Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) 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 | AVGO | 23.9% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | AAPL | PEG 1.74 vs 2.23 |
| Quality / Margins | AVGO | 36.2% net margin vs AAPL's 27.0% |
| Stability / Safety | AAPL | Beta 1.28 vs AVGO's 1.75 |
| Dividends | AVGO | 0.7% yield, 15-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AVGO | +61.4% vs AAPL's +9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs AVGO's 13.5%, ROIC 64.5% vs 14.9% |
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
Broadcom is a semiconductor and infrastructure software company that designs and supplies critical components for data centers, networking, and connectivity. It generates revenue primarily from semiconductor sales (~70%) and infrastructure software licensing (~30%), with key segments including wired infrastructure, wireless communications, and enterprise storage. The company's moat lies in its deep engineering expertise, extensive patent portfolio, and entrenched positions in mission-critical infrastructure where customers face high switching costs.
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
AVGO leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Total Returns). AAPL leads in 3 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 6.8x AVGO's $63.9B. AVGO is the more profitable business, keeping 36.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AAPL's 27.0%. On growth, AVGO holds the edge at +22.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AVGOBroadcom Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $63.9B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $34.2B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $23.1B | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $26.9B | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +67.8% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +39.9% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +36.2% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +42.1% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +22.0% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.1% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 35.4x trailing earnings, AAPL trades at a 47% valuation discount to AVGO's 67.0x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), AAPL offers better value at 1.98x vs AVGO's 4.80x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | AVGOBroadcom Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.52T | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.56T | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 66.99x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 31.10x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 4.80x | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 44.06x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 23.71x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 19.08x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 56.29x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $28 for AVGO. AVGO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.80x 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 AVGO's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | AVGOBroadcom Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +28.4% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +13.5% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +14.9% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.9% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.80x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $49.0B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $16.2B | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $65.1B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.09x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AVGO five years ago would be worth $67,244 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $21,049 for AAPL. Over the past 12 months, AVGO leads with a +61.4% total return vs AAPL's +9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AVGO at 76.4% vs AAPL's 21.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AVGOBroadcom Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -8.1% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +61.4% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +448.6% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +572.4% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +2389.2% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +76.4% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AAPL is the less volatile stock with a 1.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AVGO's 1.75 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 AVGO's 77.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AVGOBroadcom Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.75x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $414.61 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $138.10 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +77.1% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 44.2 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 21.0M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AVGO as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 38.9% upside for AVGO (target: $444) vs 14.7% for AAPL (target: $303). For income investors, AVGO offers the higher dividend yield at 0.72% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | AVGOBroadcom Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $443.72 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 57 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.7% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 15 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.30 | $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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) | 100 | 1,161.79 | +1061.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) returned +572% over 5 years vs Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s +110%. A $10,000 investment in AVGO 5 years ago would be worth $67,244 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) | $13.2B | $63.9B | +382.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Broadcom Inc.'s revenue grew from $13.2B (2016) to $63.9B (2025) — a 19.1% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) | -13.1% | 36.2% | +375.6% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Broadcom Inc.'s net margin went from -13% (2016) to 36% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) | 61.2 | 72.6 | +18.6% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Broadcom Inc. has traded in a 9x–189x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~67x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) | -0.44 | 4.77 | +1184.1% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Broadcom Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.44 (2016) to $4.77 (2025). Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Broadcom Inc. generated $27B FCF in 2025 (+102% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
AVGO vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AVGO 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 Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) a "Buy" — based on 57 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 — AVGO or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the cheapest at 35.4x versus Broadcom Inc. at 67.0x. On forward P/E, Broadcom Inc. is actually cheaper at 31.1x — 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 Broadcom Inc.'s 2.23x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AVGO or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) delivered a total return of +572.4%, compared to +110.5% for Apple Inc. (AAPL). A $10,000 investment in AVGO five years ago would be worth approximately $67K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AVGO returned +23.9% 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 — AVGO or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.28β versus Broadcom Inc.'s 1.75β — meaning AVGO is approximately 37% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 80% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — AVGO or AAPL?
Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) is the more profitable company, earning 36.2% net margin versus 26.9% for Apple Inc. — meaning it keeps 36.2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AVGO leads at 39.9% versus 32.0% for AAPL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AVGO leads at 67.8%, 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 AVGO 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 Broadcom Inc.'s 2.23x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) trades at 31.1x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 0.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AVGO: 38.9% to $443.72.
07Which pays a better dividend — AVGO or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) offers the highest yield at 0.7%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is AVGO 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). Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) carries a higher beta of 1.75 — 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%, AVGO: +23.9%), 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 AVGO 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. AVGO 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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