Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Oracle Corporation (ORCL) vs Apple Inc. (AAPL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ORCL | 8.4% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | ORCL | Lower P/E (19.7x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs ORCL's 25.3% |
| Stability / Safety | AAPL | Beta 1.28 vs ORCL's 1.40, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ORCL | 1.1% yield, 18-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +9.7% vs ORCL's -11.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs ORCL's 7.5%, ROIC 64.5% vs 12.8% |
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
Oracle is a global enterprise software and cloud computing company that provides database management systems, enterprise applications, and cloud infrastructure services. It generates revenue primarily through cloud services and license support (~70% of total revenue) and cloud license and on-premise license sales (~20%), with hardware and services making up the remainder. The company's key moat is its entrenched position in enterprise database software—particularly with its flagship Oracle Database—which creates significant switching costs and lock-in for large corporate customers.
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 (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ORCL leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 7.1x ORCL's $61.0B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 27.0% (AAPL) to 25.3% (ORCL).
| Metric | ORCLOracle Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $61.0B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $22.6B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $15.4B | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$13.2B | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.7% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +30.3% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +25.3% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -21.6% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.2% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +90.9% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 33.5x trailing earnings, ORCL trades at a 5% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), AAPL offers better value at 1.98x vs ORCL's 4.72x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ORCLOracle Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $408.1B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $501.5B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 33.50x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.71x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 4.72x | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 21.02x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 7.11x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 19.87x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $51 for ORCL. AAPL carries lower financial leverage with a 1.67x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ORCL's 4.96x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AAPL scores 7/9 vs ORCL's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ORCLOracle Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +50.6% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.5% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.8% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +14.4% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 4.96x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $93.3B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $10.8B | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $104.1B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.24x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ORCL five years ago would be worth $23,146 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $21,049 for AAPL. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +9.7% total return vs ORCL's -11.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs ORCL's 19.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ORCLOracle Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -25.5% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -11.2% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +72.3% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +131.5% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +327.4% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +19.9% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AAPL is the less volatile stock with a 1.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ORCL's 1.40 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 ORCL's 42.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ORCLOracle Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.40x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $345.72 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $118.86 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +42.1% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.2 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 20.9M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ORCL as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 103.5% upside for ORCL (target: $296) vs 14.7% for AAPL (target: $303). For income investors, ORCL offers the higher dividend yield at 1.14% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | ORCLOracle Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $295.85 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 86 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.1% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 18 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.65 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 100 | 314.46 | +214.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Oracle Corporation (ORCL) returned +131% over 5 years vs Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s +110%. A $10,000 investment in ORCL 5 years ago would be worth $23,146 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | $37.0B | $57.4B | +54.9% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Oracle Corporation's revenue grew from $37.0B (2016) to $57.4B (2025) — a 5.0% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 24.0% | 21.7% | -9.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Oracle Corporation's net margin went from 24% (2016) to 22% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 21.4 | 44.9 | +109.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Oracle Corporation has traded in a 18x–53x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~34x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Corporation (ORCL) | 2.07 | 4.34 | +109.7% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Oracle Corporation's EPS grew from $2.07 (2016) to $4.34 (2025) — a 9% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Oracle Corporation generated $-394M FCF in 2025 (-103% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
ORCL vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ORCL or AAPL a better buy right now?
Oracle Corporation (ORCL) offers the better valuation at 33.5x trailing P/E (19.7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Oracle Corporation (ORCL) a "Buy" — based on 86 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 — ORCL or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the cheapest at 33.5x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, Oracle Corporation is actually cheaper at 19.7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Apple Inc. wins at 1.74x versus Oracle Corporation's 2.78x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ORCL or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) delivered a total return of +131.5%, compared to +110.5% for Apple Inc. (AAPL). A $10,000 investment in ORCL five years ago would be worth approximately $23K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +1027% versus ORCL's +327.4%. 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 — ORCL or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.28β versus Oracle Corporation's 1.40β — meaning ORCL is approximately 10% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Apple Inc. (AAPL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 167% versus 5% for Oracle Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ORCL or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 21.7% for Oracle 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 30.8% for ORCL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ORCL leads at 70.5%, 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 ORCL 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, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1.74x versus Oracle Corporation's 2.78x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) trades at 19.7x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 11.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ORCL: 103.5% to $295.85.
07Which pays a better dividend — ORCL or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Oracle Corporation (ORCL) offers the highest yield at 1.1%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is ORCL 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%, ORCL: +327.4%), 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 ORCL 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. ORCL 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.