Apple (AAPL) vs Alphabet (GOOGL): Stock Comparison
Data as of November 7, 2026. Refreshed weekly from SEC filings and market data.
Alphabet is cheaper on earnings, at 14.9 times against 37.8; Alphabet keeps the higher net margin (50.0% against 27.6%); Alphabet grew revenue faster over the last year (22.2% against 15.1%); dividend yield is about the same (0.3% and 0.3%). Apple clears 2 of this site's 8 value filters and Alphabet 4. Figures are as of November 7, 2026; each is on the page below with its source.
How do Apple and Alphabet compare on the numbers?
| Measure | Apple (AAPL) | Alphabet (GOOGL) | Clearer lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share price | $342.37 | $284.78 | |
| Market value | $5.00 trillion | $3.51 trillion | |
| P/E ratio (trailing) | 37.8 | 14.9 | GOOGL |
| PEG ratio | 3.06 | 0.88 | GOOGL |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 2.7% | 1.8% | About the same |
| Net profit margin | 27.6% | 50.0% | GOOGL |
| Revenue growth, last year | 15.1% | 22.2% | GOOGL |
| Return on equity | 127.6% | 42.6% | AAPL |
| Debt to equity | 0.71 | 0.18 | GOOGL |
| Dividend yield | 0.3% | 0.3% | About the same |
| Margin of safety (DCF) | -115.3% | -219.0% | AAPL |
| Value filters passed (of 8) | 2 | 4 | GOOGL |
| Distance from 52-week high | -2.0% | -29.3% |
How have Apple and Alphabet shares done against each other?
Apple 228Alphabet 191
Each share price set to 100 on Nov 2021, to Nov 2026. Price only: dividends are not included.
From Nov 2021 to Nov 2026, Apple shares are up 128% and Alphabet shares up 91%, so Apple has pulled ahead of Alphabet by 36 points of the starting price. The deepest fall from a prior high in that window was 28% for Apple and 42% for Alphabet.
| Period | Apple (AAPL) | Alphabet (GOOGL) |
|---|---|---|
| Last 1 year | +26.9% | +0.0% |
| Last 3 years | +91.0% | +118.6% |
| Last 5 years | +126.3% | +91.3% |
Which has grown faster, Apple or Alphabet?
Over 5 years, Apple grew revenue 8.7% a year and earnings per share 17.9% a year; Alphabet grew revenue 17.2% and earnings per share 29.8%. Its net margin averaged 25.5% at Apple and 27.2% at Alphabet.
| Measure | Apple (AAPL) | Alphabet (GOOGL) |
|---|---|---|
| Latest fiscal year ended | Sep 2025 | Dec 2025 |
| Revenue, first year to latest | $275 billion to $416 billion | $183 billion to $403 billion |
| Revenue growth per year | 8.7% | 17.2% |
| Earnings per share, first year to latest | $3.28 to $7.46 | $2.93 to $10.81 |
| Earnings per share growth per year | 17.9% | 29.8% |
| Net margin, latest year | 26.9% | 32.8% |
| Net margin, average of the years | 25.5% | 27.2% |
| Free cash flow margin, latest year | 23.7% | 18.2% |
From each company's 10-K filings (SEC EDGAR), over its latest 5 years. Fiscal years end in different months, so each is shown for its own latest 5 years.
What growth does each share price assume?
| Measure | Apple (AAPL) | Alphabet (GOOGL) |
|---|---|---|
| Free cash flow growth the price implies | 27.8% a year | 38.6% a year |
| Free cash flow per share | $9.31 | $5.23 |
| Margin of safety on this site's DCF | -115.3% | -219.0% |
At $342.37, Apple's price implies free cash flow growth of 27.8% a year, fading to 2.5% over 10 years. That is more growth than the 8% baseline.
At $284.78, Alphabet's price implies free cash flow growth of 38.6% a year, fading to 2.5% over 10 years. That is more growth than the 8% baseline.
The same model and baseline as every stock page. A price that asks for less growth is not a better company, only a lower bar to clear.
Where is each stronger?
Where Apple leads
- Higher return on equity: 127.6% against 42.6%
- Higher margin of safety on this site's DCF: -115.3% against -219.0%
- A higher free-cash-flow margin in its latest filed year: 23.7% against 18.2%
Where Alphabet leads
- Lower P/E: 14.9 against 37.8
- Lower PEG: 0.88 against 3.06
- Higher net margin: 50.0% against 27.6%
- Faster revenue growth last year: 22.2% against 15.1%
- Less debt for its equity: 0.18 against 0.71
- More of the 8 value filters: 4 against 2
- Faster revenue growth over its filed record: 17.2% against 8.7%
- Faster earnings-per-share growth over its filed record: 29.8% against 17.9%
- A higher net margin in its latest filed year: 32.8% against 26.9%
- A higher average net margin: 27.2% against 25.5%
About the same on: free-cash-flow yield, dividend yield. A lead needs a clear gap (10% apart on a ratio, 1 point on a percentage), so a rounding difference never names a winner. A lead on one measure is not a verdict on the company.
How do the businesses differ?
Apple. Apple designs and sells consumer devices and the services that run on them. The iPhone is its largest product; the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music and Apple TV+ add recurring subscription and fee revenue.
Alphabet. Alphabet is the parent of Google. It earns most of its money from advertising on Google Search, YouTube and its ad network, and sells cloud computing through Google Cloud. It also funds long-shot bets such as self-driving company Waymo.
Apple is in Technology and Alphabet in Media.
What stands out about Apple
- Misses 4 of the 8 value filters. It fails Trailing P/E < 25 (37.84), PEG Ratio < 1.5 (3.06) and Price/Book < 8 (44.62) and 1 more; the other 2 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- The margin of safety is falling. It went from -108% on Oct 7 to -115% on Nov 7 across 8 weekly readings.
- Close to its 52-week high. At $342.37, AAPL is within 2.0% of its high of $349.51, 38.8% above its low of $246.63.
What stands out about Alphabet
- Misses 2 of the 8 value filters. It fails Price/Sales < 7 (7.45) and EPS Growth YoY > -5% (-25.3%); the other 4 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- Close to its 52-week low. At $284.78, GOOGL is 6.5% above its low of $267.47 and 29.3% below its high of $402.62.
- Weakest against peers: dividend yield. At 0.30% (peer median 1.04%) it ranks 7th of 7 among media stocks this site tracks.
Frequently asked questions about Apple and Alphabet
Which is cheaper, Apple or Alphabet?
On trailing earnings, Alphabet is cheaper: Apple trades at 37.8 times and Alphabet at 14.9 times. On free cash flow, the yields are 2.7% and 1.8%. Cheaper is not the same as better value: read the growth each price assumes below.
Which pays the higher dividend, Apple or Alphabet?
Their yields are about the same: Apple 0.3% and Alphabet 0.3% over the last year.
Which has grown faster, Apple or Alphabet?
Over their latest filed five years, Apple grew revenue 8.7% a year and Alphabet 17.2%; earnings per share grew 17.9% and 29.8% a year.
Which has more debt, Apple or Alphabet?
Apple has more debt for its equity: debt to equity is 0.71 for Apple and 0.18 for Alphabet. A very high figure can also come from buybacks that shrank equity.
Which is more profitable, Apple or Alphabet?
Alphabet keeps more of each sales dollar as profit: 27.6% for Apple and 50.0% for Alphabet, with a return on equity of 127.6% and 42.6%.
Which passes more of the 8 value filters?
Alphabet clears more: Apple 2 of 8 and Alphabet 4 of 8. The filters are this site's own value rules, not a prediction.
Where do these numbers come from?
Prices, ratios and yield are from this site's weekly data as of November 7, 2026; growth and margins by year are from each company's 10-K filings (sources on Apple and Alphabet). The DCF is the same model on every stock page. See Editorial Standards. Educational, not investment advice.