Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) 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 CTRA's -49.6% |
| Value | CTRA | Lower P/E (14.6x vs 31.1x), PEG 0.42 vs 1.74 |
| Quality / Margins | CTRA | 62.4% net margin vs AAPL's 27.0% |
| Stability / Safety | CTRA | Beta 0.63 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | CTRA | 2.9% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CTRA | +16.6% vs AAPL's +9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs CTRA's 7.7%, ROIC 64.5% vs 11.4% |
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
Coterra Energy is an independent oil and gas producer focused on developing natural gas and crude oil reserves across premier U.S. shale basins. It generates revenue primarily from selling natural gas (roughly 60% of production) and crude oil/liquids (roughly 40%), with its largest operations in the Marcellus Shale and Permian Basin. The company's competitive advantage lies in its low-cost, high-quality asset portfolio across multiple basins — particularly its core Marcellus position — which provides operational flexibility and resilience across commodity price cycles.
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
CTRA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). AAPL leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 158.3x CTRA's $2.8B. CTRA is the more profitable business, keeping 62.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AAPL's 27.0%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CTRACoterra Energy In… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.8B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $4.8B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.7B | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.2B | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +60.4% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +89.1% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +62.4% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +81.0% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.9% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +20.0% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 13.6x trailing earnings, CTRA trades at a 62% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), CTRA offers better value at 0.39x vs AAPL's 1.98x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | CTRACoterra Energy In… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $23.2B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $23.3B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.60x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.65x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.39x | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.84x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 8.44x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.36x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.77x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $10 for CTRA. CTRA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x 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 CTRA's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CTRACoterra Energy In… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.0% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.7% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.4% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.9% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.01x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $136M | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $114M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $250M | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 9.24x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $19,613 for CTRA. Over the past 12 months, CTRA leads with a +16.6% total return vs AAPL's +9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs CTRA's 10.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CTRACoterra Energy In… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.0% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.6% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +34.1% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +96.1% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +90.4% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +10.3% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
CTRA is the less volatile stock with a 0.63 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.
| Metric | CTRACoterra Energy In… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.63x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $32.67 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $22.33 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.6% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.6 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 9.3M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CTRA as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.7% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs 5.9% for CTRA (target: $32). For income investors, CTRA offers the higher dividend yield at 2.93% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | CTRACoterra Energy In… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $32.40 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 55 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.9% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.90 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) | 100 | 191.13 | +91.1% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA)'s +96%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) | $1.2B | $2.8B | +130.3% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Coterra Energy Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.2B (2016) to $2.8B (2025) — a 9.7% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) | -34.9% | 62.4% | +278.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Coterra Energy Inc.'s net margin went from -35% (2016) to 62% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) | 130 | 11.7 | -91.0% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Coterra Energy Inc. has traded in a 5x–130x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~14x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) | -0.91 | 2.25 | +347.3% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Coterra Energy Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.91 (2016) to $2.25 (2025). Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Coterra Energy Inc. generated $4B FCF in 2025 (+328% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
CTRA vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CTRA or AAPL a better buy right now?
Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) offers the better valuation at 13.6x trailing P/E (14.6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) a "Buy" — based on 55 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 — CTRA or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) is the cheapest at 13.6x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, Coterra Energy Inc. is actually cheaper at 14.6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Coterra Energy Inc. wins at 0.42x 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 — CTRA or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to +96.1% for Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA). 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 CTRA's +90.4%. 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 — CTRA or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.63β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 102% more volatile than CTRA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CTRA or AAPL?
Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) is the more profitable company, earning 62.4% net margin versus 26.9% for Apple Inc. — meaning it keeps 62.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTRA leads at 89.1% versus 32.0% for AAPL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTRA leads at 60.4%, 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 CTRA 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, Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.42x versus Apple Inc.'s 1.74x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) trades at 14.6x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 16.5x 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 — CTRA or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) offers the highest yield at 2.9%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is CTRA or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.63), 2.9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CTRA: +90.4%, 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 CTRA and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (CTRA (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: CTRA is a mid-cap deep-value stock; AAPL is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. CTRA pays a dividend while AAPL does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.