AAPL vs. WDC: Apple vs. Western Digital Stock Comparison
How do Apple (AAPL) and Western Digital (WDC) 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 Western Digital (WDC) 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 | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Apple Inc. | Western Digital Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| 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 | 220.16 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | December 12, 1980 | October 31, 1978 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AAPL | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 41.59% | 900.86% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Western Digital (WDC) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.12, 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 | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 23.73% | 70.78% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.10 | 2.12 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 52.80M | 8.45M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 141.47% and Western Digital (WDC) at 85.92% 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%
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
85.92%
- WDC
- 85.92%
- Max
- 44.16%
- Q3
- 19.25%
- Median
- 10.96%
- Q1
- 0.71%
- Min
- -25.92%
Net Margin (TTM)
Western Digital (WDC) at 55.29% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Apple (AAPL) at 27.15% also retains a top-quartile share.
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%
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
55.29%
- WDC
- 55.29%
- Max
- 30.43%
- Q3
- 12.33%
- Median
- 4.57%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -14.09%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Western Digital (WDC) at 37.01% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Apple (AAPL) at 32.28% also operates in the top quartile.
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%
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
37.01%
- WDC
- 37.01%
- Max
- 35.67%
- Q3
- 15.50%
- Median
- 6.62%
- Q1
- 1.99%
- Min
- -18.24%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AAPL | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 141.47% | 85.92% |
| ROA (TTM) | 26.23% | 14.65% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 27.15% | 55.29% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 32.28% | 37.01% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 47.86% | 45.43% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | AAPL | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.43% | 50.70% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.81% | -20.28% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | AAPL | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 22.70% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.88% | 2.66% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Western Digital (WDC) at 1.49 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
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
1.49
- Max
- 5.80
- Q3
- 3.18
- Median
- 1.90
- WDC
- 1.49
- Q1
- 1.27
- Min
- 0.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 0.80 and Western Digital (WDC) at 0.18 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
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
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.18
- Max
- 2.02
- Q3
- 0.88
- Median
- 0.31
- WDC
- 0.18
- Q1
- 0.06
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AAPL | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.07 | 1.49 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.80 | 0.18 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.10 | -0.39 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Apple (AAPL) at 0.37% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Western Digital (WDC) at 0.07% 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%
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.07%
- Max
- 0.72%
- Q3
- 0.35%
- WDC
- 0.07%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 12.59% and Western Digital (WDC) at 2.69% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
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%
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
2.69%
- Max
- 32.92%
- Q3
- 13.87%
- WDC
- 2.69%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AAPL | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.37% | 0.07% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 12.59% | 2.69% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 35.07 and Western Digital (WDC) at 38.18 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
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
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
38.18
- Max
- 164.07
- Q3
- 82.72
- Median
- 38.67
- WDC
- 38.18
- Q1
- 23.21
- Min
- 8.13
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Apple (AAPL) at 9.41 and Western Digital (WDC) at 18.69 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
9.41
- Max
- 18.69
- AAPL
- 9.41
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 3.88
- Q1
- 1.49
- Min
- 0.00
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
18.69
- WDC
- 18.69
- 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 Western Digital (WDC) at 30.54 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
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
30.54
- WDC
- 30.54
- Max
- 19.99
- Q3
- 9.52
- Median
- 4.43
- Q1
- 2.28
- Min
- -3.84
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AAPL | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 35.07 | 38.18 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 9.41 | 18.69 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 39.86 | 30.54 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.38% | 0.94% |