Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL) 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 MRVL's 4.7% |
| Value | MRVL | Lower P/E (28.7x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | MRVL | 31.7% net margin vs AAPL's 27.0% |
| Stability / Safety | AAPL | Beta 1.28 vs MRVL's 2.25 |
| Dividends | AAPL | 0.4% yield, 14-year raise streak, vs MRVL's 0.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +9.7% vs MRVL's -10.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs MRVL's 11.5%, ROIC 64.5% vs -3.1% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Marvell Technology is a semiconductor company that designs and sells data infrastructure chips for data centers, enterprise networking, and automotive applications. It generates revenue primarily from data center products (~40%), enterprise networking (~30%), and carrier infrastructure (~20%), with the remainder from consumer and automotive segments. The company's moat lies in its specialized expertise in data processing, storage, and networking semiconductors—particularly in high-growth areas like cloud computing and AI infrastructure.
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 4 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). MRVL leads in 1 (Financial Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 55.9x MRVL's $7.8B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 31.7% (MRVL) to 27.0% (AAPL). On growth, MRVL holds the edge at +36.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | MRVLMarvell Technolog… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $7.8B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.5B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.5B | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.6B | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +50.7% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.8% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +31.7% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +20.2% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +36.8% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.8% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, AAPL's 27.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MRVL's 116.5x.
| Metric | MRVLMarvell Technolog… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $70.7B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $74.1B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -80.09x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 28.71x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 116.46x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 12.27x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 5.27x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 50.91x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $18 for MRVL. MRVL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.32x 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 MRVL's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | MRVLMarvell Technolog… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +17.6% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +11.5% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -3.1% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -3.8% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.32x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.4B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $948M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.3B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 14.82x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $16,739 for MRVL. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +9.7% total return vs MRVL's -10.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MRVL at 22.2% vs AAPL's 21.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | MRVLMarvell Technolog… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -8.5% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -10.8% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +82.5% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +67.4% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +780.5% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +22.2% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AAPL is the less volatile stock with a 1.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MRVL's 2.25 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 MRVL's 79.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | MRVLMarvell Technolog… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.25x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $102.77 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $47.09 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +79.5% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.0 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 11.3M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MRVL as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 44.1% upside for MRVL (target: $118) vs 14.7% for AAPL (target: $303). For income investors, AAPL offers the higher dividend yield at 0.39% vs MRVL's 0.29%.
| Metric | MRVLMarvell Technolog… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $117.68 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 71 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.3% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.24 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.0% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvell Technology,… (MRVL) | 100 | 358.2 | +258.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs Marvell Technology,… (MRVL)'s +67%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvell Technology,… (MRVL) | $2.6B | $5.8B | +117.7% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Marvell Technology, Inc.'s revenue grew from $2.6B (2016) to $5.8B (2025) — a 9.0% CAGR. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvell Technology,… (MRVL) | -30.6% | -15.3% | +49.9% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Marvell Technology, Inc.'s net margin went from -31% (2016) to -15% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvell Technology,… (MRVL) | -1.59 | -1.02 | +35.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Marvell Technology, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-1.59 (2016) to $-1.02 (2025). Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Marvell Technology, Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2025 (+99% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
MRVL vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MRVL or AAPL a better buy right now?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) offers the better valuation at 35.4x trailing P/E (31.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL) a "Buy" — based on 71 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 — MRVL or AAPL?
On forward P/E, Marvell Technology, Inc. is actually cheaper at 28.7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MRVL or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to +67.4% for Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL). 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 MRVL's +780.5%. 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 — MRVL or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.28β versus Marvell Technology, Inc.'s 2.25β — meaning MRVL is approximately 75% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — MRVL or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus -15.3% for Marvell Technology, 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 -12.5% for MRVL. 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 MRVL or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL) trades at 28.7x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 2.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MRVL: 44.1% to $117.68.
07Which pays a better dividend — MRVL or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Apple Inc. (AAPL) offers the highest yield at 0.4%, versus 0.3% for Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL).
08Is MRVL 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). Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL) carries a higher beta of 2.25 — 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%, MRVL: +780.5%), 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 MRVL 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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