Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) 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 | APPF | 19.7% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | APPF | Lower P/E (27.1x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs APPF's 14.8% |
| Stability / Safety | APPF | Beta 0.82 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AAPL | 0.4% yield; 14-year raise streak; APPF pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +9.7% vs APPF's -17.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs APPF's 20.5%, ROIC 64.5% vs 23.2% |
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
AppFolio provides cloud-based software solutions for property management and real estate investment firms. It generates revenue primarily through subscription fees for its Property Manager platform — supplemented by value-added services like electronic payments, tenant screening, and insurance offerings. The company's competitive advantage lies in its specialized vertical software that deeply integrates with real estate workflows, creating switching costs through process automation and data centralization.
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). APPF leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 458.1x APPF's $951M. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to APPF's 14.8%. On growth, APPF holds the edge at +21.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | APPFAppFolio, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $951M | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $177M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $141M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $238M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +63.1% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.1% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +14.8% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +25.0% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +21.9% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -60.6% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 35.4x trailing earnings, AAPL trades at a 23% valuation discount to APPF's 45.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, APPF's 24.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AAPL's 27.5x.
| Metric | APPFAppFolio, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.3B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.3B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 45.81x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 27.11x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 24.22x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.55x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 11.90x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 18.10x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $26 for APPF. APPF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.06x 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 APPF's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | APPFAppFolio, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +26.0% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +20.5% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +23.2% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +26.7% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.06x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$74M | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $107M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $33M | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,975 for APPF. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +9.7% total return vs APPF's -17.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs APPF's 10.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | APPFAppFolio, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -22.8% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -17.1% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +34.6% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +9.7% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1419.3% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +10.4% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
APPF is the less volatile stock with a 0.82 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 APPF's 54.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | APPFAppFolio, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $326.04 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $161.13 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +54.5% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 40.5 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 312K | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates APPF as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 54.7% upside for APPF (target: $275) 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 | APPFAppFolio, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $275.00 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.4% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) | 100 | 158.02 | +58.0% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs AppFolio, Inc. (APPF)'s +10%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) | $106M | $951M | +800.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
AppFolio, Inc.'s revenue grew from $106M (2016) to $951M (2025) — a 27.7% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) | -7.8% | 14.8% | +289.0% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
AppFolio, Inc.'s net margin went from -8% (2016) to 15% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) | 148.2 | 60 | -59.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
AppFolio, Inc. has traded in a 41x–148x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~46x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) | -0.25 | 3.88 | +1652.0% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
AppFolio, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.25 (2016) to $3.88 (2025). Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
AppFolio, Inc. generated $239M FCF in 2025 (+8839% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
APPF vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is APPF 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 AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) a "Buy" — based on 12 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 — APPF or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the cheapest at 35.4x versus AppFolio, Inc. at 45.8x. On forward P/E, AppFolio, Inc. is actually cheaper at 27.1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — APPF or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to +9.7% for AppFolio, Inc. (APPF). 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: APPF returned +1419% 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 — APPF or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) is the lower-risk stock at 0.82β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 56% more volatile than APPF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — APPF or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 14.8% for AppFolio, 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 16.1% for APPF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — APPF leads at 61.3%, 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 APPF or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) trades at 27.1x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 4.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for APPF: 54.7% to $275.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — APPF or AAPL?
In this comparison, AAPL (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. APPF does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is APPF or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.82), +1419% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (APPF: +1419%, 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 APPF 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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