Apple Inc. (AAPL) vs GE Aerospace (GE)

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.

GE Aerospace (GE) is a global leader in the design, manufacturing, and servicing of commercial aircraft turbine engines, including through its CFM joint venture with Safran. Supported by a vast installed base of nearly 80,000 commercial and military engines worldwide, the company generates most of its profits from recurring service revenue tied to equipment that remains in operation for decades. GE Aerospace is now the core remaining business of the company founded in 1892, which has historical connections to American inventor Thomas Edison. General Electric evolved into a renowned conglomerate, reaching peak revenue of $130 billion in 2000, before spinning off its appliance, finance, healthcare, wind, and power businesses between 2016 and 2024.