Yield Theory

Information Technology stock comparison

AAPL vs AMD: which business are you actually underwriting?

Compare Apple Inc. with Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
Sector
Information
Industry
Different SIC
Shared themes
2
Updated
2026-02-04

AAPL vs AMD: quick comparison

Company factAAPLAMD
CompanyApple Inc.Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
ExchangeNASDAQNASDAQ
HeadquartersCupertino, CaliforniaSanta Clara, California
Founded19761969
SEC industryElectronic ComputersSemiconductors & Related Devices
Fiscal year-endSeptember 26December 26
Latest annual filing10-K · 2025-10-3110-K/A · 2026-02-04

AAPL vs AMD: audited financials

AAPL reported about 12.0× the revenue of AMD in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, AAPL converted a larger share of revenue into net income (26.9% versus 12.5%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.

MetricAAPLAMD
Revenue$416.2B$34.6B
Net income$112.0B$4.3B
Operating cash flow$111.5B$7.7B
Diluted EPS$7.46$2.65
Net margin26.9%12.5%

AAPL: FY ending 2025-09-27 · AMD: FY ending 2025-12-27. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

How the businesses differ

Why this pair belongs in the comparison set

AAPL and AMD have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained Artificial intelligence and Tariffs & trade research themes inside the Information Technology sector. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.

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.

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD)

AMD designs CPUs and GPUs for PCs, servers, and gaming consoles, positioning itself as the primary challenger to both Intel and NVIDIA. Its data-center accelerators are central to its ambitions in the AI compute market.

The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. AAPL is classified by the SEC as Electronic Computers, while AMD is classified as Semiconductors & Related Devices. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.

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Which thesis does each company fit?

Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.

Study AAPL when…

  • 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

Study AMD when…

  • Data Center revenue from EPYC server CPUs and Instinct GPU accelerators
  • Execution on the OpenAI 6-gigawatt deployment agreement and MI450 ramp
  • Client and Gaming demand for Ryzen processors and semi-custom console chips
  • U.S. export controls on MI308 shipments to China

Shared research themes

Artificial intelligenceTariffs & trade

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 AMD's ends December 26. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 150matched transaction rows for AAPLand 50 for AMD. 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 AMD FAQs

Are AAPL and AMD direct competitors?

Apple Inc. and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. sit in the same Information Technology sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.

Which is better, AAPL or AMD?

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 AMD 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 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. 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 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.

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