Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Autohome Inc. (ATHM) 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 ATHM's -2.0% |
| Value | ATHM | Lower P/E (11.5x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs ATHM's 23.6% |
| Stability / Safety | ATHM | Beta 0.64 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ATHM | 9.3% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +9.7% vs ATHM's -27.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs ATHM's 5.6%, ROIC 64.5% vs 3.4% |
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
Autohome operates China's leading online automotive content and transaction platform, connecting car buyers with automakers and dealers. It generates revenue primarily through media services — automaker advertising and regional marketing campaigns — and leads generation services — dealer subscriptions and advertising — with additional income from its Autohome Mall transaction platform and commissions on auto-financing and insurance products. The company's moat lies in its dominant market position as China's most visited automotive website, creating a powerful network effect where more consumers attract more dealers and automakers, which in turn draws more consumers.
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). ATHM leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 64.4x ATHM's $6.8B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 27.0% (AAPL) to 23.6% (ATHM). On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ATHMAutohome Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.8B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $906M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.6B | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $0 | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +72.1% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +12.9% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +23.6% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +17.5% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.3% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -119.9% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 9.9x trailing earnings, ATHM trades at a 72% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, AAPL's 27.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ATHM's 49.3x.
| Metric | ATHMAutohome Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $9.2B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $9.0B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 9.89x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.49x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 49.25x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 8.96x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.64x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 51.14x | 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 ATHM. ATHM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x 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 ATHM's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ATHMAutohome Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.3% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.6% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.4% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.9% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$1.6B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.7B | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $97M | $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 $2,138 for ATHM. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +9.7% total return vs ATHM's -27.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs ATHM's -7.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ATHMAutohome Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -15.4% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -27.2% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -20.1% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -78.6% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +11.4% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -7.2% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
ATHM is the less volatile stock with a 0.64 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 ATHM's 60.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ATHMAutohome Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.64x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $31.50 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $19.08 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +60.9% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 30.2 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 368K | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ATHM as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 127.7% upside for ATHM (target: $44) vs 14.7% for AAPL (target: $303). For income investors, ATHM offers the higher dividend yield at 9.25% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | ATHMAutohome Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $43.67 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +9.3% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $12.17 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 100 | 26.78 | -73.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 373.3 | +273.3% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs Autohome Inc. (ATHM)'s -79%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | $6.0B | $7.0B | +18.1% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 20.6% | 25.5% | +23.6% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 3.8 | 1.9 | -50.0% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Autohome Inc. has traded in a 0x–4x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~10x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 10.58 | 13.31 | +25.8% |
| 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
Autohome Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2024 (-63% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
ATHM vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ATHM or AAPL a better buy right now?
Autohome Inc. (ATHM) offers the better valuation at 9.9x trailing P/E (11.5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Autohome Inc. (ATHM) a "Buy" — based on 22 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 — ATHM or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Autohome Inc. (ATHM) is the cheapest at 9.9x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, Autohome Inc. is actually cheaper at 11.5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ATHM or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to -78.6% for Autohome Inc. (ATHM). 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 ATHM's +11.4%. 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 — ATHM or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Autohome Inc. (ATHM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.64β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 101% more volatile than ATHM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Autohome Inc. (ATHM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ATHM or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 25.5% for Autohome 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 14.3% for ATHM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ATHM leads at 78.9%, 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 ATHM or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Autohome Inc. (ATHM) trades at 11.5x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 19.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ATHM: 127.7% to $43.67.
07Which pays a better dividend — ATHM or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Autohome Inc. (ATHM) offers the highest yield at 9.3%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is ATHM or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Autohome Inc. (ATHM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.64), 9.3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ATHM: +11.4%, 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 ATHM and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (ATHM (Communication Services) and AAPL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. In terms of investment character: ATHM is a small-cap deep-value stock; AAPL is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. ATHM 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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