Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (DOCN) 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 | DOCN | 15.5% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | AAPL | Lower P/E (31.1x vs 56.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | DOCN | 28.8% net margin vs AAPL's 27.0% |
| Stability / Safety | AAPL | Beta 1.28 vs DOCN's 2.06 |
| Dividends | AAPL | 0.4% yield; 14-year raise streak; DOCN pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | DOCN | +30.8% vs AAPL's +9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs DOCN's 14.1%, ROIC 64.5% vs 15.6% |
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
DigitalOcean is a cloud computing platform that provides infrastructure and developer tools primarily for startups, small businesses, and individual developers. It generates revenue through subscription-based cloud services — including compute instances, storage, databases, and networking — with infrastructure-as-a-service accounting for the majority of its income. The company's competitive advantage lies in its developer-friendly simplicity and transparent pricing, which appeals to smaller customers who find larger cloud providers overly complex.
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 leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). DOCN leads in 2 (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 483.3x DOCN's $901M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 28.8% (DOCN) to 27.0% (AAPL).
| Metric | DOCNDigitalOcean Hold… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $901M | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $345M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $259M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $37M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +59.9% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +17.4% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +28.8% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.1% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +18.3% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +31.6% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 22.2x trailing earnings, DOCN trades at a 37% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, DOCN's 19.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AAPL's 27.5x.
| Metric | DOCNDigitalOcean Hold… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.2B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.6B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 22.25x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 55.98x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 19.12x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.72x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 16.65x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
| Metric | DOCNDigitalOcean Hold… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +14.1% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +15.6% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.9% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $476M | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $254M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $731M | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 15.40x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,191 for DOCN. Over the past 12 months, DOCN leads with a +30.8% total return vs AAPL's +9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs DOCN's 20.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | DOCNDigitalOcean Hold… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.5% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +30.8% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +75.3% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +31.9% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +31.9% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +20.6% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AAPL is the less volatile stock with a 1.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than DOCN's 2.06 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 DOCN's 79.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | DOCNDigitalOcean Hold… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.06x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $70.43 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $25.45 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +79.6% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.1 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.2M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates DOCN as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 17.4% upside for DOCN (target: $66) vs 14.7% for AAPL (target: $303). AAPL is the only dividend payer here at 0.39% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | DOCNDigitalOcean Hold… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $65.83 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 19 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | +2.3% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 21 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean Holdin… (DOCN) | 100 | 140.73 | +40.7% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 219.52 | +119.5% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs DigitalOcean Holdin… (DOCN)'s +32%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean Holdin… (DOCN) | $203M | $901M | +343.8% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean Holdin… (DOCN) | -17.7% | 28.8% | +262.3% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean Holdin… (DOCN) | 183.5 | 19.1 | -89.6% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. has traded in a 19x–184x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~22x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean Holdin… (DOCN) | -0.41 | 2.52 | +714.6% |
| 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
DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. generated $310M FCF in 2025 (+1189% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
DOCN vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DOCN or AAPL a better buy right now?
DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (DOCN) offers the better valuation at 22.2x trailing P/E (56.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (DOCN) a "Buy" — based on 19 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 — DOCN or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (DOCN) is the cheapest at 22.2x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, Apple Inc. is actually cheaper at 31.1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — DOCN or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to +31.9% for DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (DOCN). 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 DOCN's +31.9%. 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 — DOCN or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.28β versus DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc.'s 2.06β — meaning DOCN is approximately 61% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — DOCN or AAPL?
DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (DOCN) is the more profitable company, earning 28.8% net margin versus 26.9% for Apple Inc. — meaning it keeps 28.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AAPL leads at 32.0% versus 17.4% for DOCN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DOCN leads at 59.9%, 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 DOCN or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Apple Inc. (AAPL) trades at 31.1x forward P/E versus 56.0x for DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. — 24.8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DOCN: 17.4% to $65.83.
07Which pays a better dividend — DOCN or AAPL?
In this comparison, AAPL (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. DOCN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is DOCN 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). DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (DOCN) carries a higher beta of 2.06 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AAPL: +1027%, DOCN: +31.9%), 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 DOCN 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.
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