Apple (AAPL 1.68%) is currently the largest company in the world by a decent margin, but some may be unsure if it deserves that lead. From a few perspectives, Apple's stock looks very expensive and might be overpriced.
Is that the case? Or is there more to the Apple story?
Apple's sales growth has been nonexistent
Apple is one of the world's most recognizable companies, and its products likely need no introduction. However, Apple's sales haven't kept up with its reputation over the past two years. Apple has struggled to meaningfully increase revenue in any capacity, and its sales would have likely dipped if not for the strength of its subscription services.
AAPL Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth) data by YCharts
Although Apple is coming off of its best quarter in some time, 5% revenue growth isn't all that impressive, especially compared to some of its big tech peers. If you look at Apple's latest quarter (the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, ended June 29), it's clear that Apple is still struggling.
| Category | Q3 FY 2024 Revenue | Revenue Growth (YOY) |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | $39.3 billion | (1%) |
| Mac | $7 billion | 2% |
| iPad | $7.2 billion | 24% |
| Wearables, home, and accessories | $8.1 billion | (2%) |
| Services | $24.2 billion | 14% |
Data source: Apple. YOY = Year over year.
Although iPad sales may be up from last fiscal year, they're still generating about the same amount of revenue as they did in fiscal year 2022 ($7.2 billion) and fiscal year 2021 ($7.4 billion). Services once again saved the day, as its growth has been meaningful and sustainable for some time.
The biggest problem is iPhone sales, which have been flat since fiscal year 2022 ($40.7 billion) and fiscal year 2021 ($39.6 billion). In 2021 and 2022, Apple launched the iPhone 13 and 14, respectively. The pricing points for the basic model are the same as this year's iPhone 16: $799. So, with no pricing bumps to the starting price, it's clear Apple hasn't been able to sell any more iPhones than it normally does.
But could that be changing?
iPhone 16 gives consumers a reason to upgrade
There hasn't been a real reason for many people to buy the new iPhone recently. Yes, battery life may have improved, and the cameras get a slight upgrade from year to year, but has there really been a game-changing feature launched over the past few years?
That sentiment may change with the iPhone 16, as these phones (along with the iPhone 15) will have access to Apple Intelligence, which is Apple's take on generative AI. Time will tell if this feature is truly a game changer or just Apple following the rest of the tech world.
NASDAQ: AAPL
Key Data Points
But is it enough to make Apple stock reasonably priced even if Apple Intelligence is a hit?
Apple's stock is very expensive for its growth
Apple's stock trades at the high end of its recent valuation at 33.6 times earnings.
AAPL PE Ratio data by YCharts
If you look at forward earnings, it's clear Wall Street analysts don't expect much growth either, with just 2% growth expected until the end of this fiscal year and 13% growth next year.
A growth rate of 13% is normally acceptable for a stock valued slightly above the market (measured by the S&P 500). However, Apple's stock trades at a significant premium to the S&P 500's 22.6 times forward earnings.
So, with Apple still having a huge premium over the S&P 500 even after how much growth Wall Street believes it will get from its new iPhone launch, I think Apple's stock is vastly overpriced.
If you compare it to other big tech companies in its class, there are plenty of worthy alternatives. Apple isn't the stock it once was, and investors need to recognize that and move on to better picks.
