Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare JD.com, Inc. (JD) 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 | JD | 6.8% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | JD | Lower P/E (1.3x vs 31.1x), PEG 0.05 vs 1.74 |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs JD's 2.5% |
| Stability / Safety | JD | Beta 0.84 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | JD | 3.0% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +9.7% vs JD's -34.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs JD's 4.5%, ROIC 64.5% vs 9.9% |
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
JD.com is China's largest direct online retailer that operates an integrated supply chain and logistics network. It generates revenue primarily from direct online retail sales of electronics and general merchandise (~90% of revenue), complemented by marketplace commissions, logistics services, and advertising. Its key competitive advantage is its proprietary nationwide logistics infrastructure—including warehouses, delivery stations, and last-mile delivery—which enables fast, reliable fulfillment across China.
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
AAPL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). JD leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
JD is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.30T annually — 3.0x AAPL's $435.6B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to JD's 2.5%.
| Metric | JDJD.com, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.30T | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $23.8B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $32.2B | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $9.1B | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +12.7% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.3% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.5% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +0.7% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.9% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -56.3% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 6.8x trailing earnings, JD trades at a 81% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), JD offers better value at 0.25x vs AAPL's 1.98x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | JDJD.com, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $8.4B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.7B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 6.77x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 1.26x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.25x | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 0.84x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.05x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.89x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 1.30x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $11 for JD. JD 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), AAPL scores 7/9 vs JD's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | JDJD.com, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.6% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.5% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.9% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.2% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.29x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$18.6B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $108.3B | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $89.8B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 17.17x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,076 for JD. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +9.7% total return vs JD's -34.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs JD's -13.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | JDJD.com, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -10.2% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -34.3% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -35.0% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -69.2% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +17.3% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -13.4% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
JD is the less volatile stock with a 0.84 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. AAPL currently trades 91.5% from its 52-week high vs JD's 57.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | JDJD.com, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.84x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $46.45 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $26.40 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +57.1% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 36.7 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 8.0M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates JD as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 39.5% upside for JD (target: $37) vs 14.7% for AAPL (target: $303). For income investors, JD offers the higher dividend yield at 2.95% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | JDJD.com, Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $37.00 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 44 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.0% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $5.37 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +45.0% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| JD.com, Inc. (JD) | 100 | 65.89 | -34.1% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs JD.com, Inc. (JD)'s -69%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| JD.com, Inc. (JD) | $260.1B | $1.2T | +345.5% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| JD.com, Inc. (JD) | -0.8% | 3.6% | +564.1% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| JD.com, Inc. (JD) | 4.3 | 1.3 | -69.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
JD.com, Inc. has traded in a 1x–9x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~7x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| JD.com, Inc. (JD) | -2.4 | 26.9 | +1220.8% |
| 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
JD.com, Inc. generated $44B FCF in 2024 (+87% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
JD vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is JD or AAPL a better buy right now?
JD.com, Inc. (JD) offers the better valuation at 6.8x trailing P/E (1.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate JD.com, Inc. (JD) 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 — JD or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, JD.com, Inc. (JD) is the cheapest at 6.8x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, JD.com, Inc. is actually cheaper at 1.3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: JD.com, Inc. wins at 0.05x 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 — JD or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to -69.2% for JD.com, Inc. (JD). 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 JD's +17.3%. 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 — JD or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), JD.com, Inc. (JD) is the lower-risk stock at 0.84β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 52% more volatile than JD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, JD.com, Inc. (JD) 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 — JD or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 3.6% for JD.com, Inc. — 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 3.3% for JD. 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 JD 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, JD.com, Inc. (JD) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.05x versus Apple Inc.'s 1.74x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, JD.com, Inc. (JD) trades at 1.3x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 29.9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for JD: 39.5% to $37.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — JD or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. JD.com, Inc. (JD) offers the highest yield at 3.0%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is JD or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, JD.com, Inc. (JD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.84), 3.0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (JD: +17.3%, 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 JD and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (JD (Consumer Cyclical) and AAPL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. In terms of investment character: JD is a small-cap deep-value stock; AAPL is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. JD 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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