AAPL vs. WDC: Apple vs. Western Digital Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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.

Company profile comparison for Apple (AAPL) and Western Digital (WDC)
Profile Item	AAPL	WDC
Name	Apple Inc.	Western Digital Corp.
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	4,975.38 billion USD	98.74 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

AAPL

WDC

GSPC

Apple (AAPL) vs. Western Digital (WDC), 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 Western Digital (WDC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AAPL	WDC
Total Return (1Y)	31.02%	78.89%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.87%	106.11%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	18.93%	47.06%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AAPL

WDC

GSPC

Apple (AAPL) vs. Western Digital (WDC), 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 Western Digital (WDC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Western Digital (WDC) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.35, 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 Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AAPL	WDC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	24.99%	83.20%
Beta (5Y)	1.08	2.35
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-33.36%	-64.64%
Avg. Volume (3M)	42.44M	8.01M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AAPL and WDC 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 Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AAPL	WDC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.07	0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.58	1.32

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 142.26% and Western Digital (WDC) at 129.60% 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

142.26%

AAPL: 142.26%
Max: 42.47%
Q3: 19.13%
Median: 11.00%
Q1: 1.63%
Min: -20.62%

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

129.60%

WDC: 129.60%
Max: 42.47%
Q3: 19.13%
Median: 11.00%
Q1: 1.63%
Min: -20.62%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Western Digital (WDC) at 69.20% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Apple (AAPL) at 27.60% also retains a top-quartile share.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.60%

AAPL: 27.60%
Max: 27.60%
Q3: 11.66%
Median: 4.08%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -11.02%

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

69.20%

WDC: 69.20%
Max: 27.60%
Q3: 11.66%
Median: 4.08%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -11.02%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Western Digital (WDC) at 47.68% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Apple (AAPL) at 31.13% also operates in the top quartile.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

31.13%

Max: 36.27%
AAPL: 31.13%
Q3: 18.36%
Median: 8.84%
Q1: 1.46%
Min: -21.39%

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

47.68%

WDC: 47.68%
Max: 36.27%
Q3: 18.36%
Median: 8.84%
Q1: 1.46%
Min: -21.39%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AAPL	WDC
ROE (TTM)	142.26%	129.60%
ROA (TTM)	25.87%	25.88%
Net Margin (TTM)	27.60%	69.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)	31.13%	47.68%
Gross Margin (TTM)	48.79%	52.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Western Digital (WDC) at 35.70% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Apple (AAPL) at 15.06% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for WDC.

Apple (AAPL) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Western Digital (WDC) at 372.38% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Apple (AAPL) at 20.38%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

Apple (AAPL) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AAPL	WDC
Revenue Growth (YoY)	15.06%	35.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.70%	27.35%
EPS Growth (YoY)	20.38%	372.38%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	13.57%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Western Digital (WDC) at 1.43 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Apple (AAPL) at 1.02 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for AAPL.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.02

Max: 5.34
Q3: 3.02
Median: 1.95
Q1: 1.32
AAPL: 1.02
Min: 0.17

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.43

Max: 5.34
Q3: 3.02
Median: 1.95
WDC: 1.43
Q1: 1.32
Min: 0.17

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Western Digital (WDC) at 0.10 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Apple (AAPL) at 0.84 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.84

Max: 1.76
AAPL: 0.84
Q3: 0.78
Median: 0.24
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.01

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.10

Max: 1.76
Q3: 0.78
Median: 0.24
WDC: 0.10
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.01

Apple (AAPL) vs. Western Digital (WDC): 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 Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AAPL	WDC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.02	1.43
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.84	0.10
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.22	-0.06

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 0.31% and Western Digital (WDC) at 0.21% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.31%

Max: 0.73%
Q3: 0.31%
AAPL: 0.31%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.21%

Max: 0.73%
Q3: 0.31%
WDC: 0.21%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 11.80% and Western Digital (WDC) at 1.93% 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

11.80%

Max: 32.27%
Q3: 14.48%
AAPL: 11.80%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.93%

Max: 32.27%
Q3: 14.48%
WDC: 1.93%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AAPL	WDC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.31%	0.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	11.80%	1.93%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Western Digital (WDC) at 9.28 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Apple (AAPL) at 38.13 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for WDC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

38.13

Max: 69.48
Q3: 41.02
AAPL: 38.13
Median: 26.39
Q1: 19.36
Min: 6.07

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

9.28

Max: 69.48
Q3: 41.02
Median: 26.39
Q1: 19.36
WDC: 9.28
Min: 6.07

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Apple (AAPL) at 10.39 and Western Digital (WDC) at 6.82 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

10.39

Max: 11.30
AAPL: 10.39
Q3: 5.82
Median: 2.56
Q1: 1.05
Min: 0.00

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

6.82

Max: 11.30
WDC: 6.82
Q3: 5.82
Median: 2.56
Q1: 1.05
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Western Digital (WDC) at 10.55 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Apple (AAPL) at 44.39 prices even higher, above its industry range.

AAPL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

44.39

AAPL: 44.39
Max: 10.75
Q3: 5.52
Median: 3.17
Q1: 1.79
Min: 0.33

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

10.55

Max: 10.75
WDC: 10.55
Q3: 5.52
Median: 3.17
Q1: 1.79
Min: 0.33

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Apple (AAPL) and Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AAPL	WDC
P/E Ratio (TTM)	38.13	9.28
P/S Ratio (TTM)	10.39	6.82
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	44.39	10.55
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.12%	2.76%