Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX) 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 RPRX's 5.1% |
| Value |  RPRX | Lower P/E (9.8x vs 31.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | RPRX | 32.6% net margin vs AAPL's 27.0% |
| Stability / Safety | RPRX | Beta 0.36 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | RPRX | 1.4% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | RPRX | +43.1% vs AAPL's +11.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs RPRX's 4.0%, ROIC 64.5% vs 6.7% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
RPRXDividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.36, yield 1.4%
Growth exposure
AAPLRev growth 6.4%, EPS growth 22.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 1.8%
Long-term compounding (10Y)
AAPL9.6% 10Y total return vs RPRX's 16.7%
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
RPRXLower volatility, beta 0.36, Low D/E 91.5%, current ratio 0.97x
Defensive / Recession hedge
RPRXBeta 0.36, yield 1.4%, current ratio 0.97x
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Royalty Pharma is a specialized investment firm that acquires royalty interests in approved and development-stage biopharmaceutical products. It generates revenue primarily from royalty payments on approximately 35 marketed therapies — with its largest assets including cystic fibrosis drug Trikafta and HIV treatment Biktarvy — which provide predictable cash flows. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep expertise in valuing complex biopharmaceutical royalties and its extensive industry relationships that provide access to proprietary deal flow.
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
RPRX 3AAPL 2RPRX4/6 metricsRPRX5/6 metricsAAPL5/8 metricsAAPL4/6 metricsRPRX2/2 metricsRPRX leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). AAPL leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 185.4x RPRX's $2.3B. RPRX is the more profitable business, keeping 32.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AAPL's 27.0%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | RPRXRoyalty Pharma plc | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.3B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.5B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $765M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.4B | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +100.0% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +65.2% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +32.6% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +102.4% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.9% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -44.8% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 26.6x trailing earnings, RPRX trades at a 24% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, RPRX's 22.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AAPL's 27.3x.
| Metric | RPRXRoyalty Pharma plc | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $26.8B | $3.86T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $35.1B | $3.95T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 26.65x | 35.19x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.75x | 30.95x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.97x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 22.51x | 27.29x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 11.26x | 9.27x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.74x | 53.42x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.75x | 39.08x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $8 for RPRX. RPRX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.91x 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 RPRX's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | RPRXRoyalty Pharma plc | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.0% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.0% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.7% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.7% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.91x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $8.3B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $619M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $9.0B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.66x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $22,020 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,100 for RPRX. Over the past 12 months, RPRX leads with a +43.1% total return vs AAPL's +11.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 20.0% vs RPRX's 12.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | RPRXRoyalty Pharma plc | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +22.7% | -3.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +43.1% | +11.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +42.2% | +72.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +21.0% | +120.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +16.7% | +963.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.5% | +20.0% |
Risk & Volatility
RPRX is the less volatile stock with a 0.36 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. RPRX currently trades 99.1% from its 52-week high vs AAPL's 91.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | RPRXRoyalty Pharma plc | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.36x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $47.86 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $29.66 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.1% | +91.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 81.9 | 47.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.5M | 46.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates RPRX as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 15.5% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs 4.2% for RPRX (target: $49). For income investors, RPRX offers the higher dividend yield at 1.41% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | RPRXRoyalty Pharma plc | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $49.40 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 11 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.4% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.67 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.4% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Jun 20 | Mar 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX) | 100 | 106.67 | +6.7% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 290.81 | +190.8% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +120% over 5 years vs Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX)'s +21%. A $10,000 investment in AAPL 5 years ago would be worth $22,020 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX) | $1.6B | $2.4B | +48.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX) | 75.7% | 32.4% | -57.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX) | 19.3 | 21.7 | +12.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Royalty Pharma plc has traded in a 11x–404x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~27x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX) | 1.99 | 1.78 | -10.7% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Royalty Pharma plc generated $2B FCF in 2025 (+23% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
RPRX vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RPRX or AAPL a better buy right now?
Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX) offers the better valuation at 26.6x trailing P/E (9.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX) a "Buy" — based on 11 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 — RPRX or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX) is the cheapest at 26.6x versus Apple Inc. at 35.2x. On forward P/E, Royalty Pharma plc is actually cheaper at 9.8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — RPRX or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +120.2%, compared to +21.0% for Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX). A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth approximately $22K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +963.0% versus RPRX's +16.7%. 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 — RPRX or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.36β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 257% more volatile than RPRX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 91% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — RPRX or AAPL?
Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX) is the more profitable company, earning 32.4% net margin versus 26.9% for Apple Inc. — meaning it keeps 32.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RPRX leads at 65.6% versus 32.0% for AAPL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RPRX 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 RPRX or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX) trades at 9.8x forward P/E versus 31.0x for Apple Inc. — 21.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AAPL: 15.5% to $303.11.
07Which pays a better dividend — RPRX or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX) offers the highest yield at 1.4%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is RPRX or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Royalty Pharma plc (RPRX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.36), 1.4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RPRX: +16.7%, AAPL: +963.0%), 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 RPRX and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (RPRX (Healthcare) and AAPL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. RPRX 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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