Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Sony Group Corporation (SONY) vs Apple Inc. (AAPL) vs Nextpower Inc. (NXT) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NXT | 18.4% revenue growth vs SONY's -0.5% |
| Value | SONY | Lower P/E (0.1x vs 24.1x), PEG 0.01 vs 9.71 |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs SONY's 9.2% |
| Stability / Safety | SONY | Beta 0.85 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | SONY | 0.5% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NXT | +138.8% vs SONY's -7.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs SONY's 3.2%, ROIC 64.5% vs 10.7% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Sony Group Corporation is a diversified global entertainment and technology conglomerate spanning electronics, gaming, music, and film. It generates revenue primarily through PlayStation gaming hardware and services (~30%), electronics like cameras and TVs (~25%), music publishing and streaming (~20%), and film production and distribution (~15%). Its competitive moat lies in its integrated ecosystem of hardware, software, and content—particularly the dominant PlayStation platform and its extensive entertainment IP library.
Apple is a technology giant that designs and sells premium consumer electronics — most famously the iPhone — along with related software and services. It generates revenue primarily from hardware sales (roughly 80% of total) and a fast-growing services segment (around 20%) that includes the App Store, subscriptions, and licensing. Its key competitive advantage is a powerful ecosystem that locks users into its hardware, software, and services through seamless integration and high switching costs.
Nextracker designs and manufactures solar tracking systems that follow the sun to maximize energy production from photovoltaic power plants. It generates revenue primarily from selling its NX Horizon and NX Gemini tracker hardware—which accounts for the bulk of sales—alongside software subscriptions for its TrueCapture optimization platform. The company's competitive advantage lies in its proprietary software algorithms that optimize tracker positioning and its extensive installation experience across diverse terrains.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 3 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
AAPL leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). SONY leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
SONY is the larger business by revenue, generating $12.77T annually — 3543.9x NXT's $3.6B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SONY's 9.2%. On growth, NXT holds the edge at +33.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SONYSony Group Corpor… | AAPLApple Inc. | NXTNextpower Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $12.77T | $435.6B | $3.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.60T | $152.9B | $766M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.17T | $117.8B | $592M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.70T | $123.3B | $589M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +29.2% | +47.3% | +32.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.3% | +32.4% | +20.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.2% | +27.0% | +16.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +13.3% | +28.3% | +16.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.0% | +15.7% | +33.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.8% | +18.3% | +7.6% |
Valuation Metrics
At 19.2x trailing earnings, SONY trades at a 46% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), SONY offers better value at 1.25x vs NXT's 12.21x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | SONYSony Group Corpor… | AAPLApple Inc. | NXTNextpower Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $137.5B | $3.88T | $15.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $145.3B | $3.97T | $14.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 19.16x | 35.41x | 30.29x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 0.12x | 31.15x | 24.07x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.25x | 1.98x | 12.21x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.66x | 27.45x | 22.74x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.66x | 9.33x | 5.27x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.57x | 53.76x | 9.64x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 12.82x | 39.33x | 25.09x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $15 for SONY. SONY carries lower financial leverage with a 0.49x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AAPL's 1.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SONY scores 8/9 vs NXT's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SONYSony Group Corpor… | AAPLApple Inc. | NXTNextpower Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.6% | +133.5% | +27.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.2% | +31.1% | +15.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.7% | +64.5% | +62.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.8% | +69.6% | +33.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.49x | 1.67x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.22T | $89.7B | -$766M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.98T | $33.5B | $766M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.20T | $123.3B | $0 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 22.32x | — | 161.08x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in NXT five years ago would be worth $33,892 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,919 for SONY. Over the past 12 months, NXT leads with a +138.8% total return vs SONY's -7.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NXT at 51.1% vs SONY's 11.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SONYSony Group Corpor… | AAPLApple Inc. | NXTNextpower Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -10.9% | -2.4% | +13.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -7.5% | +9.7% | +138.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +39.9% | +81.2% | +245.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +9.2% | +110.5% | +238.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +466.3% | +1027.4% | +238.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +11.9% | +21.9% | +51.1% |
Risk & Volatility
SONY is the less volatile stock with a 0.85 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AAPL's 1.28 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AAPL currently trades 91.5% from its 52-week high vs SONY's 76.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SONYSony Group Corpor… | AAPLApple Inc. | NXTNextpower Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.85x | 1.28x | 1.09x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $30.34 | $288.61 | $131.59 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $20.42 | $169.21 | $36.06 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +76.0% | +91.5% | +79.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.4 | 57.5 | 44.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.3M | 40.9M | 1.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: SONY as "Buy", AAPL as "Buy", NXT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 30.1% upside for SONY (target: $30) vs 7.1% for NXT (target: $113). For income investors, SONY offers the higher dividend yield at 0.53% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | SONYSony Group Corpor… | AAPLApple Inc. | NXTNextpower Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $30.00 | $303.11 | $112.60 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 16 | 109 | 26 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.5% | +0.4% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 14 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $18.97 | $1.03 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.3% | +2.3% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 23 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) | 100 | 132.22 | +32.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 185.82 | +85.8% |
| Nextpower Inc. (NXT) | 100.23 | 372.78 | +271.9% |
Nextpower Inc. (NXT) returned +239% over 5 years vs Sony Group Corporat… (SONY)'s +9%. A $10,000 investment in NXT 5 years ago would be worth $33,892 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) | $8.1T | $13.0T | +59.9% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
| Nextpower Inc. (NXT) | $661M | $3.0B | +347.9% |
Sony Group Corporation's revenue grew from $8.1T (2016) to $13.0T (2025) — a 5.4% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s revenue grew from $215.6B (2016) to $416.2B (2025) — a 7.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) | 1.8% | 8.8% | +383.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
| Nextpower Inc. (NXT) | -0.2% | 17.2% | +7251.4% |
Sony Group Corporation's net margin went from 2% (2016) to 9% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) | 0.8 | 0.1 | -87.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Sony Group Corporation has traded in a 0x–1x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~19x. Apple Inc. has traded in a 13x–41x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~35x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) | 23.5 | 187.92 | +699.7% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
| Nextpower Inc. (NXT) | -0.04 | 3.47 | +8501.9% |
Sony Group Corporation's EPS grew from $23.50 (2016) to $187.92 (2025) — a 26% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Sony Group Corporation generated $1.7T FCF in 2025 (+153% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
SONY vs AAPL vs NXT: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SONY or AAPL or NXT a better buy right now?
Sony Group Corporation (SONY) offers the better valuation at 19.2x trailing P/E (0.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sony Group Corporation (SONY) a "Buy" — based on 16 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — SONY or AAPL or NXT?
On trailing P/E, Sony Group Corporation (SONY) is the cheapest at 19.2x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, Sony Group Corporation is actually cheaper at 0.1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Sony Group Corporation wins at 0.01x versus Nextpower Inc.'s 9.71x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SONY or AAPL or NXT?
Over the past 5 years, Nextpower Inc. (NXT) delivered a total return of +238.9%, compared to +9.2% for Sony Group Corporation (SONY). A $10,000 investment in NXT five years ago would be worth approximately $34K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +1027% versus NXT's +238.9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — SONY or AAPL or NXT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Sony Group Corporation (SONY) is the lower-risk stock at 0.85β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 50% more volatile than SONY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Sony Group Corporation (SONY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 49% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SONY or AAPL or NXT?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 8.8% for Sony Group Corporation — meaning it keeps 26.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AAPL leads at 32.0% versus 10.9% for SONY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AAPL leads at 46.9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is SONY or AAPL or NXT more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, Sony Group Corporation (SONY) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.01x versus Nextpower Inc.'s 9.71x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Sony Group Corporation (SONY) trades at 0.1x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 31.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SONY: 30.1% to $30.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — SONY or AAPL or NXT?
In this comparison, SONY (0.5% yield), AAPL (0.4% yield) pay a dividend. NXT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is SONY or AAPL or NXT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Sony Group Corporation (SONY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.85), 0.5% yield, +466.3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SONY: +466.3%, NXT: +238.9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between SONY and AAPL and NXT?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. SONY pays a dividend while AAPL, NXT do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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