Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP) vs Apple Inc. (AAPL) 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 | AAPL | 6.4% revenue growth vs AAP's -5.4% |
| Value | AAP | Lower P/E (19.6x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs AAP's 0.5% |
| Stability / Safety | AAP | Beta 1.01 vs AAPL's 1.28 |
| Dividends | AAP | 1.9% yield, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAP | +46.8% vs AAPL's +9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs AAP's 0.4%, ROIC 64.5% vs 2.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Advance Auto Parts is a specialty retailer of automotive aftermarket parts and accessories for both professional installers and do-it-yourself customers. It generates revenue primarily through retail store sales — with professional/commercial sales representing about 60% of revenue and DIY retail making up the remaining 40% — supplemented by e-commerce. The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive physical store network — over 4,700 locations across North America — which provides convenient access and local market penetration that pure online competitors cannot match.
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.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
AAPL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). AAP leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 50.8x AAP's $8.6B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AAP's 0.5%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AAPAdvance Auto Part… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $8.6B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $433M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $44M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$298M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +43.2% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.9% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.5% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -3.5% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -1.2% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +101.4% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 35.4x trailing earnings, AAPL trades at a 51% valuation discount to AAP's 72.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, AAP's 12.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AAPL's 27.5x.
| Metric | AAPAdvance Auto Part… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.2B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.3B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 72.84x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.56x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.22x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.37x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.47x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $2 for AAP. AAPL carries lower financial leverage with a 1.67x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AAP's 2.38x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AAPL scores 7/9 vs AAP's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | AAPAdvance Auto Part… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.0% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.4% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.9% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.3% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.38x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.1B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.1B | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5.2B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.16x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,099 for AAP. Over the past 12 months, AAP leads with a +46.8% total return vs AAPL's +9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs AAP's -26.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AAPAdvance Auto Part… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +37.4% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +46.8% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -60.4% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -59.0% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -53.9% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -26.6% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AAP is the less volatile stock with a 1.01 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 AAP's 76.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AAPAdvance Auto Part… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.01x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $70.00 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $28.89 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +76.0% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.8 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.8M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AAP as "Hold" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.7% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs 6.1% for AAP (target: $56). For income investors, AAP offers the higher dividend yield at 1.86% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | AAPAdvance Auto Part… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $56.40 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 44 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.9% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.99 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.3% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance Auto Parts,… (AAP) | 100 | 37.37 | -62.6% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 448.3 | +348.3% |
Advance Auto Parts,… (AAP) returned -59% over 5 years vs Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s -59%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance Auto Parts,… (AAP) | $9.6B | $8.6B | -10.1% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.'s revenue grew from $9.6B (2016) to $8.6B (2025) — a -1.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance Auto Parts,… (AAP) | 4.8% | 0.5% | -89.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.'s net margin went from 5% (2016) to 1% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance Auto Parts,… (AAP) | 15.5 | 53.8 | +247.1% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. has traded in a 16x–122x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~73x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance Auto Parts,… (AAP) | 6.2 | 0.73 | -88.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.'s EPS grew from $6.20 (2016) to $0.73 (2025) — a -21% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. generated $-298M FCF in 2025 (-136% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
AAP vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AAP or AAPL a better buy right now?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) offers the better valuation at 35.4x trailing P/E (31.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Apple Inc. (AAPL) a "Buy" — based on 109 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 — AAP or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the cheapest at 35.4x versus Advance Auto Parts, Inc. at 72.8x. On forward P/E, Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19.6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AAP or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to -59.0% for Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP). A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth approximately $21K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +1027% versus AAP's -53.9%. 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 — AAP or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP) is the lower-risk stock at 1.01β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 26% more volatile than AAP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Apple Inc. (AAPL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 167% versus 2% for Advance Auto Parts, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — AAP or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 0.5% for Advance Auto Parts, Inc. — 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 1.9% for AAP. 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 AAP or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP) trades at 19.6x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 11.6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AAPL: 14.7% to $303.11.
07Which pays a better dividend — AAP or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP) offers the highest yield at 1.9%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is AAP or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.01), 1.9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AAP: -53.9%, AAPL: +1027%), 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 AAP and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (AAP (Consumer Cyclical) and AAPL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. AAP pays a dividend while AAPL does 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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