Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO) 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 VECO's -7.4% |
| Value | VECO | Lower P/E (18.3x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs VECO's 5.3% |
| Stability / Safety | AAPL | Beta 1.28 vs VECO's 1.49 |
| Dividends | AAPL | 0.4% yield; 14-year raise streak; VECO pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | VECO | +37.4% vs AAPL's +9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs VECO's 2.7%, ROIC 64.5% vs 2.8% |
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
Veeco Instruments designs and manufactures specialized semiconductor manufacturing equipment used to produce microelectronic components like logic chips, memory, and photonics devices. It generates revenue primarily from selling its laser annealing, deposition, etching, and wafer processing systems to semiconductor manufacturers, foundries, and research institutions. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep expertise in precision thin-film process technologies—particularly in areas like molecular beam epitaxy and atomic layer deposition—where it has established strong customer relationships and technical barriers to entry.
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 — strongest in Financial Metrics and Profitability & Efficiency. 1 category is tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 655.8x VECO's $664M. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VECO's 5.3%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | VECOVeeco Instruments… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $664M | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $39M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $35M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $46M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +40.0% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.4% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +5.3% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.9% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.4% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -92.3% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 35.4x trailing earnings, AAPL trades at a 32% valuation discount to VECO's 51.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, AAPL's 27.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than VECO's 49.9x.
| Metric | VECOVeeco Instruments… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.8B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.9B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 51.80x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.27x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 49.94x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.78x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.09x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 40.38x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $4 for VECO. VECO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.29x 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 VECO's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | VECOVeeco Instruments… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +4.0% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.7% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.8% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.2% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.29x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $94M | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $163M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $258M | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.91x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,546 for VECO. Over the past 12 months, VECO leads with a +37.4% total return vs AAPL's +9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs VECO's 12.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | VECOVeeco Instruments… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +0.1% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +37.4% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +43.7% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +35.5% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +64.7% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.8% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AAPL is the less volatile stock with a 1.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than VECO's 1.49 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 VECO's 85.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | VECOVeeco Instruments… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.49x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $35.77 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $16.92 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.4% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.8 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 578K | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates VECO as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.7% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs -1.8% for VECO (target: $30). AAPL is the only dividend payer here at 0.39% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | VECOVeeco Instruments… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $30.00 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 36 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veeco Instruments I… (VECO) | 100 | 234.18 | +134.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs Veeco Instruments I… (VECO)'s +35%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veeco Instruments I… (VECO) | $332M | $664M | +99.8% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Veeco Instruments Inc.'s revenue grew from $332M (2016) to $664M (2025) — a 8.0% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veeco Instruments I… (VECO) | -36.8% | 5.3% | +114.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Veeco Instruments Inc.'s net margin went from -37% (2016) to 5% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veeco Instruments I… (VECO) | 58.1 | 48.4 | -16.7% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Veeco Instruments Inc. has traded in a 7x–58x P/E range over 4 years; current trailing P/E is ~52x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veeco Instruments I… (VECO) | -3.11 | 0.59 | +119.0% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Veeco Instruments Inc.'s EPS grew from $-3.11 (2016) to $0.59 (2025). Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Veeco Instruments Inc. generated $46M FCF in 2025 (+69% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
VECO vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is VECO or AAPL a better buy right now?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) offers the better valuation at 35.4x trailing P/E (31.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO) a "Buy" — based on 36 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 — VECO or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the cheapest at 35.4x versus Veeco Instruments Inc. at 51.8x. On forward P/E, Veeco Instruments Inc. is actually cheaper at 18.3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — VECO or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to +35.5% for Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO). 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 VECO's +64.7%. 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 — VECO or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.28β versus Veeco Instruments Inc.'s 1.49β — meaning VECO is approximately 17% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — VECO or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 5.3% for Veeco Instruments 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 5.4% for VECO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AAPL leads at 46.9%, 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 VECO or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO) trades at 18.3x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 12.9x 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 — VECO or AAPL?
In this comparison, AAPL (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. VECO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is VECO 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%, VECO: +64.7%), 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 VECO 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. 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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