Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (CAI) 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 |  CAI | 97.0% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value |  AAPL | Lower P/E (30.9x vs 59.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs CAI's -66.2% |
| Stability / Safety | CAI | Beta 1.09 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AAPL | 0.4% yield; 14-year raise streak; CAI pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +10.7% vs CAI's -32.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs CAI's -47.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
CAIDividend streak 4 yrs, beta 1.09
Growth exposure
CAIRev growth 97.0%, EPS growth -19.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 46.5%
Long-term compounding (10Y)
AAPL9.7% 10Y total return vs CAI's -32.5%
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
CAILower volatility, beta 1.09, Low D/E 0.0%, current ratio 7.85x
Defensive / Recession hedge
CAIBeta 1.09, current ratio 7.85x
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Caris Life Sciences is an AI-powered molecular diagnostics company that provides comprehensive cancer profiling services to guide treatment decisions. It generates revenue primarily from molecular testing services for oncology patients — including tissue-based and blood-based profiling — along with pharmaceutical research services for drug development partners. The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive molecular database and proprietary AI algorithms that analyze complex biomarker data to deliver personalized cancer treatment insights.
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 5CAI 0AAPL4/4 metricsAAPL4/6 metricsAAPL4/7 metricsAAPL6/6 metricsAAPL1/1 metricsAAPL leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 536.5x CAI's $812M. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CAI's -66.2%.
| Metric | CAICaris Life Scienc… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $812M | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $70M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$538M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $33M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +46.2% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.6% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -66.2% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.0% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, AAPL's 27.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CAI's 100.5x.
| Metric | CAICaris Life Scienc… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.3B | $3.86T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.5B | $3.95T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -5.87x | 35.18x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 59.05x | 30.95x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.97x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 100.48x | 27.28x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 6.56x | 9.27x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 54.73x | 53.41x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 79.69x | 39.07x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $-93 for CAI. CAI 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 CAI's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CAICaris Life Scienc… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -93.2% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -47.8% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.7% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$798M | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $798M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $169,000 | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -2.23x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,897 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,749 for CAI. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +10.7% total return vs CAI's -32.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 20.7% vs CAI's -12.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CAICaris Life Scienc… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -30.0% | -3.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -32.5% | +10.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -32.5% | +75.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -32.5% | +119.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -32.5% | +967.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -12.3% | +20.7% |
Risk & Volatility
CAI is the less volatile stock with a 1.09 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 90.9% from its 52-week high vs CAI's 44.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CAICaris Life Scienc… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.09x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $42.50 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $17.15 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +44.5% | +90.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.2 | 48.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.8M | 40.1M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CAI as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 65.8% upside for CAI (target: $31) vs 15.5% for AAPL (target: $303). AAPL is the only dividend payer here at 0.39% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CAICaris Life Scienc… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $31.33 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 6 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.0% | +2.4% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caris Life Sciences… (CAI) | $294M | $812M | +175.9% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Caris Life Sciences, Inc.'s revenue grew from $294M (2016) to $812M (2025) — a 11.9% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s revenue grew from $215.6B (2016) to $416.2B (2025) — a 7.6% CAGR.
Chart 2Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caris Life Sciences… (CAI) | 2.0% | -66.2% | -3351.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Caris Life Sciences, Inc.'s net margin went from 2% (2016) to -66% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 3P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Apple Inc. has traded in a 13x–41x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~35x.
Chart 4EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caris Life Sciences… (CAI) | 0.31 | -3.22 | -1138.7% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Caris Life Sciences, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.31 (2016) to $-3.22 (2025) — a NaN% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 5Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Caris Life Sciences, Inc. generated $67M FCF in 2025 (+120% vs 2022). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
CAI vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CAI or AAPL a better buy right now?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) offers the better valuation at 35.2x trailing P/E (30.9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (CAI) a "Buy" — based on 6 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 — CAI or AAPL?
On forward P/E, Apple Inc. is actually cheaper at 30.9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CAI or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +119.0%, compared to -32.5% for Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (CAI). A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth approximately $22K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +967.0% versus CAI's -32.5%. 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 — CAI or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (CAI) is the lower-risk stock at 1.09β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 17% more volatile than CAI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (CAI) 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 — CAI or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus -66.2% for Caris Life Sciences, 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 5.6% for CAI. 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 CAI or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Apple Inc. (AAPL) trades at 30.9x forward P/E versus 59.0x for Caris Life Sciences, Inc. — 28.1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CAI: 65.8% to $31.33.
07Which pays a better dividend — CAI or AAPL?
In this comparison, AAPL (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. CAI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is CAI 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), +967.0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AAPL: +967.0%, CAI: -32.5%), 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 CAI and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (CAI (Healthcare) and AAPL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. 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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