPL) at 32.28% operates in the top Operating Profit Margin (TTM) quartile, ahead of Tesla (TSLA) at 4.20%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
32.28%
- Max
- 35.67%
- Q3
- 15.55%
- Median
- 6.62%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -18.45%
TSLA
Automobiles & Components industry group
4.20%
- Max
- 18.83%
- Q3
- 8.71%
- Median
- 3.75%
- Q1
- -1.25%
- Min
- -14.77%
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | TSLA |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 141.47% | 4.90% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 26.23% | 2.23% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 27.15% | 3.95% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 32.28% | 4.20% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 47.86% | 19.07% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | TSLA |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Revenue Growth | 6.43% | -2.93% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | 1.81% | 5.19% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | TSLA |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year EPS Growth | 22.70% | -47.06% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | 6.88% | -33.18% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Tesla (TSLA) at 2.04 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
TSLA
Automobiles & Components industry group
2.04
- Max
- 4.97
- Q3
- 2.69
- Median
- 1.85
- Q1
- 1.14
- Min
- 0.38
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
Tesla (TSLA) at 0.19 maintains Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) in the lower-leverage quartile of industry peers, ahead of Apple (AAPL) at 0.80, which sits around the industry mid-range.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.80
- Max
- 2.02
- Q3
- 0.88
- Median
- 0.31
- Q1
- 0.05
- Min
- 0.00
TSLA
Automobiles & Components industry group
0.19
- Max
- 2.53
- Q3
- 1.19
- Median
- 0.72
- Q1
- 0.26
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | TSLA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.07 | 2.04 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.80 | 0.19 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.10 | -2.60 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Tesla (TSLA) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — often a deliberate choice to reinvest earnings rather than return cash. Meanwhile Apple (AAPL) reports a yield of 0.37%, ranking against industry peers normally.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.37%
- Max
- 1.30%
- Q3
- 0.54%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
TSLA
Automobiles & Components industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 5.04%
- Q3
- 2.06%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Tesla (TSLA) 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 12.59%, ranking against industry peers normally.
AAPL
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
12.59%
- Max
- 37.10%
- Q3
- 15.46%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
TSLA
Automobiles & Components industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 84.24%
- Q3
- 33.71%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | TSLA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.37% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 12.59% | 0.00% |
Performance & Risk
Performance & Risk at a Glance
| Symbol | AAPL | TSLA |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Return | 46.73% | 38.56% |
| 1-Year Volatility | 22.69% | 44.47% |
| Beta | 1.10 | 1.80 |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 46.45M | 59.45M |