Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (ZETA) 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 |  ZETA | 29.7% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | ZETA | Lower P/E (18.5x vs 30.9x) |
| Quality / Margins |  AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs ZETA's -2.4% |
| Stability / Safety | AAPL | Beta 1.28 vs ZETA's 2.05 |
| Dividends | AAPL | 0.4% yield; 14-year raise streak; ZETA pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +11.7% vs ZETA's +4.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs ZETA's -2.1%, ROIC 64.5% vs 0.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
AAPLDividend streak 14 yrs, beta 1.28, yield 0.4%
Growth exposure
ZETARev growth 29.7%, EPS growth 63.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 30.2%
Long-term compounding (10Y)
AAPL9.5% 10Y total return vs ZETA's 98.2%
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
AAPLLower volatility, beta 1.28, current ratio 0.89x
Defensive / Recession hedge
AAPLBeta 1.28, yield 0.4%, current ratio 0.89x
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Zeta Global operates a data-driven marketing cloud platform that helps enterprises predict consumer intent and automate omnichannel marketing campaigns. It generates revenue primarily through its software-as-a-service platform—which includes consumer intelligence tools and marketing automation software—with additional income from data services and professional implementation. The company's key advantage lies in its proprietary opted-in consumer dataset and sophisticated machine learning algorithms that analyze billions of data points to deliver predictive consumer insights.
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
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
AAPL 4ZETA 1AAPL4/6 metricsZETA6/6 metricsAAPL5/7 metricsAAPL6/6 metricsAAPL2/2 metricsAAPL leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ZETA leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 333.9x ZETA's $1.3B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ZETA's -2.4%. On growth, ZETA holds the edge at +25.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ZETAZeta Global Holdi… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.3B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $77M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$32M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $185M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +60.6% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +0.4% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -2.4% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.2% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +25.4% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -51.7% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, ZETA's 1.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AAPL's 27.3x.
| Metric | ZETAZeta Global Holdi… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $417M | $3.86T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $97M | $3.95T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -125.86x | 35.18x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.51x | 30.95x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.97x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 1.25x | 27.28x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.32x | 9.27x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.87x | 53.41x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 2.25x | 39.07x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $-4 for ZETA. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AAPL scores 7/9 vs ZETA's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ZETAZeta Global Holdi… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -3.9% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -2.1% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +0.8% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +0.5% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$320M | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $320M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -44.26x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $22,249 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $19,820 for ZETA. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +11.7% total return vs ZETA's +4.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 19.9% vs ZETA's 17.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ZETAZeta Global Holdi… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -11.5% | -3.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +4.5% | +11.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +62.5% | +72.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +98.2% | +122.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +98.2% | +951.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.6% | +19.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AAPL is the less volatile stock with a 1.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ZETA's 2.05 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AAPL currently trades 90.9% from its 52-week high vs ZETA's 70.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ZETAZeta Global Holdi… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.05x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $24.90 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $10.69 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +70.8% | +90.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 46.9 | 48.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 7.7M | 40.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ZETA as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 63.8% upside for ZETA (target: $29) vs 15.5% for AAPL (target: $303). AAPL is the only dividend payer here at 0.39% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ZETAZeta Global Holdi… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $28.86 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 15 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +29.0% | +2.4% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Jun 21 | Mar 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta Global Holding… (ZETA) | 100 | 198.2 | +98.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 191.21 | +91.2% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +122% over 5 years vs Zeta Global Holding… (ZETA)'s +98%. A $10,000 investment in AAPL 5 years ago would be worth $22,249 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta Global Holding… (ZETA) | $306M | $1.3B | +326.3% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta Global Holding… (ZETA) | -12.6% | -2.4% | +80.8% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta Global Holding… (ZETA) | -1.18 | -0.14 | +88.1% |
| 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
Zeta Global Holdings Corp. generated $185M FCF in 2025 (+955% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
ZETA vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ZETA or AAPL a better buy right now?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) offers the better valuation at 35.2x trailing P/E (30.9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (ZETA) a "Buy" — based on 15 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 — ZETA or AAPL?
On forward P/E, Zeta Global Holdings Corp. is actually cheaper at 18.5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ZETA or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +122.5%, compared to +98.2% for Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (ZETA). 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 +951.6% versus ZETA's +98.2%. 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 — ZETA or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.28β versus Zeta Global Holdings Corp.'s 2.05β — meaning ZETA is approximately 60% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — ZETA or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus -2.4% for Zeta Global Holdings Corp. — 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 0.4% for ZETA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ZETA leads at 60.6%, 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 ZETA or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (ZETA) trades at 18.5x forward P/E versus 30.9x for Apple Inc. — 12.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ZETA: 63.8% to $28.86.
07Which pays a better dividend — ZETA or AAPL?
In this comparison, AAPL (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. ZETA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is ZETA 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), +951.6% 10Y return). Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (ZETA) carries a higher beta of 2.05 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AAPL: +951.6%, ZETA: +98.2%), 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 ZETA 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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