Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN) 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 AMN's -21.3% |
| Value |  AMN | Lower P/E (10.1x vs 30.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs AMN's -3.5% |
| Stability / Safety | AMN | Beta 1.00 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AAPL | 0.4% yield; 14-year raise streak; AMN pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +11.7% vs AMN's -18.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs AMN's -4.6%, ROIC 64.5% vs -3.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
AMNbeta 1.00
Growth exposure
AAPLRev growth 6.4%, EPS growth 22.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 1.8%
Long-term compounding (10Y)
AAPL9.5% 10Y total return vs AMN's -33.5%
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
AMNLower volatility, beta 1.00, current ratio 1.09x
Defensive / Recession hedge
AMNBeta 1.00, current ratio 1.09x
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
AMN Healthcare is a leading healthcare staffing and workforce solutions company that connects healthcare facilities with temporary and permanent medical professionals. It generates revenue primarily through staffing services—with nurse and allied staffing making up the largest segment—alongside physician placement and technology-enabled workforce management solutions. The company's scale, extensive network of healthcare professionals, and established relationships with thousands of healthcare facilities create significant barriers to entry for competitors.
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 3AMN 1AAPL5/6 metricsAMN5/6 metricsAAPL5/8 metricsAAPL5/6 metricsAAPL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). AMN leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 159.5x AMN's $2.7B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AMN's -3.5%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.7B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $25M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$96M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $242M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +28.3% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -2.0% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -3.5% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.9% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.8% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +95.9% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, AAPL's 27.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AMN's 30.0x.
| Metric | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.0B | $3.86T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.1B | $3.95T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -5.36x | 35.18x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.15x | 30.95x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.97x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 30.01x | 27.28x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.35x | 9.27x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.12x | 53.41x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 4.37x | 39.07x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $-15 for AMN. AMN carries lower financial leverage with a 1.55x 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 AMN's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -14.9% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -4.6% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -3.9% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -5.0% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.55x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.1B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $11M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.1B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -1.39x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $22,249 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,959 for AMN. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +11.7% total return vs AMN's -18.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 19.9% vs AMN's -38.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +36.6% | -3.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -18.0% | +11.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -77.1% | +72.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -70.4% | +122.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -33.5% | +951.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -38.8% | +19.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AMN is the less volatile stock with a 1.00 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 90.9% from its 52-week high vs AMN's 76.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.00x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $27.17 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.87 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +76.0% | +90.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 52.5 | 48.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.1M | 40.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AMN as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 15.5% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs 10.8% for AMN (target: $23). AAPL is the only dividend payer here at 0.39% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $22.88 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 17 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.4% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Mar 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN) | 100 | 26.87 | -73.1% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 346.78 | +246.8% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +122% over 5 years vs AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN)'s -70%. A $10,000 investment in AAPL 5 years ago would be worth $22,249 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN) | $1.9B | $3.0B | +56.9% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN) | 5.6% | -4.9% | -188.5% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN) | 18.4 | 14 | -23.9% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. has traded in a 10x–46x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~-5x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN) | 2.15 | -3.85 | -279.1% |
| 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
AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. generated $240M FCF in 2024 (-5% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
AMN vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AMN or AAPL a better buy right now?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) offers the better valuation at 35.2x trailing P/E (30.9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN) a "Buy" — based on 17 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 — AMN or AAPL?
On forward P/E, AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10.1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AMN or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +122.5%, compared to -70.4% for AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN). A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth approximately $22K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +951.6% versus AMN's -33.5%. 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 — AMN or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN) is the lower-risk stock at 1.00β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 28% more volatile than AMN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 155% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — AMN or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus -4.9% for AMN Healthcare Services, 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 -3.4% for AMN. 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 AMN or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN) trades at 10.1x forward P/E versus 30.9x for Apple Inc. — 20.8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AAPL: 15.5% to $303.11.
07Which pays a better dividend — AMN or AAPL?
In this comparison, AAPL (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. AMN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is AMN 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), +951.6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AAPL: +951.6%, AMN: -33.5%), 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 AMN and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (AMN (Healthcare) and AAPL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. 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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