Apple Inc. (AAPL) vs Broadcom Inc. (AVGO)

Apple Inc. is one of the world’s largest companies, offering a broad portfolio of hardware and software products for both consumers and businesses. The iPhone accounts for the majority of Apple’s revenue, while products such as the Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch are built around the iPhone as the centerpiece of a wide-reaching software ecosystem. Over time, Apple has expanded its offerings with new services and applications, including streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The company designs its own software and semiconductors, while relying on manufacturing partners such as Foxconn and TSMC to produce its devices and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple’s sales are generated through its flagship retail stores, with most revenue coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution channels.

Broadcom Inc. is one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies and has also built a significant presence in infrastructure software. Its chip business is mainly focused on computing and networking, with custom AI accelerators now representing the majority of operations. Broadcom primarily operates as a fabless chip designer, though it retains some in-house manufacturing, including its leading film bulk acoustic resonator filters used in Apple iPhones. On the software side, the company provides virtualization, infrastructure, and security solutions to large enterprises, financial institutions, and government customers. Broadcom has grown through consolidation, combining businesses from legacy Broadcom and Avago Technologies in semiconductors, along with VMware, Brocade, CA Technologies, and Symantec in software.