Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Arko Corp. (ARKO) 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 ARKO's -12.5% |
| Value | ARKO | Lower P/E (29.2x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs ARKO's 0.5% |
| Stability / Safety | ARKO | Beta 0.98 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ARKO | 1.8% yield, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ARKO | +45.2% vs AAPL's +9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs ARKO's 1.0%, ROIC 64.5% vs 5.5% |
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
Arko Corp operates one of the largest convenience store chains in the United States, selling fuel, snacks, beverages, and basic merchandise. It generates revenue through three main segments: retail fuel and merchandise sales at company-owned stores (~1,400 locations), wholesale fuel supply to third-party dealers, and petroleum distribution to independent dealers and bulk purchasers. The company's scale—with approximately 3,000 total locations—creates purchasing power and geographic density that supports its competitive position in regional markets.
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). ARKO leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 57.0x ARKO's $7.6B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ARKO's 0.5%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ARKOArko Corp. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $7.6B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $237M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $35M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $20M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +11.8% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.3% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.5% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +0.3% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.9% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +133.3% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 35.4x trailing earnings, AAPL trades at a 17% valuation discount to ARKO's 42.9x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), AAPL offers better value at 1.98x vs ARKO's 2.66x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ARKOArko Corp. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $713M | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $523M | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 42.87x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 29.23x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.66x | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 2.21x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.09x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.77x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $13 for ARKO. ARKO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.43x 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 ARKO's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ARKOArko Corp. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +13.2% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.0% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.5% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.3% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.43x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$190M | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $305M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $115M | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.52x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,265 for ARKO. Over the past 12 months, ARKO leads with a +45.2% total return vs AAPL's +9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs ARKO's -5.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ARKOArko Corp. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +43.8% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +45.2% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -15.3% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -27.3% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -30.5% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -5.4% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
ARKO is the less volatile stock with a 0.98 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. ARKO currently trades 95.9% from its 52-week high vs AAPL's 91.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ARKOArko Corp. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.98x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $6.71 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.51 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.9% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 59.3 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 400K | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ARKO as "Hold" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 17.9% upside for ARKO (target: $8) vs 14.7% for AAPL (target: $303). For income investors, ARKO offers the higher dividend yield at 1.84% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | ARKOArko Corp. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $7.58 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 4 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.8% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.12 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.9% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arko Corp. (ARKO) | 100 | 54.21 | -45.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs Arko Corp. (ARKO)'s -27%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arko Corp. (ARKO) | $1.9B | $7.6B | +294.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Arko Corp.'s revenue grew from $1.9B (2016) to $7.6B (2025) — a 16.5% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arko Corp. (ARKO) | -0.3% | 0.5% | +264.9% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Arko Corp.'s net margin went from -0% (2016) to 0% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arko Corp. (ARKO) | 126.8 | 30.3 | -76.1% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Arko Corp. has traded in a 16x–127x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~43x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arko Corp. (ARKO) | -0.01 | 0.15 | +1730.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Arko Corp.'s EPS grew from $-0.01 (2016) to $0.15 (2025). Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Arko Corp. generated $-4M FCF in 2025 (+94% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
ARKO vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ARKO 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 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 — ARKO or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the cheapest at 35.4x versus Arko Corp. at 42.9x. On forward P/E, Arko Corp. is actually cheaper at 29.2x — 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: Apple Inc. wins at 1.74x versus Arko Corp.'s 1.81x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ARKO or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to -27.3% for Arko Corp. (ARKO). 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 ARKO's -30.5%. 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 — ARKO or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Arko Corp. (ARKO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.98β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 31% more volatile than ARKO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Arko Corp. (ARKO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 43% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ARKO or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 0.5% for Arko Corp. — 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 1.3% for ARKO. 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 ARKO 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, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1.74x versus Arko Corp.'s 1.81x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Arko Corp. (ARKO) trades at 29.2x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 1.9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ARKO: 17.9% to $7.58.
07Which pays a better dividend — ARKO or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Arko Corp. (ARKO) offers the highest yield at 1.8%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is ARKO or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Arko Corp. (ARKO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.98), 1.8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ARKO: -30.5%, 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 ARKO and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (ARKO (Consumer Cyclical) and AAPL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. ARKO pays a dividend while AAPL does 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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