Apple Inc. (AAPL) vs Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL)

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.

Alphabet Inc. is a holding company that wholly owns Google, one of the world’s largest internet businesses. Based in California, the company generates just under 90% of its revenue from Google Services, with advertising sales representing the clear majority. In addition to digital advertising, Google Services includes revenue from subscription offerings such as YouTube TV and YouTube Music, platform sales and in-app purchases through the Play Store, and hardware products including Chromebooks, Pixel smartphones, and smart home devices like Chromecast. Google Cloud contributes about 10% of Alphabet’s total revenue. The remainder comes from investments in emerging technologies and businesses, including self-driving cars through Waymo, health initiatives via Verily, and internet access services such as Google Fiber.