Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) vs Apple Inc. (AAPL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CNX | 59.2% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | CNX | Lower P/E (16.0x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | CNX | 28.0% net margin vs AAPL's 27.0% |
| Stability / Safety | CNX | Beta 0.41 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AAPL | 0.4% yield; 14-year raise streak; CNX pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CNX | +44.6% vs AAPL's +9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs CNX's 7.0%, ROIC 64.5% vs 9.1% |
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
CNX Resources is an Appalachian Basin-focused natural gas producer that explores, develops, and operates gas properties primarily in the Marcellus and Utica shale formations. It generates revenue through natural gas sales to wholesalers—with additional income from midstream gathering operations—while its extensive acreage position across multiple states provides a low-cost production base. The company's competitive advantage lies in its massive, contiguous acreage holdings in the prolific Appalachian Basin, which enables efficient development and long-term reserve life.
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
CNX leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). AAPL leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Analyst Outlook).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 192.9x CNX's $2.3B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 28.0% (CNX) to 27.0% (AAPL). On growth, CNX holds the edge at +100.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CNXCNX Resources Cor… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.3B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.7B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $633M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $534M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +72.8% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +51.4% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +28.0% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +23.6% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +100.2% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.3% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 10.5x trailing earnings, CNX trades at a 70% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CNX's 6.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AAPL's 27.5x.
| Metric | CNXCNX Resources Cor… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.9B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.4B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.50x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.96x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.14x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.78x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.54x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.14x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $15 for CNX. CNX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.57x 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 CNX's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CNXCNX Resources Cor… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.6% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.0% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.1% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.3% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.57x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.5B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $779,000 | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.5B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.40x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CNX five years ago would be worth $31,724 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $21,049 for AAPL. Over the past 12 months, CNX leads with a +44.6% total return vs AAPL's +9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CNX at 39.6% vs AAPL's 21.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CNXCNX Resources Cor… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.6% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +44.6% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +172.2% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +217.2% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +384.1% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +39.6% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
CNX is the less volatile stock with a 0.41 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. CNX currently trades 99.2% from its 52-week high vs AAPL's 91.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CNXCNX Resources Cor… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.41x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $42.13 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $27.68 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.2% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 54.7 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.8M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CNX as "Hold" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.7% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs -5.3% for CNX (target: $40). AAPL is the only dividend payer here at 0.39% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CNXCNX Resources Cor… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $39.57 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 41 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +8.8% | +2.3% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNX Resources Corpo… (CNX) | 100 | 703.58 | +603.6% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 395.1 | +295.1% |
CNX Resources Corpo… (CNX) returned +217% over 5 years vs Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s +110%. A $10,000 investment in CNX 5 years ago would be worth $31,724 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNX Resources Corpo… (CNX) | $848M | $2.1B | +152.7% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
CNX Resources Corporation's revenue grew from $848M (2016) to $2.1B (2025) — a 10.8% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNX Resources Corpo… (CNX) | -100.0% | 29.6% | +129.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
CNX Resources Corporation's net margin went from -100% (2016) to 30% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNX Resources Corpo… (CNX) | 8.9 | 9.2 | +3.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
CNX Resources Corporation has traded in a 2x–52x P/E range over 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNX Resources Corpo… (CNX) | -3.7 | 3.98 | +207.6% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
CNX Resources Corporation's EPS grew from $-3.70 (2016) to $3.98 (2025). Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
CNX Resources Corporation generated $534M FCF in 2025 (+16% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
CNX vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CNX or AAPL a better buy right now?
CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) offers the better valuation at 10.5x trailing P/E (16.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Apple Inc. (AAPL) a "Buy" — based on 109 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 — CNX or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) is the cheapest at 10.5x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, CNX Resources Corporation is actually cheaper at 16.0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CNX or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) delivered a total return of +217.2%, compared to +110.5% for Apple Inc. (AAPL). A $10,000 investment in CNX five years ago would be worth approximately $32K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +1027% versus CNX's +384.1%. 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 — CNX or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.41β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 209% more volatile than CNX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 57% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CNX or AAPL?
CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) is the more profitable company, earning 29.6% net margin versus 26.9% for Apple Inc. — meaning it keeps 29.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CNX leads at 37.1% versus 32.0% for AAPL. 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 CNX or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) trades at 16.0x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 15.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AAPL: 14.7% to $303.11.
07Which pays a better dividend — CNX or AAPL?
In this comparison, AAPL (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. CNX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is CNX or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.41), +384.1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CNX: +384.1%, 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 CNX and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (CNX (Energy) and AAPL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. In terms of investment character: CNX 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.