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AAPL vs. TSM: Apple vs. TSMC Stock Comparison

How do Apple (AAPL) and TSMC (TSM) 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 TSMC (TSM) share the Information Technology sector but sit in different industry groups — AAPL in Technology Hardware & Equipment and TSM in Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment.

Apple (AAPL) trades as ordinary local shares, while TSMC (TSM) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Apple (AAPL) and TSMC (TSM)
Profile ItemAAPLTSM
NameApple Inc.Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesTaiwan
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS IndustryTechnology Hardware, Storage & PeripheralsSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryTechnology Hardware, Storage & PeripheralsSemiconductors
Market Capitalization4,514.71 billion USD2,172.87 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateDecember 12, 1980October 9, 1997
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AAPL
TSM
GSPC
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Apple (AAPL) vs. TSMC (TSM), 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 TSMC (TSM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Apple (AAPL) and TSMC (TSM)
MetricAAPLTSM
Total Return (1Y)38.06%86.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)21.26%67.78%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.44%33.27%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Apple (AAPL) and TSMC (TSM)
MetricAAPLTSM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.08%40.41%
Beta (5Y)1.081.39
Max Drawdown (5Y)-33.36%-56.47%
Avg. Volume (3M)56.23M13.44M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AAPL and TSM 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 TSMC (TSM)
MetricAAPLTSM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.362.04
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.013.17

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Apple (AAPL) at 148.75% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; TSMC (TSM) at 39.97% also sits in the top quartile.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

148.75%

AAPL
148.75%
Max
44.01%
Q3
18.56%
Median
10.41%
Q1
0.66%
Min
-24.95%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

39.97%

Max
41.07%
TSM
39.97%
Q3
18.60%
Median
8.31%
Q1
-3.63%
Min
-21.32%
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Apple (AAPL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 27.62% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and TSMC (TSM) at 49.92% also retains a top-quartile share.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.62%

AAPL
27.62%
Max
26.11%
Q3
10.82%
Median
3.61%
Q1
-0.23%
Min
-11.93%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

49.92%

Max
57.64%
TSM
49.92%
Q3
23.05%
Median
9.48%
Q1
-0.27%
Min
-34.50%
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Apple (AAPL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

TSMC (TSM) at 60.34% 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
36.27%
AAPL
32.62%
Q3
17.34%
Median
7.40%
Q1
2.33%
Min
-18.45%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

60.34%

TSM
60.34%
Max
48.99%
Q3
23.49%
Median
13.09%
Q1
2.22%
Min
-27.51%
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Apple (AAPL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Apple (AAPL) and TSMC (TSM)
MetricAAPLTSM
ROE (TTM)148.75%39.97%
ROA (TTM)27.08%19.00%
Net Margin (TTM)27.62%49.92%
Operating Margin (TTM)32.62%60.34%
Gross Margin (TTM)48.65%64.23%

Growth

Revenue Growth

TSMC (TSM) at 31.61% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Apple (AAPL) at 6.43% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for TSM.

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

EPS Growth

TSMC (TSM) at 44.69% 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 TSM.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Apple (AAPL) and TSMC (TSM)
MetricAAPLTSM
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.43%31.61%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.81%18.94%
EPS Growth (YoY)22.70%44.69%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.88%18.65%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

TSMC (TSM) at 2.46 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
2.92
Median
1.98
Q1
1.31
AAPL
1.00
Min
0.17

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.46

Max
9.75
Q3
5.29
Median
3.43
TSM
2.46
Q1
2.31
Min
1.07
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Apple (AAPL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 0.78 and TSMC (TSM) at 0.17 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.78

Max
2.02
Q3
0.85
AAPL
0.78
Median
0.27
Q1
0.04
Min
0.00

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.17

Max
1.44
Q3
0.65
Median
0.19
TSM
0.17
Q1
0.05
Min
0.00
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Apple (AAPL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Apple (AAPL) and TSMC (TSM)
MetricAAPLTSM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.002.46
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.780.17
Net Debt / EBITDA0.13-0.77

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 0.34% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; TSMC (TSM) at 6.25% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.34%

Max
0.75%
AAPL
0.34%
Q3
0.33%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

6.25%

TSM
6.25%
Max
0.80%
Q3
0.33%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Apple (AAPL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Apple (AAPL) at 12.04% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while TSMC (TSM) at 25.74% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

12.04%

Max
40.27%
Q3
16.57%
AAPL
12.04%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

25.74%

Max
45.89%
TSM
25.74%
Q3
18.55%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Apple (AAPL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Apple (AAPL) and TSMC (TSM)
MetricAAPLTSM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.34%6.25%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)12.04%25.74%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

TSMC (TSM) at 31.24 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Apple (AAPL) at 35.48 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for TSM, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

35.48

Max
94.97
Q3
54.95
AAPL
35.48
Median
35.20
Q1
21.64
Min
11.00

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

31.24

Max
141.07
Q3
88.69
Median
46.52
Q1
32.47
TSM
31.24
Min
9.98
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Apple (AAPL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

TSMC (TSM) at 0.49 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Apple (AAPL) at 9.67 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

9.67

Max
15.82
AAPL
9.67
Q3
7.15
Median
3.05
Q1
1.30
Min
0.00

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.49

Max
36.96
Q3
17.13
Median
7.65
Q1
3.38
TSM
0.49
Min
0.01
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Apple (AAPL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Apple (AAPL) at 42.03 and TSMC (TSM) at 86.24 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

42.03

AAPL
42.03
Max
13.75
Q3
7.11
Median
3.75
Q1
1.90
Min
-1.64

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

86.24

TSM
86.24
Max
21.84
Q3
11.73
Median
5.57
Q1
2.93
Min
0.04
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Apple (AAPL) vs. TSMC (TSM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Apple (AAPL) and TSMC (TSM)
MetricAAPLTSM
P/E Ratio (TTM)35.4831.24
P/S Ratio (TTM)9.670.49
P/B Ratio (MRQ)42.0386.24
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.39%33.63%