Computers and machinery · 25/36 against 20/36 checks · to 2026-09-08
AAPL vs CSCO.
AppleSells iPhones and the software, services and accessories that live around them.
CiscoSells the networking gear that runs corporate networks, plus security and observability software.→Apple (AAPL) is 10.7 times the size of Cisco (CSCO) at $4.61T against $430.4B, and on the filings Apple passes more, 25 checks of 36 against 20.
Which passes more checks?
widest gap first→The two are furthest apart on Trend analysis, where Apple passes 4 more of the six. They score identically on 4 of the six, so the difference between them is narrower than a headline suggests.
| AAPL | CSCO | |
|---|---|---|
| Trend analysis | 5/6 | 1/6 |
| Health | 5/6 | 4/6 |
| Value | 0/6 | 0/6 |
| Growth | 4/6 | 4/6 |
| Quality | 6/6 | 6/6 |
| Shareholder returns | 5/6 | 5/6 |
| All checks | 25/36 | 20/36 |
→Apple turns over $466.8B to Cisco's $63.3B, 7.4 times as much. Apple keeps 27.6% of revenue as profit against 21.0% at Cisco.
Which balance sheet is stronger?
→Both lean on debt to a similar degree, 0.77x to equity at Apple and 0.59x at Cisco.
| AAPL | CSCO | |
|---|---|---|
| Debt / equity | 0.77x | 0.59x |
| Interest coverage | 39.4x | 10.5x |
| Cash and short-term investments | $62.4B | $15.9B |
Which is cheaper?
→Cisco is the cheaper of the two on earnings, 32.8x against 36.8x. Against their own histories, Apple is above its 23.8x median and Cisco is above its 16.0x.
| AAPL | CSCO | |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $316.22 | $109.17 |
| Market cap | $4.61T | $430.4B |
| P/E | 36.8x | 32.8x |
| P/E, own median own 10-year median / own 11-year median | 23.8x | 16.0x |
| P/S | 9.9x | 6.8x |
| Free cash flow yield | 3.0% | 3.0% |
Which is growing faster, AAPL or CSCO?
→Apple grew revenue faster last year, +14.2% against +11.8% at Cisco - 2 points apart. Over three years the order is reversed: Cisco compounds at +3.6% against +1.8%.
| AAPL | CSCO | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue (TTM) | $466.8B | $63.3B |
| Revenue growth, 1 year | +14.2% | +11.8% |
| Revenue CAGR, 3 years | +1.8% | +3.6% |
| Net income (TTM) | $128.9B | $13.3B |
| Free cash flow (TTM) | $136.7B | $12.8B |
Which keeps more of each sale?
→Cisco keeps more of each sale: gross margin of 64.5% against 48.7%, a gap of 16 points that flows into everything below it.
| AAPL | CSCO | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 48.7% | 64.5% |
| Operating margin | 33.2% | 24.3% |
| Return on equity | 119.9% | 26.4% |
Which hands more back to owners?
→Both pay: Cisco yields the more at 1.5% against 0.3%. A yield rises when a price falls, so read it beside the payout checks in each report.
| AAPL | CSCO | |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 0.3% | 1.5% |
| Payout ratio | 12.0% | 49.4% |
| Years of unbroken dividend | - | - |
Where they differ most
the checks behind the gapTrend analysis: Apple 4 ahead
- Price above the Kumo cloud $316.22 against a cloud top of $315.45
- Tenkan above the Kijun Tenkan $319.80 above the Kijun $315.69, 3 sessions since they crossed
- The Senkou cloud ahead is rising the Senkou spans already drawn for the next 26 sessions are rising
- Price above the Kumo cloud $109.17, below the cloud bottom of $114.34
- Price above the Tenkan and the Kijun $109.17 against the Tenkan (9 sessions) at $110.27 and the Kijun (26) at $116.15
- Tenkan above the Kijun Tenkan $110.27 below the Kijun $116.15, 11 sessions since they crossed
Health: Apple 1 ahead
- Debt isn't dominating 0.77 vs 1.00
- Debt trending the right way debt/equity 0.77 now vs 1.64 five years ago
- Earnings cover the interest 39.37 vs 5.00
- Comfortable near-term liquidity 0.93 vs 1.50
- Debt trending the right way debt/equity 0.59 now vs 0.29 five years ago