Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) 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 | QCOM | 13.7% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | QCOM | Lower P/E (12.7x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs QCOM's 12.0% |
| Stability / Safety | AAPL | Beta 1.28 vs QCOM's 1.48 |
| Dividends | QCOM | 2.4% yield, 23-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +9.7% vs QCOM's -7.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs QCOM's 10.1%, ROIC 64.5% vs 29.1% |
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
Qualcomm is a semiconductor and wireless technology company that designs and licenses foundational technologies for mobile communications. It generates revenue primarily through selling smartphone chipsets (~75% of revenue) and licensing its extensive patent portfolio for wireless standards like 5G (~25% of revenue). The company's key advantage is its massive portfolio of essential wireless patents—particularly in CDMA and 5G—which creates a licensing moat that generates high-margin recurring revenue.
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). QCOM leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 9.7x QCOM's $44.9B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to QCOM's 12.0%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | QCOMQUALCOMM Incorpor… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $44.9B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $13.3B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $5.4B | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $12.9B | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +55.1% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +27.1% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.0% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +28.8% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.0% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -1.8% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 28.4x trailing earnings, QCOM trades at a 20% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), AAPL offers better value at 1.98x vs QCOM's 13.66x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | QCOMQUALCOMM Incorpor… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $152.9B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $161.4B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 28.42x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.74x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 13.66x | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.57x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.45x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.42x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.93x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $23 for QCOM. QCOM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.77x 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 QCOM's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | QCOMQUALCOMM Incorpor… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +23.3% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +10.1% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +29.1% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +28.9% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.77x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $8.5B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $7.8B | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $16.4B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 18.76x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,332 for QCOM. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +9.7% total return vs QCOM's -7.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs QCOM's 7.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | QCOMQUALCOMM Incorpor… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -17.7% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -7.2% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +23.4% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +13.3% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +234.4% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.2% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AAPL is the less volatile stock with a 1.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than QCOM's 1.48 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 QCOM's 69.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | QCOMQUALCOMM Incorpor… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.48x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $205.95 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $120.80 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +69.1% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.9 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 8.1M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates QCOM as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.7% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs 13.4% for QCOM (target: $162). For income investors, QCOM offers the higher dividend yield at 2.42% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | QCOMQUALCOMM Incorpor… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $161.50 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 67 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.4% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 23 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.44 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +5.7% | +2.3% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| QUALCOMM Incorporat… (QCOM) | 100 | 194.92 | +94.9% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 395.1 | +295.1% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs QUALCOMM Incorporat… (QCOM)'s +13%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| QUALCOMM Incorporat… (QCOM) | $23.6B | $44.3B | +88.0% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
QUALCOMM Incorporated's revenue grew from $23.6B (2016) to $44.3B (2025) — a 7.3% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| QUALCOMM Incorporat… (QCOM) | 24.2% | 12.5% | -48.3% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
QUALCOMM Incorporated's net margin went from 24% (2016) to 13% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| QUALCOMM Incorporat… (QCOM) | 39 | 34.1 | -12.6% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
QUALCOMM Incorporated has traded in a 10x–39x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~28x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| QUALCOMM Incorporat… (QCOM) | 3.81 | 5.01 | +31.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
QUALCOMM Incorporated's EPS grew from $3.81 (2016) to $5.01 (2025) — a 3% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
QUALCOMM Incorporated generated $13B FCF in 2025 (+48% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
QCOM vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is QCOM or AAPL a better buy right now?
QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) offers the better valuation at 28.4x trailing P/E (12.7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) a "Buy" — based on 67 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 — QCOM or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is the cheapest at 28.4x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, QUALCOMM Incorporated is actually cheaper at 12.7x. 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 QUALCOMM Incorporated's 6.13x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — QCOM or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to +13.3% for QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM). 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 QCOM's +234.4%. 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 — QCOM or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.28β versus QUALCOMM Incorporated's 1.48β — meaning QCOM is approximately 16% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — QCOM or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 12.5% for QUALCOMM Incorporated — 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 27.9% for QCOM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — QCOM leads at 55.4%, 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 QCOM 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 QUALCOMM Incorporated's 6.13x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) trades at 12.7x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 18.4x 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 — QCOM or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) offers the highest yield at 2.4%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is QCOM 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%, QCOM: +234.4%), 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 QCOM 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. QCOM 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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