Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Apple Inc. (AAPL) vs Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) vs NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) 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 | NVDA | 65.5% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | NVDA | Lower P/E (21.9x vs 23.8x), PEG 0.23 vs 1.27 |
| Quality / Margins | NVDA | 55.6% net margin vs AAPL's 27.0% |
| Stability / Safety | MSFT | Beta 0.88 vs NVDA's 1.73 |
| Dividends | MSFT | 0.8% yield, 19-year raise streak, vs NVDA's 0.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NVDA | +41.9% vs MSFT's -0.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NVDA | 58.1% ROA vs MSFT's 17.9%, ROIC 81.8% vs 27.9% |
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
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.
Microsoft is a global technology company that develops software, cloud services, and hardware products. It generates revenue primarily through cloud services like Azure (~40% of revenue), productivity software including Office 365 and Dynamics, and personal computing through Windows licensing and Surface devices. Its key competitive advantage is the deeply entrenched enterprise ecosystem—Windows and Office dominance creates a powerful network effect that drives adoption of its cloud and productivity suites.
NVIDIA designs and sells graphics processing units (GPUs) and accelerated computing platforms that power artificial intelligence, gaming, and professional visualization applications. The company generates revenue primarily through its Data Center segment — which includes AI chips and systems — accounting for over 70% of sales, supplemented by its Gaming GPU business and professional visualization offerings. NVIDIA's competitive moat stems from its CUDA software ecosystem — which locks developers into its hardware architecture — and its years of architectural leadership in parallel processing for AI workloads.
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
NVDA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). MSFT leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 2.0x NVDA's $215.9B. NVDA is the more profitable business, keeping 55.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AAPL's 27.0%. On growth, NVDA holds the edge at +73.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AAPLApple Inc. | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | NVDANVIDIA Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $435.6B | $305.5B | $215.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $152.9B | $184.8B | $133.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $117.8B | $119.3B | $120.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $123.3B | $77.4B | $96.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +47.3% | +68.6% | +71.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +32.4% | +46.7% | +60.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +27.0% | +39.0% | +55.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +28.3% | +25.3% | +44.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.7% | +16.7% | +73.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +18.3% | +59.8% | +97.8% |
Valuation Metrics
At 28.8x trailing earnings, MSFT trades at a 20% valuation discount to NVDA's 36.2x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), NVDA offers better value at 0.38x vs AAPL's 1.98x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | AAPLApple Inc. | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | NVDANVIDIA Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.88T | $2.92T | $4.31T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.97T | $2.95T | $4.31T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 35.41x | 28.79x | 36.16x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 31.15x | 23.84x | 21.88x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.98x | 1.53x | 0.38x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 27.45x | 18.12x | 32.33x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 9.33x | 10.36x | 19.94x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 53.76x | 8.54x | 27.52x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 39.33x | 40.74x | 44.54x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $31 for MSFT. NVDA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AAPL's 1.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AAPL scores 7/9 vs NVDA's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | AAPLApple Inc. | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | NVDANVIDIA Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +133.5% | +30.5% | +76.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +31.1% | +17.9% | +58.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +64.5% | +27.9% | +81.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +69.6% | +29.7% | +97.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.67x | 0.18x | 0.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $89.7B | $30.3B | $807M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $33.5B | $30.2B | $10.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $123.3B | $60.6B | $11.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 56.44x | 545.03x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in NVDA five years ago would be worth $128,116 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,186 for MSFT. Over the past 12 months, NVDA leads with a +41.9% total return vs MSFT's -0.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NVDA at 96.9% vs MSFT's 17.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AAPLApple Inc. | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | NVDANVIDIA Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -2.4% | -16.8% | -6.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +9.7% | -0.2% | +41.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +81.2% | +61.3% | +663.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +110.5% | +71.9% | +1181.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1027.4% | +718.2% | +22525.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +21.9% | +17.3% | +96.9% |
Risk & Volatility
MSFT is the less volatile stock with a 0.88 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NVDA's 1.73 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 MSFT's 70.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AAPLApple Inc. | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | NVDANVIDIA Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.28x | 0.88x | 1.73x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $288.61 | $555.45 | $212.19 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $169.21 | $344.79 | $86.62 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +91.5% | +70.7% | +83.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.5 | 39.8 | 47.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 40.9M | 28.4M | 136.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: AAPL as "Buy", MSFT as "Buy", NVDA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 52.9% upside for NVDA (target: $271) vs 14.7% for AAPL (target: $303). For income investors, MSFT offers the higher dividend yield at 0.82% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | AAPLApple Inc. | MSFTMicrosoft Corpora… | NVDANVIDIA Corporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $303.11 | $583.67 | $271.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 109 | 78 | 79 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.4% | +0.8% | +0.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 14 | 19 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.03 | $3.23 | $0.04 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.3% | +0.6% | +0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 100 | 245.02 | +145.0% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | 100 | 2,686.11 | +2586.1% |
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) returned +1.2K% over 5 years vs Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT)'s +72%. A $10,000 investment in NVDA 5 years ago would be worth $128,116 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $229.2B | $416.2B | +81.5% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | $96.6B | $281.7B | +191.7% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | $6.9B | $215.9B | +3025.0% |
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.1% | 26.9% | +27.6% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 26.4% | 36.1% | +36.9% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | 24.1% | 55.6% | +130.6% |
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 26.3 | 35.5 | +35.0% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | 75.6 | 36.2 | -52.1% |
Apple Inc. has traded in a 13x–41x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~35x. Microsoft Corporation has traded in a 25x–48x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~29x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.3 | 7.46 | +224.3% |
| Microsoft Corporati… (MSFT) | 3.25 | 13.64 | +319.7% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | 0.06 | 4.9 | +7556.3% |
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021). Microsoft Corporation generated $72B FCF in 2025 (+28% vs 2021).
AAPL vs MSFT vs NVDA: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AAPL or MSFT or NVDA a better buy right now?
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) offers the better valuation at 28.8x trailing P/E (23.8x 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 — AAPL or MSFT or NVDA?
On trailing P/E, Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the cheapest at 28.8x versus NVIDIA Corporation at 36.2x. On forward P/E, NVIDIA Corporation is actually cheaper at 21.9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NVIDIA Corporation wins at 0.23x versus Apple Inc.'s 1.74x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AAPL or MSFT or NVDA?
Over the past 5 years, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) delivered a total return of +1181%, compared to +71.9% for Microsoft Corporation (MSFT). A $10,000 investment in NVDA five years ago would be worth approximately $128K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NVDA returned +225.3% versus MSFT's +718.2%. 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 — AAPL or MSFT or NVDA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.88β versus NVIDIA Corporation's 1.73β — meaning NVDA is approximately 95% more volatile than MSFT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — AAPL or MSFT or NVDA?
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more profitable company, earning 55.6% net margin versus 26.9% for Apple Inc. — meaning it keeps 55.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NVDA leads at 60.4% versus 32.0% for AAPL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NVDA leads at 71.1%, 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 AAPL or MSFT or NVDA 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, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.23x versus Apple Inc.'s 1.74x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) trades at 21.9x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 9.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NVDA: 52.9% to $271.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — AAPL or MSFT or NVDA?
In this comparison, MSFT (0.8% yield), AAPL (0.4% yield) pay a dividend. NVDA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is AAPL or MSFT or NVDA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.88), 0.8% yield, +718.2% 10Y return). NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) carries a higher beta of 1.73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MSFT: +718.2%, NVDA: +225.3%), 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 AAPL and MSFT and NVDA?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. MSFT pays a dividend while AAPL, NVDA 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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