Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Cheetah Mobile Inc. (CMCM) 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 | CMCM | 20.5% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs CMCM's -40.2% |
| Stability / Safety | CMCM | Beta 1.16 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AAPL | 0.4% yield; 14-year raise streak; CMCM pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CMCM | +16.3% vs AAPL's +9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs CMCM's -8.7%, ROIC 64.5% vs -58.3% |
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
Cheetah Mobile is a Chinese internet company that develops mobile utility apps — primarily security and cleaning tools — and casual mobile games. It generates revenue mainly through mobile advertising (roughly 70-80% of total) and to a lesser extent from in-app purchases in its games and premium subscription services. Its competitive advantage stems from its large installed base of utility apps — particularly Clean Master and Security Master — which provide a captive audience for its advertising network.
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
CMCM leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). AAPL leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 403.8x CMCM's $1.1B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CMCM's -40.2%. On growth, CMCM holds the edge at +49.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CMCMCheetah Mobile In… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.1B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$62M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$434M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $0 | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +74.3% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -22.3% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -40.2% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -32.4% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +49.6% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +72.9% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CMCMCheetah Mobile In… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $6.3B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $6.0B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.04x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 53.15x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.01x | 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 $-20 for CMCM. CMCM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x 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 CMCM's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CMCMCheetah Mobile In… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -19.8% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -8.7% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -58.3% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -16.4% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$1.8B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.8B | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $75M | $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 $4,212 for CMCM. Over the past 12 months, CMCM leads with a +16.3% total return vs AAPL's +9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CMCM at 34.1% vs AAPL's 21.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CMCMCheetah Mobile In… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -1.8% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.3% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +141.2% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -57.9% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -78.6% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +34.1% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
CMCM is the less volatile stock with a 1.16 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 CMCM's 65.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CMCMCheetah Mobile In… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.16x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $9.44 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.28 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +65.1% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.6 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 13K | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CMCM as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". AAPL is the only dividend payer here at 0.39% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CMCMCheetah Mobile In… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheetah Mobile Inc. (CMCM) | 100 | 43.69 | -56.3% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 373.3 | +273.3% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs Cheetah Mobile Inc. (CMCM)'s -58%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheetah Mobile Inc. (CMCM) | $657M | $807M | +22.7% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheetah Mobile Inc. (CMCM) | -1.8% | -76.5% | -4238.6% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheetah Mobile Inc. (CMCM) | 0.2 | 0 | -100.0% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Cheetah Mobile Inc. has traded in a 0x–0x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~-0x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheetah Mobile Inc. (CMCM) | -21 | -1,027 | -4790.5% |
| 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
Cheetah Mobile Inc. generated $-261M FCF in 2024 (-566% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
CMCM vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CMCM 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 Cheetah Mobile Inc. (CMCM) a "Buy" — based on 8 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 is the better long-term investment — CMCM or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to -57.9% for Cheetah Mobile Inc. (CMCM). 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 CMCM's -78.6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — CMCM or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cheetah Mobile Inc. (CMCM) is the lower-risk stock at 1.16β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 10% more volatile than CMCM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cheetah Mobile Inc. (CMCM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — CMCM or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus -76.5% for Cheetah Mobile 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 -54.2% for CMCM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CMCM leads at 67.6%, 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.
05Which pays a better dividend — CMCM or AAPL?
In this comparison, AAPL (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. CMCM does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
06Is CMCM 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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AAPL: +1027%, CMCM: -78.6%), 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.
07What are the main differences between CMCM and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (CMCM (Communication Services) 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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