Evaluating Apple Against Peers In Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals Industry

In today's rapidly changing and highly competitive business world, it is vital for investors and industry enthusiasts to carefully assess companies. In this article, we will perform a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Apple AAPL against its key competitors in the Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals industry. By analyzing important financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to provide valuable insights for investors and shed light on company's performance within the industry.

Apple Background

Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple's iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple's other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple's sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.

Through a meticulous analysis of Apple, we can observe the following trends:

• The Price to Earnings ratio of 40.3 is 0.88x lower than the industry average, indicating potential undervaluation for the stock.

• It could be trading at a premium in relation to its book value, as indicated by its Price to Book ratio of 65.03 which exceeds the industry average by 9.03x.

• The Price to Sales ratio of 9.65, which is 4.09x the industry average, suggests the stock could potentially be overvalued in relation to its sales performance compared to its peers.

• The company has a higher Return on Equity (ROE) of 23.83%, which is 15.89% above the industry average. This suggests efficient use of equity to generate profits and demonstrates profitability and growth potential.

• Compared to its industry, the company has higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $32.5 Billion, which is 69.15x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.

• With higher gross profit of $43.88 Billion, which indicates 46.68x above the industry average, the company demonstrates stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.

• The company's revenue growth of 6.07% is significantly below the industry average of 17.37%. This suggests a potential struggle in generating increased sales volume.

Debt To Equity Ratio

The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio is an important measure to assess the financial structure and risk profile of a company.

Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.

When comparing Apple with its top 4 peers based on the Debt-to-Equity ratio, the following insights can be observed:

• When evaluating the debt-to-equity ratio, Apple is in the middle position among its top 4 peers.

• The company maintains a moderate level of debt relative to its equity with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87, suggesting a relatively balanced financial structure.

Key Takeaways

For Apple in the Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals industry, the PE, PB, and PS ratios indicate that the stock is relatively undervalued compared to its peers. However, the high ROE, EBITDA, gross profit, and low revenue growth suggest that Apple is performing well financially but may face challenges in revenue expansion compared to industry peers.

This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.