SafetyMargin.ioSafetyMargin.io
BlogWatchlistCompare
Compare Stocks › A vs AAPL

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (A) vs Apple Inc. (AAPL): Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?

As of 2026-06-19, A is overvalued at $127, with a DCF intrinsic value of $101 and a margin of safety of -26%. AAPL is overvalued at $298, with an intrinsic value of $182 and a margin of safety of -64%. Of the two, A has the wider margin of safety.

A
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
$127.06
VS
AAPL
Apple Inc.
$298.01

Rewards

A
  • ★Agilent Technologies, Inc. has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
  • ★Agilent Technologies, Inc. scores 77/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • ★Trailing P/E of 25.5x is 21% below the historical average of 32.1x — potentially undervalued relative to its own history.
AAPL
  • ★Apple Inc. has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • ★Apple Inc. scores 96/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • ★Return on equity has consistently exceeded 20% over 4 years, indicating efficient use of shareholder capital.

Risks

A
  • ⚠Each dollar of retained earnings has produced only $0.08 of earning power — shareholders may have been better served by dividends.
  • ⚠FCF yield of 2.6% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • ⚠8 insider sales with no purchases over the past 12 months — a persistent pattern of insider selling.
AAPL
  • ⚠FCF yield of 2.3% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • ⚠PEG ratio of 2.42 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
  • ⚠6 insider sales totaling $111.7M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.

Key Valuation Metrics

Learn more →
A
AAPL
Valuation
$930.63M
Free Cash Flow
$101.09B
2.59%
FCF Yield
2.31%
25.51
Trailing P/E
36.08
19.23
Forward P/E
31.06
Quality & Moat
12.70%
ROIC
60.20%
21.33%
ROE
141.47%
52.64%
Gross Margin
47.86%
1.26
PEG Ratio
2.42
Balance Sheet Safety
0.24
Net Debt / Equity
0.15
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
0.86
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.10
0.81%
Dividend Yield
0.36%
A: 6Ties: 1AAPL: 5
AAAPL

Historical Fundamentals

Learn more →
A

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

AAPL

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

Learn more →
A
$-1.87
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Market Cap Declined
Σ Retained
$3.01B
Δ Market Cap
$-5.63B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
AAPL
$7.57
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$257.06B
Δ Market Cap
+$1.94T
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

Learn more →
A
26.1% Overvalued
Price is 26.1% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $127.06
Fair Value: $100.79
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
AAPL
63.8% Overvalued
Price is 63.8% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $298.01
Fair Value: $181.90
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

Learn more →
A

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $127?

+12.7%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +17.3%

The market implies +12.7% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +17.3%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

AAPL

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $298?

+16.9%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +18.3%

The market implies +16.9% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +18.3%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

Learn more →
A
77/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
AAPL
96/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

Learn more →
A
-2.45
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
AAPL
-2.29
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

Learn more →
A
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 94.0%Retail & Other 5.8%
No. of Institutional Holders1,540
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
AAPL
Insiders 1.6%Institutions 65.8%Retail & Other 32.5%
No. of Institutional Holders7,675
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

Learn more →
A
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
AAPL
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

Learn more →
A
1
Sells (3M)
8
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $3.73M
DOLSTEN MIKAEL G
Director
$216,672
@ $135.42 · 2026-05-29
DOLSTEN MIKAEL G
Director
$389,511
@ $149.81 · 2025-12-01
GONSALVES RODNEY
Officer
$464,956
@ $154.99 · 2025-11-26
MCDONNELL PADRAIG
Chief Executive Officer
$130,492
@ $143.24 · 2025-11-18
MCDONNELL PADRAIG
Chief Executive Officer
$1.87M
@ $150.00 · 2025-11-12
MCDONNELL PADRAIG
Chief Executive Officer
$249,760
@ $124.88 · 2025-09-02
MCDONNELL PADRAIG
Chief Executive Officer
$226,900
@ $113.45 · 2025-08-01
MCDONNELL PADRAIG
Chief Executive Officer
$177,100
@ $117.44 · 2025-07-01
BROWN JUDY LYNNE GAWLIK
Director
$904.00
@ $129.14 · 2025-06-18
PODOLSKY DANIEL K
Director
$211,844
@ $116.46 · 2025-03-31
GONSALVES RODNEY
Officer
$232,691
@ $122.02 · 2025-03-17
RATAJ SUE H
Director
$881,009
@ $126.38 · 2025-03-06
MCDONNELL PADRAIG
Chief Executive Officer
$286,650
@ $150.00 · 2025-01-21
MCDONNELL PADRAIG
Chief Executive Officer
$7,050
@ $150.00 · 2024-09-27
MCDONNELL PADRAIG
Chief Executive Officer
$283,910
@ $145.00 · 2024-08-22
MCDONNELL PADRAIG
Chief Executive Officer
$274,120
@ $140.00 · 2024-07-26
MCDONNELL PADRAIG
Chief Executive Officer
$264,330
@ $135.00 · 2024-06-18
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
AAPL
6
Sells (3M)
13
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $198.97M
LEVINSON ARTHUR D
Director
$15.55M
@ $311.02 · 2026-05-27
BORDERS BEN
Officer
$369,460
@ $290.00 · 2026-05-08
LEVINSON ARTHUR D
Director
$71.19M
@ $284.76 · 2026-05-06
PAREKH KEVAN
Chief Financial Officer
$421,850
@ $275.00 · 2026-04-23
COOK TIMOTHY D
Chief Executive Officer
$16.51M
@ $254.23 · 2026-04-02
O'BRIEN DEIRDRE
Officer
$7.66M
@ $255.35 · 2026-04-02
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$1.02M
@ $271.23 · 2025-11-07
PAREKH KEVAN
Chief Financial Officer
$1.04M
@ $247.39 · 2025-10-16
ADAMS KATHERINE L
General Counsel
$12.10M
@ $256.79 · 2025-10-02
COOK TIMOTHY D
Chief Executive Officer
$33.38M
@ $256.81 · 2025-10-02
O'BRIEN DEIRDRE
Officer
$11.07M
@ $257.39 · 2025-10-02
LEVINSON ARTHUR D
Director
$20.89M
@ $232.07 · 2025-08-28
O'BRIEN DEIRDRE
Officer
$7.77M
@ $223.20 · 2025-08-08
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$933,955
@ $208.19 · 2025-05-12
PAREKH KEVAN
Chief Financial Officer
$941,420
@ $206.00 · 2025-04-23
WILLIAMS JEFFREY E
Chief Operating Officer
$7.95M
@ $224.01 · 2025-04-02
ADAMS KATHERINE L
General Counsel
$8.68M
@ $223.67 · 2025-04-02
COOK TIMOTHY D
Chief Executive Officer
$24.18M
@ $223.65 · 2025-04-02
LEVINSON ARTHUR D
Director
$343,147
@ $226.35 · 2025-02-03
LEVINSON ARTHUR D
Director
$45.46M
@ $227.32 · 2024-11-19
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$945,233
@ $228.87 · 2024-11-18
MAESTRI LUCA
Chief Financial Officer
$13.43M
@ $226.52 · 2024-10-04
WILLIAMS JEFFREY E
Chief Operating Officer
$13.55M
@ $226.86 · 2024-10-02
ADAMS KATHERINE L
General Counsel
$13.80M
@ $226.20 · 2024-10-02
COOK TIMOTHY D
Chief Executive Officer
$50.28M
@ $224.46 · 2024-10-02
O'BRIEN DEIRDRE
Officer
$13.84M
@ $226.87 · 2024-10-02
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$1.96M
@ $225.00 · 2024-08-15
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$1.12M
@ $216.50 · 2024-08-09
ADAMS KATHERINE L
General Counsel
$20.64M
@ $206.44 · 2024-08-05
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

Learn more →
A
FearGreed
😐Neutral(41/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
AAPL
FearGreed
😐Neutral(60/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

Learn more →
A
⚪Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (41)
AAPL
⚪Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (60)
View A Full AnalysisView AAPL Full Analysis

Frequently Asked Questions: A vs AAPL

Is Agilent Technologies, Inc. or Apple Inc. more undervalued in 2026?▼

Based on our discounted cash flow model, A trades at a -26.1% margin of safety (intrinsic value $101 vs. price $127), compared to AAPL's -63.8% margin of safety (intrinsic $182 vs. $298).

Which stock has a wider economic moat, Agilent Technologies, Inc. or Apple Inc.?▼

AAPL scores 96/100 (Wide moat), while A scores 77/100 (Wide moat). The moat score measures competitive advantage durability across ROIC consistency, margin stability, revenue predictability, and reinvestment efficiency.

Which company has better free cash flow, Agilent Technologies, Inc. or Apple Inc.?▼

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (A) generates a 2.6% free cash flow yield, compared to Apple Inc.'s 2.3%. A higher FCF yield means the business converts more of its market value into cash that can be returned to shareholders or reinvested.

Which stock has higher return on invested capital, Agilent Technologies, Inc. or Apple Inc.?▼

AAPL earns 60.2% ROIC versus A's 12.7%. A higher ROIC means the company generates more profit per dollar of capital employed, a hallmark of durable competitive advantage in Buffett-style analysis.

Which dividend is safer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.'s or Apple Inc.'s?▼

AAPL's dividend earns a safety score of 94/100 (Very Safe), compared to A's 94/100 (Very Safe). AAPL has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years.

A vs AAPL: Which Is the Better Buy in 2026? | SafetyMargin.io