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LINK vs SYNA vs AAPL vs HPQ vs DELL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Semiconductors
Consumer Electronics
Computer Hardware
Computer Hardware
LINK vs SYNA vs AAPL vs HPQ vs DELL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Semiconductors | Consumer Electronics | Computer Hardware | Computer Hardware |
| Market Cap | $56M | $4.89B | $4.31T | $20.80B | $86.92B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $12M | $1.17B | $451.44B | $56.23B | $113.54B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-2M | $-48M | $122.58B | $2.51B | $5.94B |
| Gross Margin | 38.9% | 43.6% | 47.9% | 20.1% | 20.0% |
| Operating Margin | -15.4% | -6.4% | 32.6% | 5.7% | 7.2% |
| Forward P/E | — | 28.1x | 33.7x | 7.9x | 26.1x |
| Total Debt | $817K | $880M | $112.38B | $10.88B | $31.50B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3M | $392M | $35.93B | $3.69B | $11.53B |
LINK vs SYNA vs AAPL vs HPQ vs DELL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interlink Electroni… (LINK) | 100 | 143.5 | +43.5% |
| Synaptics Incorpora… (SYNA) | 100 | 196.8 | +96.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 368.9 | +268.9% |
| HP Inc. (HPQ) | 100 | 149.8 | +49.8% |
| Dell Technologies I… (DELL) | 100 | 1035.0 | +935.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LINK vs SYNA vs AAPL vs HPQ vs DELL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
LINK is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta 1.15, Low D/E 8.9%, current ratio 3.79x
- Beta 1.15, yield 0.6%, current ratio 3.79x
Among these 5 stocks, SYNA doesn't own a clear edge in any measured category.
AAPL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for quality and stability.
- 27.2% margin vs LINK's -13.6%
- Beta 1.04 vs SYNA's 2.34
- 34.0% ROA vs LINK's -13.2%, ROIC 67.4% vs -17.2%
HPQ is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if income & stability and valuation efficiency is your priority.
- Dividend streak 9 yrs, beta 1.05, yield 5.0%
- PEG 1.37 vs AAPL's 1.89
- Lower P/E (7.9x vs 26.1x)
- 5.0% yield, 9-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4%, (2 stocks pay no dividend)
DELL ranks third and is worth considering specifically for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 18.8%, EPS growth -100.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.5%
- 21.2% 10Y total return vs AAPL's 12.0%
- 18.8% revenue growth vs LINK's 1.8%
- +172.8% vs HPQ's -9.4%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 18.8% revenue growth vs LINK's 1.8% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (7.9x vs 26.1x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 27.2% margin vs LINK's -13.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.04 vs SYNA's 2.34 | |
| Dividends | 5.0% yield, 9-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4%, (2 stocks pay no dividend) | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +172.8% vs HPQ's -9.4% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 34.0% ROA vs LINK's -13.2%, ROIC 67.4% vs -17.2% |
LINK vs SYNA vs AAPL vs HPQ vs DELL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
LINK vs SYNA vs AAPL vs HPQ vs DELL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 5 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
AAPL leads in 3 of 6 categories
HPQ leads 1 • DELL leads 1 • LINK leads 0 • SYNA leads 0 • 1 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AAPL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $451.4B annually — 37968.2x LINK's $12M. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LINK's -13.6%. On growth, DELL holds the edge at +40.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $12M | $1.2B | $451.4B | $56.2B | $113.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$919,000 | $50M | $160.0B | $4.1B | $8.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$2M | -$48M | $122.6B | $2.5B | $5.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$168,000 | $97M | $129.2B | $2.9B | $4.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +38.9% | +43.6% | +47.9% | +20.1% | +20.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -15.4% | -6.4% | +32.6% | +5.7% | +7.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -13.6% | -4.1% | +27.2% | +4.5% | +5.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -1.4% | +8.3% | +28.6% | +5.1% | +4.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.5% | +10.4% | +16.6% | +6.9% | +40.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +23.7% | +62.5% | +21.8% | -1.7% | -100.0% |
Valuation Metrics
HPQ leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 8.6x trailing earnings, HPQ trades at a 78% valuation discount to AAPL's 39.3x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), HPQ offers better value at 1.48x vs AAPL's 2.20x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $56M | $4.9B | $4.31T | $20.8B | $86.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $54M | $5.4B | $4.38T | $28.0B | $106.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -27.38x | -102.81x | 39.31x | 8.56x | — |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 28.08x | 33.71x | 7.93x | 26.11x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | 2.20x | 1.48x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 109.78x | 30.27x | 6.17x | 13.12x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.72x | 4.55x | 10.35x | 0.38x | 0.77x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 5.76x | 3.53x | 59.68x | — | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 46.05x | 43.59x | 7.43x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 146.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $147 in annual profit, vs $-17 for LINK. LINK carries lower financial leverage with a 0.09x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AAPL's 1.52x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AAPL scores 8/9 vs DELL's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -16.7% | -3.5% | +146.7% | +73.6% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -13.2% | -1.9% | +34.0% | +6.0% | +5.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -17.2% | -4.0% | +67.4% | +41.2% | +33.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -16.8% | -3.9% | +69.6% | +30.5% | +22.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.09x | 0.63x | 1.52x | — | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$2M | $489M | $76.4B | $7.2B | $20.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3M | $392M | $35.9B | $3.7B | $11.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $817,000 | $880M | $112.4B | $10.9B | $31.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -36.35x | — | 6.25x | 6.01x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
DELL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in DELL five years ago would be worth $52,994 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,014 for LINK. Over the past 12 months, DELL leads with a +172.8% total return vs HPQ's -9.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors DELL at 79.4% vs HPQ's -4.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -12.1% | +65.6% | +8.3% | +3.9% | +104.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -0.3% | +109.8% | +49.0% | -9.4% | +172.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -9.0% | +63.2% | +70.8% | -13.7% | +477.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -39.9% | +2.1% | +134.8% | -20.6% | +429.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -3.0% | +90.8% | +1199.3% | +172.7% | +2117.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -3.1% | +17.7% | +19.5% | -4.8% | +79.4% |
Risk & Volatility
AAPL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AAPL is the less volatile stock with a 1.04 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SYNA's 2.34 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AAPL currently trades 99.5% from its 52-week high vs LINK's 35.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.15x | 2.34x | 1.04x | 1.05x | 1.75x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $10.10 | $129.78 | $294.76 | $29.55 | $263.99 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.66 | $57.54 | $193.46 | $17.56 | $95.64 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +35.2% | +96.6% | +99.5% | +76.8% | +98.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 63.3 | 73.7 | 69.3 | 60.4 | 69.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 22K | 774K | 40.0M | 17.0M | 7.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — AAPL and HPQ each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: SYNA as "Buy", AAPL as "Buy", HPQ as "Hold", DELL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 8.9% upside for AAPL (target: $319) vs -29.8% for DELL (target: $183). For income investors, HPQ offers the higher dividend yield at 5.03% vs AAPL's 0.35%.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy | Buy | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $114.50 | $319.44 | $19.80 | $182.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 33 | 110 | 52 | 43 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.6% | — | +0.4% | +5.0% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | — | 14 | 9 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.02 | — | $1.03 | $1.14 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.6% | +2.1% | +4.1% | +6.9% |
AAPL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). HPQ leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
LINK vs SYNA vs AAPL vs HPQ vs DELL: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LINK or SYNA or AAPL or HPQ or DELL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Dell Technologies Inc.
(DELL) is the stronger pick with 18. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 8% for Interlink Electronics, Inc. (LINK). HP Inc. (HPQ) offers the better valuation at 8. 6x trailing P/E (7. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Synaptics Incorporated (SYNA) a "Buy" — based on 33 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 — LINK or SYNA or AAPL or HPQ or DELL?
On trailing P/E, HP Inc.
(HPQ) is the cheapest at 8. 6x versus Apple Inc. at 39. 3x. On forward P/E, HP Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: HP Inc. wins at 1. 37x versus Apple Inc. 's 1. 89x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LINK or SYNA or AAPL or HPQ or DELL?
Over the past 5 years, Dell Technologies Inc.
(DELL) delivered a total return of +429. 9%, compared to -39. 9% for Interlink Electronics, Inc. (LINK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DELL returned +21. 2% versus LINK's -3. 0%. 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 — LINK or SYNA or AAPL or HPQ or DELL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc.
(AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 04β versus Synaptics Incorporated's 2. 34β — meaning SYNA is approximately 125% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Interlink Electronics, Inc. (LINK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% versus 152% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — LINK or SYNA or AAPL or HPQ or DELL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Dell Technologies Inc.
(DELL) is pulling ahead at 18. 8% versus 1. 8% for Interlink Electronics, Inc. (LINK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Interlink Electronics, Inc. grew EPS 45. 8% year-over-year, compared to -138. 6% for Synaptics Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, LINK leads at 16. 6% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — LINK or SYNA or AAPL or HPQ or DELL?
Apple Inc.
(AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 9% net margin versus -13. 6% for Interlink Electronics, 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 -15. 4% for LINK. 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.
07Is LINK or SYNA or AAPL or HPQ or DELL 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, HP Inc. (HPQ) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 37x versus Apple Inc. 's 1. 89x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, HP Inc. (HPQ) trades at 7. 9x forward P/E versus 33. 7x for Apple Inc. — 25. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AAPL: 8. 9% to $319. 44.
08Which pays a better dividend — LINK or SYNA or AAPL or HPQ or DELL?
In this comparison, HPQ (5.
0% yield), LINK (0. 6% yield), AAPL (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. SYNA, DELL do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is LINK or SYNA or AAPL or HPQ or DELL 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. 04), +1199% 10Y return). Synaptics Incorporated (SYNA) carries a higher beta of 2. 34 — 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: +1199%, SYNA: +90. 8%), 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.
10What are the main differences between LINK and SYNA and AAPL and HPQ and DELL?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: LINK is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SYNA is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AAPL is a mega-cap quality compounder stock; HPQ is a mid-cap deep-value stock; DELL is a mid-cap high-growth stock. LINK, HPQ pay a dividend while SYNA, AAPL, DELL do 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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