Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI) 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 SIRI's -1.6% |
| Value | SIRI | Lower P/E (7.0x vs 31.1x), PEG 0.14 vs 1.74 |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs SIRI's 9.4% |
| Stability / Safety | SIRI | Beta 0.87 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | SIRI | 4.7% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +9.7% vs SIRI's -4.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs SIRI's 3.0%, ROIC 64.5% vs 6.7% |
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
Sirius XM is a subscription-based satellite radio and audio entertainment company that broadcasts hundreds of music, sports, talk, and news channels across North America. It generates revenue primarily from monthly subscription fees — with automotive partnerships driving most new subscribers — supplemented by advertising on non-music channels and connected vehicle services. Its key moat is its exclusive satellite spectrum licenses and deep integration with automakers, giving it a captive audience in millions of vehicles where it's factory-installed.
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). SIRI leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 50.9x SIRI's $8.6B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SIRI's 9.4%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SIRISirius XM Holding… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $8.6B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.1B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $805M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.2B | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +49.4% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +17.2% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.4% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.5% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.2% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -65.0% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 9.8x trailing earnings, SIRI trades at a 72% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), SIRI offers better value at 0.20x vs AAPL's 1.98x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | SIRISirius XM Holding… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $7.4B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $17.0B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 9.76x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 6.96x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.20x | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.80x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.86x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.68x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.91x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $7 for SIRI. SIRI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.84x 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 SIRI's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SIRISirius XM Holding… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.0% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.0% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.7% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.9% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.84x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $9.6B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $94M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $9.7B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.30x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,864 for SIRI. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +9.7% total return vs SIRI's -4.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs SIRI's -17.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SIRISirius XM Holding… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +8.4% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -4.8% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -42.8% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -51.4% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -15.5% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -17.0% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
SIRI is the less volatile stock with a 0.87 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 SIRI's 86.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SIRISirius XM Holding… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.87x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $25.36 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $18.69 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.6% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 56.0 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.6M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SIRI as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.7% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs 2.5% for SIRI (target: $23). For income investors, SIRI offers the higher dividend yield at 4.66% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | SIRISirius XM Holding… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $22.50 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 32 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.7% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.02 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.8% | +2.3% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sirius XM Holdings … (SIRI) | 100 | 31.1 | -68.9% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs Sirius XM Holdings … (SIRI)'s -51%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sirius XM Holdings … (SIRI) | $5.0B | $8.6B | +70.6% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Sirius XM Holdings Inc.'s revenue grew from $5.0B (2016) to $8.6B (2025) — a 6.1% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sirius XM Holdings … (SIRI) | 14.9% | 9.4% | -36.7% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Sirius XM Holdings Inc.'s net margin went from 15% (2016) to 9% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sirius XM Holdings … (SIRI) | 38.3 | 8.9 | -76.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. has traded in a 9x–212x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~10x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sirius XM Holdings … (SIRI) | 1.5 | 2.25 | +50.0% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Sirius XM Holdings Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.50 (2016) to $2.25 (2025) — a 5% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2025 (-23% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
SIRI vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SIRI or AAPL a better buy right now?
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI) offers the better valuation at 9.8x trailing P/E (7.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI) a "Buy" — based on 32 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 — SIRI or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI) is the cheapest at 9.8x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, Sirius XM Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 7.0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Sirius XM Holdings Inc. wins at 0.14x versus Apple Inc.'s 1.74x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SIRI or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to -51.4% for Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI). 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 SIRI's -15.5%. 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 — SIRI or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.87β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 48% more volatile than SIRI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 84% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SIRI or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 9.4% for Sirius XM Holdings Inc. — 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 22.3% for SIRI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SIRI leads at 49.4%, 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 SIRI 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, Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.14x versus Apple Inc.'s 1.74x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI) trades at 7.0x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 24.2x 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 — SIRI or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI) offers the highest yield at 4.7%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is SIRI or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (SIRI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.87), 4.7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SIRI: -15.5%, 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 SIRI and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (SIRI (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: SIRI is a small-cap deep-value stock; AAPL is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. SIRI 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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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Net Margin > 5%
- Dividend Yield > 1.8%