Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) 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 | AAPL | 6.4% revenue growth vs CRUS's 6.0% |
| Value | CRUS | Lower P/E (15.6x vs 31.1x), PEG 0.87 vs 1.74 |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs CRUS's 20.5% |
| Stability / Safety | AAPL | Beta 1.28 vs CRUS's 1.30 |
| Dividends | AAPL | 0.4% yield; 14-year raise streak; CRUS pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CRUS | +35.4% vs AAPL's +9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs CRUS's 16.4%, ROIC 64.5% vs 20.4% |
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
Cirrus Logic is a fabless semiconductor company that designs high-precision mixed-signal chips for audio and power management applications. It generates revenue primarily from audio components for smartphones and other consumer electronics—with Apple accounting for the majority of sales—alongside power conversion and haptic driver chips for industrial markets. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep expertise in low-power, high-fidelity audio processing and its entrenched position as a key supplier to major smartphone manufacturers.
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
AAPL leads in 2 of 6 categories (Total Returns, Analyst Outlook). CRUS leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 3 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 220.8x CRUS's $2.0B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CRUS's 20.5%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CRUSCirrus Logic, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.0B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $495M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $404M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $615M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +52.9% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +23.1% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +20.5% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +31.1% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.5% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +26.1% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 23.5x trailing earnings, CRUS trades at a 34% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), CRUS offers better value at 1.32x vs AAPL's 1.98x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | CRUSCirrus Logic, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $7.4B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $7.0B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 23.52x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.59x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.32x | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.14x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.89x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.00x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 17.76x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $19 for CRUS. CRUS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AAPL's 1.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CRUS scores 9/9 vs AAPL's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CRUSCirrus Logic, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +18.7% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +16.4% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +20.4% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +19.6% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 9 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.07x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$396M | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $540M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $144M | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 537.37x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $16,935 for CRUS. Over the past 12 months, CRUS leads with a +35.4% total return vs AAPL's +9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs CRUS's 11.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CRUSCirrus Logic, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +17.9% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +35.4% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +37.3% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +69.4% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +300.6% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +11.2% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AAPL is the less volatile stock with a 1.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CRUS's 1.30 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CRUS currently trades 96.1% from its 52-week high vs AAPL's 91.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CRUSCirrus Logic, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.30x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $146.88 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $75.83 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.1% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 63.0 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 509K | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CRUS as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.7% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs 2.4% for CRUS (target: $145). AAPL is the only dividend payer here at 0.39% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CRUSCirrus Logic, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $144.50 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.0% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) | 100 | 183.46 | +83.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS)'s +69%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) | $1.2B | $1.9B | +62.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Cirrus Logic, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.2B (2016) to $1.9B (2025) — a 5.5% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) | 10.6% | 17.5% | +65.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Cirrus Logic, Inc.'s net margin went from 11% (2016) to 17% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) | 13.2 | 19.8 | +50.0% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Cirrus Logic, Inc. has traded in a 13x–56x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~24x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) | 1.87 | 6 | +220.9% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Cirrus Logic, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.87 (2016) to $6.00 (2025) — a 14% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Cirrus Logic, Inc. generated $416M FCF in 2025 (+26% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
CRUS vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CRUS or AAPL a better buy right now?
Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) offers the better valuation at 23.5x trailing P/E (15.6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) a "Buy" — based on 22 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 — CRUS or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) is the cheapest at 23.5x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, Cirrus Logic, Inc. is actually cheaper at 15.6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Cirrus Logic, Inc. wins at 0.87x versus Apple Inc.'s 1.74x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CRUS or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to +69.4% for Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS). 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 CRUS's +300.6%. 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 — CRUS or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.28β versus Cirrus Logic, Inc.'s 1.30β — meaning CRUS is approximately 2% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CRUS or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 17.5% for Cirrus Logic, 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 21.6% for CRUS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CRUS leads at 52.5%, 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 CRUS 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, Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.87x versus Apple Inc.'s 1.74x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) trades at 15.6x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 15.6x 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 — CRUS or AAPL?
In this comparison, AAPL (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. CRUS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is CRUS 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%, CRUS: +300.6%), 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.
09What are the main differences between CRUS 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. 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.