Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Matador Resources Company (MTDR) 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 MTDR's 6.2% |
| Value | MTDR | Lower P/E (11.6x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs MTDR's 20.5% |
| Stability / Safety | AAPL | Beta 1.28 vs MTDR's 1.40 |
| Dividends | MTDR | 2.5% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +9.7% vs MTDR's +1.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs MTDR's 7.3%, ROIC 64.5% vs 11.8% |
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
Matador Resources is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company focused on shale plays in the Delaware Basin and other U.S. regions. It generates revenue primarily from oil sales (~60% of total revenue) and natural gas sales (~40%), supplemented by midstream services for third parties. The company's competitive advantage lies in its concentrated, high-quality acreage position in the prolific Delaware Basin — particularly in the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring formations — which provides low-cost, high-return drilling opportunities.
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). MTDR leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 117.9x MTDR's $3.7B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to MTDR's 20.5%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | MTDRMatador Resources… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.7B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.4B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $759M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $830M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +88.8% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +33.2% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +20.5% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +22.5% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -13.3% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.4% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 8.4x trailing earnings, MTDR trades at a 76% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, MTDR's 3.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AAPL's 27.5x.
| Metric | MTDRMatador Resources… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $6.5B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.6B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 8.44x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.65x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 3.54x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.75x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.07x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 2.67x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $13 for MTDR. MTDR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.35x 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 MTDR's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | MTDRMatador Resources… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.7% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.3% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.8% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.8% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.35x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.1B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $15M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.1B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.96x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in MTDR five years ago would be worth $24,960 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $21,049 for AAPL. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +9.7% total return vs MTDR's +1.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs MTDR's 0.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | MTDRMatador Resources… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +19.4% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +1.4% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1.2% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +149.6% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +240.8% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +0.4% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AAPL is the less volatile stock with a 1.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MTDR's 1.40 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MTDR currently trades 95.5% from its 52-week high vs AAPL's 91.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | MTDRMatador Resources… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.40x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $53.84 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $35.19 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.5% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.6 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.4M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MTDR as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.7% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs 10.3% for MTDR (target: $57). For income investors, MTDR offers the higher dividend yield at 2.55% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | MTDRMatador Resources… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $56.67 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 41 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.5% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.31 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.9% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matador Resources C… (MTDR) | 100 | 433.66 | +333.7% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Matador Resources C… (MTDR) returned +150% over 5 years vs Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s +110%. A $10,000 investment in MTDR 5 years ago would be worth $24,960 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matador Resources C… (MTDR) | $264M | $3.7B | +1297.9% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Matador Resources Company's revenue grew from $264M (2016) to $3.7B (2025) — a 34.1% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matador Resources C… (MTDR) | -36.8% | 20.5% | +155.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Matador Resources Company's net margin went from -37% (2016) to 21% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matador Resources C… (MTDR) | 25.3 | 7 | -72.3% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Matador Resources Company has traded in a 6x–25x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~8x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matador Resources C… (MTDR) | -1.07 | 6.09 | +669.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Matador Resources Company's EPS grew from $-1.07 (2016) to $6.09 (2025). Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Matador Resources Company generated $2B FCF in 2025 (+658% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
MTDR vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MTDR or AAPL a better buy right now?
Matador Resources Company (MTDR) offers the better valuation at 8.4x trailing P/E (11.6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Matador Resources Company (MTDR) a "Buy" — based on 41 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 — MTDR or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Matador Resources Company (MTDR) is the cheapest at 8.4x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, Matador Resources Company is actually cheaper at 11.6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MTDR or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Matador Resources Company (MTDR) delivered a total return of +149.6%, compared to +110.5% for Apple Inc. (AAPL). A $10,000 investment in MTDR five years ago would be worth approximately $25K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +1027% versus MTDR's +240.8%. 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 — MTDR or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.28β versus Matador Resources Company's 1.40β — meaning MTDR is approximately 10% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Matador Resources Company (MTDR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 35% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — MTDR or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 20.5% for Matador Resources Company — meaning it keeps 26.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MTDR leads at 33.2% versus 32.0% for AAPL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MTDR leads at 88.8%, 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 MTDR or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Matador Resources Company (MTDR) trades at 11.6x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 19.5x 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 — MTDR or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Matador Resources Company (MTDR) offers the highest yield at 2.5%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is MTDR 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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AAPL: +1027%, MTDR: +240.8%), 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.
09What are the main differences between MTDR and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (MTDR (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: MTDR is a small-cap deep-value stock; AAPL is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. MTDR 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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