Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare EQT Corporation (EQT) 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 | EQT | 65.5% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | EQT | Lower P/E (12.9x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs EQT's 23.6% |
| Stability / Safety | EQT | Beta 0.68 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | EQT | 1.0% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | EQT | +28.8% vs AAPL's +9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs EQT's 4.9%, ROIC 64.5% vs 7.7% |
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
EQT Corporation is America's largest natural gas producer, focused on developing and operating natural gas assets primarily in the Appalachian Basin. It generates revenue through the sale of natural gas (~85% of revenue) and natural gas liquids (~15%), with production concentrated in the prolific Marcellus and Utica shale formations. The company's competitive advantage stems from its massive, low-cost reserve base—it holds the largest natural gas position in the U.S.—and its operational scale in the most productive gas region.
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
EQT leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Valuation Metrics. 2 categories are tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 50.4x EQT's $8.6B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 27.0% (AAPL) to 23.6% (EQT). On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | EQTEQT Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $8.6B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.8B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.0B | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.8B | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +97.4% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +36.7% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +23.6% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +32.9% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.0% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +56.5% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 16.2x trailing earnings, EQT trades at a 54% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, EQT's 7.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AAPL's 27.5x.
| Metric | EQTEQT Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $38.3B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $46.0B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.16x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.92x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 7.51x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.43x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.37x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.51x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $7 for EQT. EQT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.29x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AAPL's 1.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), EQT scores 8/9 vs AAPL's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | EQTEQT Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.5% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.9% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.7% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.2% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.29x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $7.7B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $111M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $7.8B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 7.50x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in EQT five years ago would be worth $34,713 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $21,049 for AAPL. Over the past 12 months, EQT leads with a +28.8% total return vs AAPL's +9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors EQT at 24.0% vs AAPL's 21.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | EQTEQT Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.2% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +28.8% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +90.8% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +247.1% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +112.1% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +24.0% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
EQT is the less volatile stock with a 0.68 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. EQT currently trades 98.7% from its 52-week high vs AAPL's 91.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | EQTEQT Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.68x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $62.23 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $43.57 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.7% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.3 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 8.7M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates EQT as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.7% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs -33.1% for EQT (target: $41). For income investors, EQT offers the higher dividend yield at 1.04% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | EQTEQT Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $41.11 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 44 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.0% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.64 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.3% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQT Corporation (EQT) | 100 | 900.49 | +800.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
EQT Corporation (EQT) returned +247% over 5 years vs Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s +110%. A $10,000 investment in EQT 5 years ago would be worth $34,713 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQT Corporation (EQT) | $1.9B | $8.6B | +365.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
EQT Corporation's revenue grew from $1.9B (2016) to $8.6B (2025) — a 18.6% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQT Corporation (EQT) | -24.4% | 26.9% | +210.3% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
EQT Corporation's net margin went from -24% (2016) to 27% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQT Corporation (EQT) | 3.9 | 14.1 | +261.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
EQT Corporation has traded in a 4x–113x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~16x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQT Corporation (EQT) | -2.71 | 3.8 | +240.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
EQT Corporation's EPS grew from $-2.71 (2016) to $3.80 (2025). Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
EQT Corporation generated $3B FCF in 2025 (+367% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
EQT vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is EQT or AAPL a better buy right now?
EQT Corporation (EQT) offers the better valuation at 16.2x trailing P/E (12.9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate EQT Corporation (EQT) a "Buy" — based on 44 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 — EQT or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, EQT Corporation (EQT) is the cheapest at 16.2x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, EQT Corporation is actually cheaper at 12.9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — EQT or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, EQT Corporation (EQT) delivered a total return of +247.1%, compared to +110.5% for Apple Inc. (AAPL). A $10,000 investment in EQT five years ago would be worth approximately $35K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +1027% versus EQT's +112.1%. 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 — EQT or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), EQT Corporation (EQT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.68β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 87% more volatile than EQT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, EQT Corporation (EQT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — EQT or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 26.9% for EQT Corporation — meaning it keeps 26.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EQT leads at 40.8% versus 32.0% for AAPL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EQT leads at 97.4%, 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 EQT or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, EQT Corporation (EQT) trades at 12.9x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 18.2x 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 — EQT or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. EQT Corporation (EQT) offers the highest yield at 1.0%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is EQT or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, EQT Corporation (EQT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.68), 1.0% yield, +112.1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EQT: +112.1%, 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 EQT and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (EQT (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: EQT is a mid-cap deep-value stock; AAPL is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. EQT 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.
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