AAPL vs MSFT
How Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corporation compare on business model, dividends and risk — the structural picture, in plain English.
| AAPL | MSFT | |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | Consumer Electronics | Software — Infrastructure |
| Headquarters | Cupertino, California, USA | Redmond, Washington, USA |
| Founded | 1976 | 1975 |
| Pays a dividend | Yes | Yes |
| Volatility | Roughly market-level | Roughly market-level |
What each company does
Apple Inc. (AAPL)
Apple designs and sells the iPhone, Mac, iPad and Apple Watch, and runs a fast-growing Services business — the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music and more — that wraps its hardware in recurring, high-margin revenue.
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)
Microsoft sells Windows and the Microsoft 365 / Office suite, runs the Azure cloud platform, and owns LinkedIn and Xbox. Its cloud and AI investments — including a deep partnership with OpenAI — are the center of its growth story.
From the latest 10-K filings
| Metric | AAPLFY 2025, ended Sep 27, 202510-K filed Oct 31, 2025 | MSFTFY 2026, ended Jun 30, 202610-K filed Jul 29, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $416.2B | $331.8B |
| Net income | $112.0B | $133.7B |
| Operating cash flow | $111.5B | $182.9B |
| Source | AAPL 10-K on EDGAR ↗ | MSFT 10-K on EDGAR ↗ |
Apple’s fiscal 2025 revenue ($416.2B) was 1.25× Microsoft’s fiscal 2026 revenue ($331.8B). The fiscal years differ (AAPL’s ended Sep 27, 2025, MSFT’s ended Jun 30, 2026), so the two columns cover different periods.
As reported to the SEC for each company’s own fiscal year; not a valuation or forecast.
Dividends
Both AAPL and MSFT pay a dividend.
AAPL: Pays a modest quarterly dividend and has raised it every year for over a decade. The yield is small — Apple returns far more cash through buybacks than dividends.
MSFT: Pays a steady quarterly dividend with a long record of annual increases. The yield is modest; Microsoft also buys back stock.
Risk & volatility
Both have shown broadly similar volatility versus the market (AAPL: ~1.1–1.3, MSFT: ~0.9–1.0) — long-run tendencies, not live figures.
Frequently asked
Does AAPL or MSFT pay a dividend?
Both AAPL and MSFT pay a dividend. Yields change with price, so check current figures in the app.
Is AAPL or MSFT more volatile?
Historically both have shown similar volatility (roughly market-level versus the broad market) — a long-run tendency, not a live figure.
More comparisons
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Comparison is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell AAPL or MSFT. Company profiles reflect long-term, structural facts; volatility bands are approximate historical tendencies, not live data. Always do your own research.