Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) 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 | ACMR | 40.2% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | ACMR | Lower P/E (25.2x vs 31.1x), PEG 0.70 vs 1.74 |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs ACMR's 13.3% |
| Stability / Safety | AAPL | Beta 1.28 vs ACMR's 1.90 |
| Dividends | AAPL | 0.4% yield, 14-year raise streak, vs ACMR's 0.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ACMR | +114.6% vs AAPL's +9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs ACMR's 4.2%, ROIC 64.5% vs 13.2% |
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
ACM Research develops and manufactures single-wafer wet cleaning equipment used in semiconductor manufacturing to improve chip yield and performance. It generates revenue primarily from equipment sales—including its Ultra C brand tools for cleaning, plating, and other wafer processing steps—with service and support contracts providing recurring income. The company's competitive advantage lies in its proprietary cleaning technologies—like space alternated phase shift and timely energized bubble oscillation—which offer superior performance for advanced semiconductor nodes while reducing chemical consumption.
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 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ACMR leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 494.8x ACMR's $880M. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ACMR's 13.3%. On growth, ACMR holds the edge at +32.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ACMRACM Research, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $880M | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $144M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $117M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$12M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +46.7% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.8% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.3% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -1.3% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +32.0% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.6% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 35.4x trailing earnings, AAPL trades at a 3% valuation discount to ACMR's 36.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ACMR offers better value at 1.01x vs AAPL's 1.98x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ACMRACM Research, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.3B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.1B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 36.39x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 25.19x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.01x | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 19.35x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.26x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.37x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 47.62x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $6 for ACMR. ACMR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.17x 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 ACMR's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ACMRACM Research, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.2% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.2% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +13.2% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +13.7% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.17x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$219M | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $407M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $189M | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 27.72x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,510 for ACMR. Over the past 12 months, ACMR leads with a +114.6% total return vs AAPL's +9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ACMR at 75.1% vs AAPL's 21.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ACMRACM Research, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +24.1% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +114.6% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +436.4% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +55.1% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +2877.5% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +75.1% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AAPL is the less volatile stock with a 1.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ACMR's 1.90 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 ACMR's 77.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ACMRACM Research, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.90x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $71.65 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $16.82 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +77.7% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.7 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ACMR as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.7% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs -28.2% for ACMR (target: $40). For income investors, AAPL offers the higher dividend yield at 0.39% vs ACMR's 0.19%.
| Metric | ACMRACM Research, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $40.00 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 10 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.2% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.10 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.3% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) | 100 | 500.16 | +400.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR)'s +55%. A $10,000 investment in AAPL 5 years ago would be worth $21,049 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) | $27M | $782M | +2757.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) | 3.8% | 13.2% | +251.7% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) | 30.3 | 9.9 | -67.3% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
ACM Research, Inc. has traded in a 10x–90x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~36x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) | 0.04 | 1.53 | +3409.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
ACM Research, Inc. generated $70M FCF in 2024 (+241% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
ACMR vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ACMR 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 ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) a "Buy" — based on 10 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 — ACMR or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the cheapest at 35.4x versus ACM Research, Inc. at 36.4x. On forward P/E, ACM Research, Inc. is actually cheaper at 25.2x — 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: ACM Research, Inc. wins at 0.70x 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 — ACMR or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to +55.1% for ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR). 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: ACMR returned +28.8% versus AAPL's +1027%. 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 — ACMR or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.28β versus ACM Research, Inc.'s 1.90β — meaning ACMR is approximately 48% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ACMR or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 13.2% for ACM Research, 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 19.3% for ACMR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACMR leads at 50.1%, 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 ACMR or AAPL 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, ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.70x versus Apple Inc.'s 1.74x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) trades at 25.2x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 6.0x 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 — ACMR or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Apple Inc. (AAPL) offers the highest yield at 0.4%, versus 0.2% for ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR).
08Is ACMR or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.28), +1027% 10Y return). ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) carries a higher beta of 1.90 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AAPL: +1027%, ACMR: +28.8%), 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 ACMR and AAPL?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. 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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