IDCC vs AAPL

For growth investors, Apple Inc.

(AAPL) is the stronger pick with 6. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 0% for InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC). InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC) offers the better valuation at 24. 3x trailing P/E (40. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC) a "Buy" — based on 16 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.

On trailing P/E, InterDigital, Inc.

(IDCC) is the cheapest at 24. 3x versus Apple Inc. at 38. 1x. On forward P/E, Apple Inc. is actually cheaper at 33. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: InterDigital, Inc. wins at 0. 76x versus Apple Inc. 's 1. 87x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, InterDigital, Inc.

(IDCC) delivered a total return of +333. 1%, compared to +125. 6% for Apple Inc. (AAPL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +1155% versus IDCC's +453. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc.

(AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 99β versus InterDigital, Inc. 's 1. 12β — meaning IDCC is approximately 13% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 46% versus 152% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Apple Inc.

(AAPL) is pulling ahead at 6. 4% versus -4. 0% for InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Apple Inc. grew EPS 22. 7% year-over-year, compared to -2. 2% for InterDigital, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IDCC leads at 22. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

InterDigital, Inc.

(IDCC) is the more profitable company, earning 48. 8% net margin versus 26. 9% for Apple Inc. — meaning it keeps 48. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IDCC leads at 55. 3% versus 32. 0% for AAPL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IDCC leads at 80. 3%, 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.

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, InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 76x versus Apple Inc. 's 1. 87x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Apple Inc. (AAPL) trades at 33. 4x forward P/E versus 40. 0x for InterDigital, Inc. — 6. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IDCC: 48. 0% to $425. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC) offers the highest yield at 0. 6%, versus 0. 4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).

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 0. 99), +1155% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AAPL: +1155%, IDCC: +453. 0%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

IDCC 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.