Apple (AAPL) vs Microsoft (MSFT): Stock Comparison
Data as of November 7, 2026. Refreshed weekly from SEC filings and market data.
Microsoft is cheaper on earnings, at 27.9 times against 37.8; Microsoft keeps the higher net margin (41.2% against 27.6%); Microsoft grew revenue faster over the last year (17.9% against 15.1%); dividend yield is about the same (0.3% and 0.7%). Apple clears 2 of this site's 8 value filters and Microsoft 2. Figures are as of November 7, 2026; each is on the page below with its source.
How do Apple and Microsoft compare on the numbers?
| Measure | Apple (AAPL) | Microsoft (MSFT) | Clearer lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share price | $342.37 | $530.61 | |
| Market value | $5.00 trillion | $3.98 trillion | |
| P/E ratio (trailing) | 37.8 | 27.9 | MSFT |
| PEG ratio | 3.06 | 1.53 | MSFT |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 2.7% | 1.5% | AAPL |
| Net profit margin | 27.6% | 41.2% | MSFT |
| Revenue growth, last year | 15.1% | 17.9% | MSFT |
| Return on equity | 127.6% | 33.2% | AAPL |
| Debt to equity | 0.71 | 0.23 | MSFT |
| Dividend yield | 0.3% | 0.7% | About the same |
| Margin of safety (DCF) | -115.3% | -288.7% | AAPL |
| Value filters passed (of 8) | 2 | 2 | About the same |
| Distance from 52-week high | -2.0% | -4.5% |
How have Apple and Microsoft shares done against each other?
Apple 228Microsoft 157
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 Microsoft shares up 57%, so Apple has pulled ahead of Microsoft by 70 points of the starting price. The deepest fall from a prior high in that window was 28% for Apple and 35% for Microsoft.
| Period | Apple (AAPL) | Microsoft (MSFT) |
|---|---|---|
| Last 1 year | +26.9% | +6.7% |
| Last 3 years | +91.0% | +48.8% |
| Last 5 years | +126.3% | +57.9% |
Which has grown faster, Apple or Microsoft?
Over 5 years, Apple grew revenue 8.7% a year and earnings per share 17.9% a year; Microsoft grew revenue 14.6% and earnings per share 17.4%. Its net margin averaged 25.5% at Apple and 36.6% at Microsoft.
| Measure | Apple (AAPL) | Microsoft (MSFT) |
|---|---|---|
| Latest fiscal year ended | Sep 2025 | Jun 2026 |
| Revenue, first year to latest | $275 billion to $416 billion | $168 billion to $332 billion |
| Revenue growth per year | 8.7% | 14.6% |
| Earnings per share, first year to latest | $3.28 to $7.46 | $8.05 to $17.95 |
| Earnings per share growth per year | 17.9% | 17.4% |
| Net margin, latest year | 26.9% | 40.3% |
| Net margin, average of the years | 25.5% | 36.6% |
| Free cash flow margin, latest year | 23.7% | 20.2% |
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) | Microsoft (MSFT) |
|---|---|---|
| Free cash flow growth the price implies | 27.8% a year | n/a |
| Free cash flow per share | $9.31 | $7.99 |
| Margin of safety on this site's DCF | -115.3% | -288.7% |
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.
Microsoft's price is above what this site's DCF gives even at 40% a year of free cash flow growth, so the price assumes more than any growth rate tested.
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 free-cash-flow yield: 2.7% against 1.5%
- Higher return on equity: 127.6% against 33.2%
- Higher margin of safety on this site's DCF: -115.3% against -288.7%
- A higher free-cash-flow margin in its latest filed year: 23.7% against 20.2%
Where Microsoft leads
- Lower P/E: 27.9 against 37.8
- Lower PEG: 1.53 against 3.06
- Higher net margin: 41.2% against 27.6%
- Faster revenue growth last year: 17.9% against 15.1%
- Less debt for its equity: 0.23 against 0.71
- Faster revenue growth over its filed record: 14.6% against 8.7%
- A higher net margin in its latest filed year: 40.3% against 26.9%
- A higher average net margin: 36.6% against 25.5%
About the same on: dividend yield, value filters passed (of 8), earnings per share growth per year. 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.
Microsoft. Microsoft sells software, cloud computing and devices. Its Azure cloud platform and Microsoft 365 business subscriptions are the main profit engines, alongside Windows, LinkedIn, GitHub and the Xbox gaming business.
Both are in the Technology industry on this site. Apple earns most of its money from devices, led by the iPhone, plus a growing services business. Microsoft sells software and cloud services to businesses and consumers, led by Azure, Office and Windows.
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 Microsoft
- Misses 4 of the 8 value filters. It fails Trailing P/E < 25 (27.90), PEG Ratio < 1.5 (1.53) and Price/Book < 8 (8.46) and 1 more; the other 2 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- The margin of safety is falling. It went from -245% on Oct 7 to -289% on Nov 7 across 8 weekly readings.
- Strongest against peers: net margin. At 41.2% (peer median 17.3%) it ranks 6th of 44 among technology stocks this site tracks.
Frequently asked questions about Apple and Microsoft
Which is cheaper, Apple or Microsoft?
On trailing earnings, Microsoft is cheaper: Apple trades at 37.8 times and Microsoft at 27.9 times. On free cash flow, the yields are 2.7% and 1.5%. Cheaper is not the same as better value: read the growth each price assumes below.
Which pays the higher dividend, Apple or Microsoft?
Their yields are about the same: Apple 0.3% and Microsoft 0.7% over the last year.
Which has grown faster, Apple or Microsoft?
Over their latest filed five years, Apple grew revenue 8.7% a year and Microsoft 14.6%; earnings per share grew 17.9% and 17.4% a year.
Which has more debt, Apple or Microsoft?
Apple has more debt for its equity: debt to equity is 0.71 for Apple and 0.23 for Microsoft. A very high figure can also come from buybacks that shrank equity.
Which is more profitable, Apple or Microsoft?
Microsoft keeps more of each sales dollar as profit: 27.6% for Apple and 41.2% for Microsoft, with a return on equity of 127.6% and 33.2%.
Which passes more of the 8 value filters?
Both clear 2 of the 8. The filters are this site's own value rules, shown with each stock's page.
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 Microsoft). The DCF is the same model on every stock page. See Editorial Standards. Educational, not investment advice.