AAPL vs ACN: how the two businesses compare

  • Bigger business: AAPL, with $416.2B of yearly revenue, about 6.0× ACN's $69.7B.
  • More profitable: AAPL keeps 27 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 11 cents at ACN.
  • More cash from each sale: AAPL turns 27 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 16 cents at ACN.

From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.

Apple (AAPL) is the larger business by reported revenue: $416.2B in its fiscal year ended Sep 2025, about 6.0× ACN's $69.7B (fiscal year ended Aug 2025). AAPL's net margin was 26.9% and ACN's 11.0%. The SEC classifies them differently (Electronic Computers; Services-Business Services, NEC); what connects them is shared exposure to the Artificial intelligence research theme, not a common industry.

Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.

Sector
Information Technology
SEC industry
Different
Separate classifications
Fiscal year ends
Different
AAPL September 26 · ACN August 31
Reviewed
Nov 3, 2026

AAPL vs ACN: quick comparison

Company factAAPLACN
CompanyApple Inc.Accenture plc
ExchangeNASDAQNYSE
HeadquartersCupertino, California—
Founded1976—
SEC industryElectronic ComputersServices-Business Services, NEC
Fiscal year-endSeptember 26August 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-11-0310-K · 2026-10-16

AAPL vs ACN: audited financials

  • Scale: AAPL's $416.2B of revenue is about 6.0× ACN's $69.7B.
  • Net margin: AAPL kept 26.9% of revenue as net income versus 11.0% at ACN.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled AAPL 26.8% of revenue, or 1.00× net income; ACN 16.5% of revenue, or 1.49× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
  • Periods: the fiscal years end about 1 month apart (2025-09-27 for AAPL, 2025-08-31 for ACN), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.

AAPL: FY ending 2025-09-27 · ACN: FY ending 2025-08-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

Where AAPL and ACN overlap, and where they don't

Overlap

  • Shared research theme: Artificial intelligence.

Differences

  • Different SEC industries: AAPL files as Electronic Computers; ACN as Services-Business Services, NEC.
  • Offset fiscal calendars: AAPL's year ends September 26 and ACN's August 31, about 1 month apart.
  • Only AAPL maps to Tariffs & trade.
  • Only ACN maps to International markets.
  • Scale: AAPL reported about 6.0× the annual revenue of ACN.
  • Profitability: net margin of 26.9% for AAPL versus 11.0% for ACN.

Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.

Apple Inc. (AAPL)

Apple designs consumer electronics, software, and services, led by the iPhone, Mac, and a growing high-margin services segment. It is one of the world's most valuable companies and a core holding in most large-cap and technology index funds.

Accenture plc (ACN)

Accenture provides IT consulting, systems integration, and outsourcing services to large enterprises and governments across the globe.

What moves each company

Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.

What moves AAPL

  • iPhone demand, pricing, and the device upgrade cycle
  • Services growth and App Store economics
  • Gross margins, component costs, and supply-chain concentration
  • Product innovation and adoption of on-device AI

What moves ACN

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for ACN. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-10-16.

The investment question

You now know AAPL reports about 6.0× ACN's revenue, and AAPL keeps more of each dollar as net income. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to artificial intelligence, including “iPhone demand, pricing, and the device upgrade cycle” at AAPL, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.

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SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. AAPL's fiscal year ends September 26, while ACN's ends August 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 154 matched transaction rows for AAPL and 49 matched transaction rows for ACN. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

AAPL vs ACN FAQs

Are AAPL and ACN direct competitors?

Not necessarily. Apple files as Electronic Computers and Accenture as Services-Business Services, NEC. The pair is compared because both map to the Artificial intelligence research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.

Is AAPL or ACN the bigger company by revenue?

Apple (AAPL) is the larger business by reported revenue: $416.2B in its fiscal year ended Sep 2025, about 6.0× ACN's $69.7B (fiscal year ended Aug 2025). AAPL's net margin was 26.9% and ACN's 11.0%. The SEC classifies them differently (Electronic Computers; Services-Business Services, NEC); what connects them is shared exposure to the Artificial intelligence research theme, not a common industry. Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.

Which is better, AAPL or ACN?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this AAPL vs ACN comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Apple Inc. and Accenture plc tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-11-10. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-10. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

AAPL vs ACN compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.

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