Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) vs NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) 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 | NVDA | 65.5% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | META | Lower P/E (21.8x vs 31.1x), PEG 1.18 vs 1.74 |
| Quality / Margins | NVDA | 55.6% net margin vs AAPL's 27.0% |
| Stability / Safety | AAPL | Beta 1.28 vs NVDA's 1.73 |
| Dividends | AAPL | 0.4% yield, 14-year raise streak, vs NVDA's 0.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NVDA | +41.9% vs META's -2.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NVDA | 58.1% ROA vs META's 16.5%, ROIC 81.8% vs 27.6% |
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
Meta Platforms operates a family of social media and messaging apps — Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger — that connect billions of users globally. It generates nearly all its revenue from digital advertising across these platforms, with its Reality Labs segment — which includes VR hardware and software — currently operating at a loss. The company's massive network effects and user data advantage create a powerful moat, making it difficult for competitors to challenge its dominant position in social media.
NVIDIA designs and sells graphics processing units (GPUs) and accelerated computing platforms that power artificial intelligence, gaming, and professional visualization applications. The company generates revenue primarily through its Data Center segment — which includes AI chips and systems — accounting for over 70% of sales, supplemented by its Gaming GPU business and professional visualization offerings. NVIDIA's competitive moat stems from its CUDA software ecosystem — which locks developers into its hardware architecture — and its years of architectural leadership in parallel processing for AI workloads.
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 3 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
NVDA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). AAPL leads in 2 (Risk & Volatility, Analyst Outlook).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 2.2x META's $201.0B. NVDA is the more profitable business, keeping 55.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AAPL's 27.0%. On growth, NVDA holds the edge at +73.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | METAMeta Platforms, I… | NVDANVIDIA Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $201.0B | $215.9B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $101.9B | $133.2B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $60.5B | $120.1B | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $46.1B | $96.7B | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +82.0% | +71.1% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +41.4% | +60.4% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +30.1% | +55.6% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +22.9% | +44.8% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +23.8% | +73.2% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +10.6% | +97.8% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 27.6x trailing earnings, META trades at a 24% valuation discount to NVDA's 36.2x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), NVDA offers better value at 0.38x vs AAPL's 1.98x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | METAMeta Platforms, I… | NVDANVIDIA Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $222.3B | $4.31T | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $270.3B | $4.31T | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 27.59x | 36.16x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.80x | 21.88x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.50x | 0.38x | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 2.65x | 32.33x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.11x | 19.94x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.68x | 27.52x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 4.82x | 44.54x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $28 for META. NVDA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x 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 NVDA's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | METAMeta Platforms, I… | NVDANVIDIA Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +27.8% | +76.3% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +16.5% | +58.1% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +27.6% | +81.8% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +29.4% | +97.2% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.39x | 0.07x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $48.0B | $807M | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $35.9B | $10.6B | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $83.9B | $11.4B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 61.69x | 545.03x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in NVDA five years ago would be worth $128,116 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $21,049 for AAPL. Over the past 12 months, NVDA leads with a +41.9% total return vs META's -2.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NVDA at 96.9% vs AAPL's 21.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | METAMeta Platforms, I… | NVDANVIDIA Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -0.3% | -6.2% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -2.7% | +41.9% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +272.9% | +663.5% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +146.2% | +1181.2% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +510.1% | +22525.7% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +55.1% | +96.9% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AAPL is the less volatile stock with a 1.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NVDA's 1.73 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 META's 81.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | METAMeta Platforms, I… | NVDANVIDIA Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.42x | 1.73x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $796.25 | $212.19 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $479.80 | $86.62 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +81.4% | +83.5% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.4 | 47.4 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 13.2M | 136.2M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: META as "Buy", NVDA as "Buy", AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 52.9% upside for NVDA (target: $271) vs 14.7% for AAPL (target: $303). For income investors, AAPL offers the higher dividend yield at 0.39% vs META's 0.32%.
| Metric | METAMeta Platforms, I… | NVDANVIDIA Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $853.00 | $271.00 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 60 | 79 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.3% | +0.0% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.07 | $0.04 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +11.8% | +0.9% | +2.3% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 100 | 359.61 | +259.6% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | 100 | 2,686.11 | +2586.1% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) returned +1.2K% over 5 years vs Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s +110%. A $10,000 investment in NVDA 5 years ago would be worth $128,116 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | $40.7B | $201.0B | +394.3% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | $6.9B | $215.9B | +3025.0% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $229.2B | $416.2B | +81.5% |
NVIDIA Corporation's revenue grew from $6.9B (2017) to $215.9B (2026) — a 46.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 39.2% | 30.1% | -23.2% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | 24.1% | 55.6% | +130.6% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.1% | 26.9% | +27.6% |
NVIDIA Corporation's net margin went from 24% (2017) to 56% (2026).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 32.7 | 28.1 | -14.1% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | 75.6 | 36.2 | -52.1% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Meta Platforms, Inc. has traded in a 14x–33x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~28x. NVIDIA Corporation has traded in a 28x–291x P/E range over 10 years; current trailing P/E is ~36x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) | 5.39 | 23.49 | +335.8% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | 0.06 | 4.9 | +7556.3% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.3 | 7.46 | +224.3% |
NVIDIA Corporation's EPS grew from $0.06 (2017) to $4.90 (2026) — a 62% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Meta Platforms, Inc. generated $46B FCF in 2025 (+18% vs 2021). NVIDIA Corporation generated $97B FCF in 2026 (+1960% vs 2021).
META vs NVDA vs AAPL: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is META or NVDA or AAPL a better buy right now?
Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) offers the better valuation at 27.6x trailing P/E (21.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) a "Buy" — based on 60 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 — META or NVDA or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) is the cheapest at 27.6x versus NVIDIA Corporation at 36.2x. On forward P/E, Meta Platforms, Inc. is actually cheaper at 21.8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NVIDIA Corporation wins at 0.23x 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 — META or NVDA or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) delivered a total return of +1181%, compared to +110.5% for Apple Inc. (AAPL). A $10,000 investment in NVDA five years ago would be worth approximately $128K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NVDA returned +225.3% versus META's +510.1%. 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 — META or NVDA or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.28β versus NVIDIA Corporation's 1.73β — meaning NVDA is approximately 35% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — META or NVDA or AAPL?
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more profitable company, earning 55.6% net margin versus 26.9% for Apple Inc. — meaning it keeps 55.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NVDA leads at 60.4% versus 32.0% for AAPL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — META leads at 82.0%, 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 META or NVDA 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, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.23x versus Apple Inc.'s 1.74x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) trades at 21.8x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 9.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NVDA: 52.9% to $271.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — META or NVDA or AAPL?
In this comparison, AAPL (0.4% yield), META (0.3% yield) pay a dividend. NVDA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is META or NVDA or AAPL 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 1.28), +1027% 10Y return). NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) carries a higher beta of 1.73 — 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: +1027%, NVDA: +225.3%), 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 META and NVDA and AAPL?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. 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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