Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) 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 | AFRM | 38.8% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | AAPL | Lower P/E (31.1x vs 43.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs AFRM's 9.7% |
| Stability / Safety | AAPL | Beta 1.28 vs AFRM's 2.41, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AAPL | 0.4% yield; 14-year raise streak; AFRM pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +9.7% vs AFRM's -26.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs AFRM's 2.2%, ROIC 64.5% vs -0.7% |
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
Affirm operates a buy-now-pay-later platform that enables consumers to split purchases into installment payments at online and physical retailers. It generates revenue primarily from merchant fees — typically 3-6% of transaction value — and interest income from longer-term loans to consumers. Its key advantage is a transparent, fee-free model that builds consumer trust and a growing merchant network that creates a two-sided marketplace effect.
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 — strongest in Financial Metrics and Profitability & Efficiency. 1 category is tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 149.1x AFRM's $2.9B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AFRM's 9.7%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AFRMAffirm Holdings, … | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.9B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $420M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $282M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $619M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +59.5% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.9% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.7% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +21.2% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -62.1% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +60.9% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 35.4x trailing earnings, AAPL trades at a 89% valuation discount to AFRM's 313.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, AAPL's 27.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AFRM's 158.0x.
| Metric | AFRMAffirm Holdings, … | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $15.3B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $21.8B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 313.20x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 43.63x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 158.00x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.74x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 5.22x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 25.38x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $8 for AFRM. AAPL carries lower financial leverage with a 1.67x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AFRM's 2.56x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AAPL scores 7/9 vs AFRM's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | AFRMAffirm Holdings, … | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.0% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.2% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.7% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.9% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.56x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6.5B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.4B | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $7.9B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.49x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,138 for AFRM. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +9.7% total return vs AFRM's -26.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AFRM at 51.1% vs AAPL's 21.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AFRMAffirm Holdings, … | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -36.5% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -26.8% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +244.9% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -48.6% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -51.7% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +51.1% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AAPL is the less volatile stock with a 1.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AFRM's 2.41 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 AFRM's 47.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AFRMAffirm Holdings, … | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.41x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $100.00 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $30.90 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +47.0% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 34.4 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.3M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AFRM as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 79.7% upside for AFRM (target: $84) vs 14.7% for AAPL (target: $303). AAPL is the only dividend payer here at 0.39% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | AFRMAffirm Holdings, … | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $84.40 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 32 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.6% | +2.3% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Jan 21 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affirm Holdings, In… (AFRM) | 100 | 63.75 | -36.3% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 201.29 | +101.3% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs Affirm Holdings, In… (AFRM)'s -49%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affirm Holdings, In… (AFRM) | $264M | $3.2B | +1119.7% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affirm Holdings, In… (AFRM) | -45.6% | 1.6% | +103.6% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affirm Holdings, In… (AFRM) | -0.47 | 0.15 | +131.9% |
| 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
Affirm Holdings, Inc. generated $602M FCF in 2025 (+382% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
AFRM vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AFRM 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 Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) a "Buy" — based on 32 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 — AFRM or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the cheapest at 35.4x versus Affirm Holdings, Inc. at 313.2x. On forward P/E, Apple Inc. is actually cheaper at 31.1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AFRM or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to -48.6% for Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM). 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 AFRM's -51.7%. 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 — AFRM or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.28β versus Affirm Holdings, Inc.'s 2.41β — meaning AFRM is approximately 89% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Apple Inc. (AAPL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 167% versus 3% for Affirm Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — AFRM or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 1.6% for Affirm Holdings, 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 -2.7% for AFRM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AFRM leads at 67.5%, 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 AFRM or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Apple Inc. (AAPL) trades at 31.1x forward P/E versus 43.6x for Affirm Holdings, Inc. — 12.5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AFRM: 79.7% to $84.40.
07Which pays a better dividend — AFRM or AAPL?
In this comparison, AAPL (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. AFRM does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is AFRM 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). Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) carries a higher beta of 2.41 — 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%, AFRM: -51.7%), 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 AFRM 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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