Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare News Corporation (NWSA) 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 NWSA's 2.4% |
| Value | NWSA | Lower P/E (23.1x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs NWSA's 12.2% |
| Stability / Safety | NWSA | Beta 0.79 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | NWSA | 1.3% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +9.7% vs NWSA's -14.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs NWSA's 7.0%, ROIC 64.5% vs 6.8% |
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
News Corporation is a global media and information services company that creates and distributes authoritative content across newspapers, digital platforms, books, and video services. It generates revenue primarily through digital real estate services (~30% of revenue), subscription video services (~25%), Dow Jones business information (~15%), book publishing (~15%), and news media advertising and subscriptions. The company's competitive advantage lies in its portfolio of iconic media brands—including The Wall Street Journal, The Times, and HarperCollins—which create a diversified content ecosystem with strong subscriber loyalty.
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). NWSA leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 49.2x NWSA's $8.9B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NWSA's 12.2%.
| Metric | NWSANews Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $8.9B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.6B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.1B | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $652M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +85.5% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +12.1% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.2% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.4% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.7% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -44.7% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 11.7x trailing earnings, NWSA trades at a 67% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NWSA's 3.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AAPL's 27.5x.
| Metric | NWSANews Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.5B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.1B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 11.73x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 23.12x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 3.57x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.53x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.47x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 6.21x | 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 NWSA. NWSA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.31x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AAPL's 1.67x.
| Metric | NWSANews Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.4% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.0% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.8% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.2% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.31x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $537M | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.4B | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.9B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 39.56x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,382 for NWSA. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +9.7% total return vs NWSA's -14.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs NWSA's 13.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NWSANews Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -7.3% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -14.4% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +45.1% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +3.8% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +143.0% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +13.2% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
NWSA is the less volatile stock with a 0.79 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 NWSA's 76.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NWSANews Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.79x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $31.61 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $22.20 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +76.8% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.3 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.1M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NWSA as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 33.4% upside for NWSA (target: $32) vs 14.7% for AAPL (target: $303). For income investors, NWSA offers the higher dividend yield at 1.34% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | NWSANews Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $32.40 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 28 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.3% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.32 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.3% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| News Corporation (NWSA) | 100 | 215.37 | +115.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs News Corporation (NWSA)'s +4%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| News Corporation (NWSA) | $8.3B | $8.5B | +1.9% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
News Corporation's revenue grew from $8.3B (2016) to $8.5B (2025) — a 0.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| News Corporation (NWSA) | 2.2% | 14.0% | +546.7% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
News Corporation's net margin went from 2% (2016) to 14% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| News Corporation (NWSA) | 54.4 | 12.6 | -76.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
News Corporation has traded in a 13x–94x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~12x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| News Corporation (NWSA) | 0.3 | 2.07 | +590.0% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
News Corporation's EPS grew from $0.30 (2016) to $2.07 (2025) — a 24% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
News Corporation generated $727M FCF in 2025 (-14% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
NWSA vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NWSA or AAPL a better buy right now?
News Corporation (NWSA) offers the better valuation at 11.7x trailing P/E (23.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate News Corporation (NWSA) a "Buy" — based on 28 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 — NWSA or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, News Corporation (NWSA) is the cheapest at 11.7x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, News Corporation is actually cheaper at 23.1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NWSA or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to +3.8% for News Corporation (NWSA). 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 NWSA's +143.0%. 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 — NWSA or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), News Corporation (NWSA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.79β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 62% more volatile than NWSA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, News Corporation (NWSA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — NWSA or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 14.0% for News Corporation — 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 11.3% for NWSA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NWSA leads at 100.0%, 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 NWSA or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, News Corporation (NWSA) trades at 23.1x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 8.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NWSA: 33.4% to $32.40.
07Which pays a better dividend — NWSA or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. News Corporation (NWSA) offers the highest yield at 1.3%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is NWSA or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, News Corporation (NWSA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.79), 1.3% yield, +143.0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NWSA: +143.0%, 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 NWSA and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (NWSA (Communication Services) and AAPL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. In terms of investment character: NWSA is a small-cap deep-value stock; AAPL is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. NWSA 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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