Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Box, Inc. (BOX) 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 BOX's 5.0% |
| Value | BOX | Lower P/E (18.3x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs BOX's 19.7% |
| Stability / Safety | BOX | Beta 0.55 vs AAPL's 1.28 |
| Dividends | BOX | 0.4% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +9.7% vs BOX's -28.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs BOX's 14.1%, ROIC 64.5% vs 25.8% |
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
Box is a cloud content management platform that helps organizations securely store, share, and collaborate on files from any device. It generates revenue primarily through subscription fees for its SaaS platform — with enterprise customers accounting for the majority of its recurring revenue — and additional services like implementation and support. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep security and compliance features — particularly for regulated industries — and its extensive enterprise integrations that create 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
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
AAPL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). BOX leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 378.5x BOX's $1.2B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BOX's 19.7%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BOXBox, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.2B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $100M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $227M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $335M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +78.9% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.1% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +19.7% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +29.1% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.1% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -7.8% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 17.3x trailing earnings, BOX trades at a 51% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, AAPL's 27.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than BOX's 34.3x.
| Metric | BOXBox, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.4B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.5B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 17.32x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.30x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 34.33x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.11x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 17.74x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.30x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $108 for BOX. AAPL carries lower financial leverage with a 1.67x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BOX's 3.66x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AAPL scores 7/9 vs BOX's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | BOXBox, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +108.4% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +14.1% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +25.8% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.2% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 3.66x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $97M | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $625M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $721M | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 9.33x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,408 for BOX. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +9.7% total return vs BOX's -28.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs BOX's -11.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BOXBox, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -18.3% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -28.0% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -29.4% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +24.1% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +104.6% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -11.0% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
BOX is the less volatile stock with a 0.55 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 BOX's 60.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BOXBox, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.55x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $38.80 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $21.62 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +60.7% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.4 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.1M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BOX as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 52.9% upside for BOX (target: $36) vs 14.7% for AAPL (target: $303). For income investors, BOX offers the higher dividend yield at 0.43% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | BOXBox, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $36.00 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 28 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.4% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.10 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +6.2% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box, Inc. (BOX) | 100 | 153.23 | +53.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs Box, Inc. (BOX)'s +24%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box, Inc. (BOX) | $303M | $1.1B | +260.1% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Box, Inc.'s revenue grew from $303M (2016) to $1.1B (2025) — a 15.3% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box, Inc. (BOX) | -67.0% | 22.4% | +133.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Box, Inc.'s net margin went from -67% (2016) to 22% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box, Inc. (BOX) | 142.3 | 22 | -84.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Box, Inc. has traded in a 22x–142x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~17x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box, Inc. (BOX) | -1.67 | 1.36 | +181.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Box, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-1.67 (2016) to $1.36 (2025). Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Box, Inc. generated $330M FCF in 2025 (+83% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
BOX vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BOX or AAPL a better buy right now?
Box, Inc. (BOX) offers the better valuation at 17.3x trailing P/E (18.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Box, Inc. (BOX) a "Buy" — based on 28 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 — BOX or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Box, Inc. (BOX) is the cheapest at 17.3x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, Box, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18.3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BOX or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to +24.1% for Box, Inc. (BOX). 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 BOX's +104.6%. 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 — BOX or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Box, Inc. (BOX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.55β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 135% more volatile than BOX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Apple Inc. (AAPL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 167% versus 4% for Box, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — BOX or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 22.4% for Box, 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 7.3% for BOX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BOX leads at 79.1%, 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 BOX or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Box, Inc. (BOX) trades at 18.3x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 12.9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BOX: 52.9% to $36.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — BOX or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Box, Inc. (BOX) offers the highest yield at 0.4%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is BOX or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Box, Inc. (BOX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.55), +104.6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BOX: +104.6%, 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 BOX 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. In terms of investment character: BOX is a small-cap deep-value stock; AAPL is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. 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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