Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) 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 | AAPL | 6.4% revenue growth vs IMO's 1.0% |
| Value | IMO | Lower P/E (24.1x vs 31.1x), PEG 0.96 vs 1.74 |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs IMO's 8.6% |
| Stability / Safety | IMO | Beta 0.75 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | IMO | 1.5% yield, 26-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | IMO | +75.9% vs AAPL's +9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs IMO's 13.0%, ROIC 64.5% vs 17.5% |
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
Imperial Oil is a major integrated Canadian oil and gas company that explores for, produces, refines, and markets petroleum products. It generates revenue through upstream oil and gas production (~60% of earnings) and downstream refining/marketing operations (~40%), including its network of Esso and Mobil-branded retail stations. The company benefits from integrated operations—controlling the entire value chain from production to retail—and extensive infrastructure assets including refineries, pipelines, and a large retail network.
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
IMO leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). AAPL leads in 2 (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 9.4x IMO's $46.2B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to IMO's 8.6%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $46.2B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $7.5B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $4.0B | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4.8B | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +13.9% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.9% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.6% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +10.3% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -7.2% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -53.9% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 17.8x trailing earnings, IMO trades at a 50% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), IMO offers better value at 0.71x vs AAPL's 1.98x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $58.3B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $60.6B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 17.80x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 24.10x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.71x | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.06x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.64x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.63x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 19.39x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $24 for IMO. IMO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.18x 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 IMO's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +23.5% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +13.0% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +17.5% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +17.3% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.18x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.2B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $979M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.2B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 372.25x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in IMO five years ago would be worth $56,452 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $21,049 for AAPL. Over the past 12 months, IMO leads with a +75.9% total return vs AAPL's +9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors IMO at 35.4% vs AAPL's 21.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +31.7% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +75.9% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +148.2% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +464.5% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +299.7% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +35.4% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
IMO is the less volatile stock with a 0.75 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. IMO currently trades 95.0% from its 52-week high vs AAPL's 91.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.75x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $123.52 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $58.76 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.0% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 59.7 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 568K | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates IMO as "Hold" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.7% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs -61.6% for IMO (target: $45). For income investors, IMO offers the higher dividend yield at 1.45% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $44.99 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.5% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 26 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.33 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.4% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) | 100 | 454.15 | +354.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) returned +465% over 5 years vs Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s +110%. A $10,000 investment in IMO 5 years ago would be worth $56,452 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) | $23.6B | $48.8B | +107.0% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) | 9.3% | 9.8% | +6.0% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) | 53 | 6.8 | -87.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Imperial Oil Limited has traded in a 4x–53x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~18x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) | 2.57 | 9.02 | +251.0% |
| 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
Imperial Oil Limited generated $4B FCF in 2024 (-6% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
IMO vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IMO or AAPL a better buy right now?
Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) offers the better valuation at 17.8x trailing P/E (24.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Apple Inc. (AAPL) a "Buy" — based on 109 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 — IMO or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) is the cheapest at 17.8x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, Imperial Oil Limited is actually cheaper at 24.1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Imperial Oil Limited wins at 0.96x 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 — IMO or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) delivered a total return of +464.5%, compared to +110.5% for Apple Inc. (AAPL). A $10,000 investment in IMO five years ago would be worth approximately $56K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +1027% versus IMO's +299.7%. 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 — IMO or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.75β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 71% more volatile than IMO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — IMO or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 9.8% for Imperial Oil Limited — 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 12.5% for IMO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AAPL leads at 46.9%, 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 IMO 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, Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.96x versus Apple Inc.'s 1.74x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) trades at 24.1x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 7.1x 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 — IMO or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) offers the highest yield at 1.5%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is IMO or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.75), 1.5% yield, +299.7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (IMO: +299.7%, 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 IMO and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (IMO (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: IMO is a mid-cap deep-value stock; AAPL is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. IMO 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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