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Apple vs Alphabet

AAPL vs GOOGL — return on capital, cash generation, margins and balance sheet side by side.

AAPL

7 / 10

measures where AAPL leads

GOOGL

3 / 10

measures where GOOGL leads

A simple count of which company scores better on each measure — not a recommendation to buy or sell.

MeasureAAPL · FY2026GOOGL · FY2025
Revenue$478.8B$402.8B
Net income$132.2B$132.2B
Revenue growth (yearly, multi-year)5.0%11.8%
Free cash flow$136.1B$73.3B
Free cash flow margin28.4%18.2%
Net cash / (debt)—(28.6B)
ROIC68.5%26.0%
Return on equity142.3%35.7%
Gross margin48.8%59.7%
Operating margin33.0%32.0%
Net debt / EBITDA0.26x0.11x

Figures are as reported by each company; latest fiscal year shown.

Where Apple's cash went (FY2026)

Capital spending
$9.0B
Buybacks
—
Dividends
—
Acquisitions
—
Net debt issued / (repaid)
—
Full AAPL profile →

Where Alphabet's cash went (FY2025)

Capital spending
$91.4B
Buybacks
$45.7B
Dividends
$10.0B
Acquisitions
$1.6B
Net debt issued / (repaid)
$32.1B
Full GOOGL profile →

Ask which business is stronger

"Which one reinvests at higher returns?" "Who carries more risk in its filings?" Get answers drawn straight from both companies' filings.

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