Stock Analysis on Net

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Analysis of Profitability Ratios 
Quarterly Data

Microsoft Excel

Profitability Ratios (Summary)

Apple Inc., profitability ratios (quarterly data)

Microsoft Excel
Sep 27, 2025 Jun 28, 2025 Mar 29, 2025 Dec 28, 2024 Sep 28, 2024 Jun 29, 2024 Mar 30, 2024 Dec 30, 2023 Sep 30, 2023 Jul 1, 2023 Apr 1, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Sep 24, 2022 Jun 25, 2022 Mar 26, 2022 Dec 25, 2021 Sep 25, 2021 Jun 26, 2021 Mar 27, 2021 Dec 26, 2020
Return on Sales
Gross profit margin 46.91% 46.68% 46.63% 46.52% 46.21% 45.96% 45.59% 45.03% 44.13% 43.45% 43.18% 43.06% 43.31% 43.31% 43.32% 43.02% 41.78% 41.01% 39.88% 38.78%
Operating profit margin 31.97% 31.87% 31.81% 31.76% 31.51% 31.27% 30.98% 30.76% 29.82% 29.23% 29.16% 29.41% 30.29% 30.53% 30.93% 30.90% 29.78% 28.79% 27.32% 25.24%
Net profit margin 26.92% 24.30% 24.30% 24.30% 23.97% 26.44% 26.31% 26.16% 25.31% 24.68% 24.49% 24.56% 25.31% 25.71% 26.41% 26.58% 25.88% 25.00% 23.45% 21.73%
Return on Investment
Return on equity (ROE) 151.91% 150.81% 145.66% 144.03% 164.59% 152.84% 135.31% 136.18% 156.08% 157.22% 151.74% 167.77% 196.96% 171.46% 151.24% 139.79% 150.07% 135.04% 110.31% 96.54%
Return on assets (ROA) 31.18% 29.95% 29.37% 27.94% 25.68% 30.75% 29.75% 28.55% 27.51% 28.28% 28.40% 27.45% 28.29% 29.63% 29.07% 26.38% 26.97% 26.32% 22.63% 18.06%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-09-27), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-06-28), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-03-29), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-12-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-09-28), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-06-29), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-03-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-12-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-07-01), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-04-01), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-09-24), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-25), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-26), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-12-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-09-25), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-26), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-27), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-12-26).


Gross Profit Margin
The gross profit margin exhibits a steady and consistent upward trend throughout the periods. Starting at 38.78% in late 2020, it gradually increases to reach 46.91% by late 2025. This suggests an improving efficiency in managing production costs relative to revenue, indicating stronger profitability at the gross level over time.
Operating Profit Margin
The operating profit margin shows a positive trajectory as well, rising from 25.24% at the end of 2020 to 31.97% by the latter part of 2025. While the growth is steady, there is a slight dip around late 2022 and early 2023 before continuing upward. This reflects improved operational efficiency and control over operating expenses relative to total revenue.
Net Profit Margin
The net profit margin increases from 21.73% at the end of 2020 to a peak of around 26.92% in late 2025. The margin experiences some fluctuations, notable declines around late 2024 and early 2025, but then recovers strongly by the final period. Overall, the net margin improvement indicates enhanced overall profitability after all expenses, taxes, and interest.
Return on Equity (ROE)
Return on equity starts at a high level of 96.54% in late 2020, showing significant volatility but maintaining generally high values throughout the timeline. It peaks at 196.96% in late 2022, then experiences some decline and intermittent increases, settling around 151.91% by late 2025. The pattern indicates strong return generation on shareholders' equity, albeit with considerable fluctuations potentially reflecting changes in leverage, net income, or equity base.
Return on Assets (ROA)
The return on assets trends upward from 18.06% in late 2020 to 31.18% at the end of 2025, displaying steady improvement with minor fluctuations. The growth points to enhanced efficiency in asset utilization to generate net income, suggesting better management of asset base over the periods analyzed.

Return on Sales


Return on Investment


Gross Profit Margin

Apple Inc., gross profit margin calculation (quarterly data)

Microsoft Excel
Sep 27, 2025 Jun 28, 2025 Mar 29, 2025 Dec 28, 2024 Sep 28, 2024 Jun 29, 2024 Mar 30, 2024 Dec 30, 2023 Sep 30, 2023 Jul 1, 2023 Apr 1, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Sep 24, 2022 Jun 25, 2022 Mar 26, 2022 Dec 25, 2021 Sep 25, 2021 Jun 26, 2021 Mar 27, 2021 Dec 26, 2020
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Gross margin 48,341 43,718 44,867 58,275 43,879 39,678 42,271 54,855 40,427 36,413 41,976 50,332 38,095 35,885 42,559 54,243 35,174 35,255 38,079 44,328
Net sales 102,466 94,036 95,359 124,300 94,930 85,777 90,753 119,575 89,498 81,797 94,836 117,154 90,146 82,959 97,278 123,945 83,360 81,434 89,584 111,439
Profitability Ratio
Gross profit margin1 46.91% 46.68% 46.63% 46.52% 46.21% 45.96% 45.59% 45.03% 44.13% 43.45% 43.18% 43.06% 43.31% 43.31% 43.32% 43.02% 41.78% 41.01% 39.88% 38.78%
Benchmarks
Gross Profit Margin, Competitors2
Arista Networks Inc. 64.34% 64.24% 64.09% 64.13% 64.41% 64.01% 62.94% 61.95% 60.76% 60.18% 60.27% 61.07% 61.82% 62.77% 63.64% 63.80% 63.95% 63.87% 63.72%
Cisco Systems Inc. 64.94% 65.24% 65.13% 64.92% 64.73% 64.65% 64.22% 63.69% 62.73% 61.99% 61.92% 62.23% 62.55% 63.14% 63.30% 63.73% 64.02% 63.94% 64.17% 64.07%
Dell Technologies Inc. 22.24% 22.23% 22.51% 23.07% 23.60% 23.38% 23.36% 22.57% 22.18% 21.42% 20.92% 21.40% 21.63% 24.59% 27.13% 29.32% 31.22% 31.42% 31.49% 31.46%
Super Micro Computer Inc. 11.06% 11.27% 12.44% 13.20% 13.75% 15.97% 16.39% 17.44% 18.01% 18.23% 17.80% 16.78% 15.40% 14.22% 13.68% 14.18% 15.03% 15.14% 16.03% 15.91%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-09-27), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-06-28), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-03-29), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-12-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-09-28), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-06-29), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-03-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-12-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-07-01), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-04-01), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-09-24), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-25), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-26), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-12-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-09-25), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-26), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-27), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-12-26).

1 Q4 2025 Calculation
Gross profit margin = 100 × (Gross marginQ4 2025 + Gross marginQ3 2025 + Gross marginQ2 2025 + Gross marginQ1 2025) ÷ (Net salesQ4 2025 + Net salesQ3 2025 + Net salesQ2 2025 + Net salesQ1 2025)
= 100 × (48,341 + 43,718 + 44,867 + 58,275) ÷ (102,466 + 94,036 + 95,359 + 124,300) = 46.91%

2 Click competitor name to see calculations.


The financial data indicates consistent seasonal fluctuations across the quarters, with stronger performance generally seen in the December periods compared to preceding quarters. This seasonality is evident in both Net Sales and Gross Margin figures.

Net Sales
Net sales demonstrate a recurring uplift in December quarters across multiple years, peaking notably at $123,945 million in December 2021 and again rising to $124,300 million in December 2024. Between these peaks, the March and June quarters normally reflect lower sales values, often slipping below $90,000 million. Over the entire period analyzed, there is a general upward trend, although some quarters (especially mid-year) show more moderate growth or a slight decline relative to the previous year.
Gross Margin
Gross margin values mirror the net sales trend with pronounced increases during December quarters, reaching a maximum of $58,275 million in December 2024. There are dips in the intervening quarters, but the overall trajectory is upward, reflecting increasing absolute gross profit values. The pattern suggests stronger sales volumes or improved pricing contributing to higher gross profits during holiday seasons.
Gross Profit Margin (%)
The gross profit margin percentage exhibits a steady and consistent upward trend across all quarters, rising from 38.78% in December 2020 to 46.91% in September 2025. This gradual improvement indicates enhanced operational efficiency, either through cost management, better product mix, or pricing strategies, leading to greater profitability per dollar of sales. The slight increases quarter-over-quarter suggest continuous optimization and margin expansion over time.

In summary, the company shows strong seasonality with peak performance in the fourth quarter of each year. The growth in net sales and gross margin, coupled with a continuous increase in gross profit margin percentage, indicates improving financial health and operational efficiency across the analyzed periods. This positive trajectory reflects successful strategies in managing cost of goods sold and capitalizing on revenue opportunities, particularly during peak sales seasons.


Operating Profit Margin

Apple Inc., operating profit margin calculation (quarterly data)

Microsoft Excel
Sep 27, 2025 Jun 28, 2025 Mar 29, 2025 Dec 28, 2024 Sep 28, 2024 Jun 29, 2024 Mar 30, 2024 Dec 30, 2023 Sep 30, 2023 Jul 1, 2023 Apr 1, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Sep 24, 2022 Jun 25, 2022 Mar 26, 2022 Dec 25, 2021 Sep 25, 2021 Jun 26, 2021 Mar 27, 2021 Dec 26, 2020
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Operating income 32,427 28,202 29,589 42,832 29,591 25,352 27,900 40,373 26,969 22,998 28,318 36,016 24,894 23,076 29,979 41,488 23,786 24,126 27,503 33,534
Net sales 102,466 94,036 95,359 124,300 94,930 85,777 90,753 119,575 89,498 81,797 94,836 117,154 90,146 82,959 97,278 123,945 83,360 81,434 89,584 111,439
Profitability Ratio
Operating profit margin1 31.97% 31.87% 31.81% 31.76% 31.51% 31.27% 30.98% 30.76% 29.82% 29.23% 29.16% 29.41% 30.29% 30.53% 30.93% 30.90% 29.78% 28.79% 27.32% 25.24%
Benchmarks
Operating Profit Margin, Competitors2
Arista Networks Inc. 42.88% 43.14% 42.27% 42.05% 42.11% 41.23% 40.01% 38.52% 37.29% 36.12% 35.71% 34.86% 33.69% 32.55% 31.56% 31.37% 30.79% 30.76% 30.72%
Cisco Systems Inc. 20.76% 20.30% 18.98% 19.37% 22.64% 24.95% 27.21% 27.17% 26.37% 25.89% 26.10% 26.91% 27.09% 27.36% 27.09% 26.98% 25.76% 25.60% 25.93% 26.23%
Dell Technologies Inc. 6.53% 5.93% 5.81% 5.69% 5.89% 5.39% 5.54% 5.45% 5.64% 5.88% 5.12% 4.99% 4.60% 5.26% 5.51% 5.72% 5.46% 4.00% 3.71% 3.01%
Super Micro Computer Inc. 5.70% 6.09% 7.42% 8.23% 8.08% 9.72% 9.40% 9.65% 10.68% 10.64% 10.39% 8.75% 6.45% 4.52% 3.27% 3.20% 3.48% 2.79% 2.85% 2.52%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-09-27), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-06-28), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-03-29), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-12-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-09-28), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-06-29), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-03-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-12-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-07-01), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-04-01), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-09-24), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-25), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-26), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-12-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-09-25), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-26), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-27), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-12-26).

1 Q4 2025 Calculation
Operating profit margin = 100 × (Operating incomeQ4 2025 + Operating incomeQ3 2025 + Operating incomeQ2 2025 + Operating incomeQ1 2025) ÷ (Net salesQ4 2025 + Net salesQ3 2025 + Net salesQ2 2025 + Net salesQ1 2025)
= 100 × (32,427 + 28,202 + 29,589 + 42,832) ÷ (102,466 + 94,036 + 95,359 + 124,300) = 31.97%

2 Click competitor name to see calculations.


Net Sales
The net sales demonstrate a clear seasonal pattern with a pronounced high point in the fourth quarter of each year. The largest spikes occur in late December of each year, notably rising to a peak of approximately $124.3 billion in December 2024, indicating robust holiday period demand. Between these peaks, sales tend to decline, with the lowest points typically occurring in the second and third quarters. Over the observed timeframe, there is an overall upward trend in peak sales figures, suggesting growth in quarterly revenue during key periods.
Operating Income
Operating income mirrors the seasonality observed in net sales, with the highest values consistently recorded in the fourth quarter of each year. The peak operating income reaches roughly $42.8 billion in December 2024, following a general growth trend similar to net sales. Mid-year quarters show relatively lower operating income figures, but there is some variability, with occasional increases in the third quarters. This pattern indicates effective cost control and profitability aligned with sales cycles.
Operating Profit Margin
The operating profit margin exhibits a gradual upward trend over the entire period. Starting from around 25.2% in the final quarter of 2020, the margin steadily increases to nearly 32% by the third quarter of 2025. This positive movement suggests improving operational efficiency or favorable product mix over time. Margins tend to be slightly higher in the mid-year quarters compared to the year-end quarters, indicating that despite seasonality in revenue and operating income, profitability per dollar of sales is relatively stable and improving.
Overall Financial Performance Trends
The data indicates strong seasonality with peak performance in the fourth quarter driven by increased sales and operating income. Both net sales and operating income show growth in peak quarters over the years, signifying steady expansion in scale. Increasing operating profit margins reflect improving operational efficiency or pricing strength. The consistent pattern and improving margins highlight positive management effectiveness in leveraging sales growth into enhanced profitability.

Net Profit Margin

Apple Inc., net profit margin calculation (quarterly data)

Microsoft Excel
Sep 27, 2025 Jun 28, 2025 Mar 29, 2025 Dec 28, 2024 Sep 28, 2024 Jun 29, 2024 Mar 30, 2024 Dec 30, 2023 Sep 30, 2023 Jul 1, 2023 Apr 1, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Sep 24, 2022 Jun 25, 2022 Mar 26, 2022 Dec 25, 2021 Sep 25, 2021 Jun 26, 2021 Mar 27, 2021 Dec 26, 2020
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Net income 27,466 23,434 24,780 36,330 14,736 21,448 23,636 33,916 22,956 19,881 24,160 29,998 20,721 19,442 25,010 34,630 20,551 21,744 23,630 28,755
Net sales 102,466 94,036 95,359 124,300 94,930 85,777 90,753 119,575 89,498 81,797 94,836 117,154 90,146 82,959 97,278 123,945 83,360 81,434 89,584 111,439
Profitability Ratio
Net profit margin1 26.92% 24.30% 24.30% 24.30% 23.97% 26.44% 26.31% 26.16% 25.31% 24.68% 24.49% 24.56% 25.31% 25.71% 26.41% 26.58% 25.88% 25.00% 23.45% 21.73%
Benchmarks
Net Profit Margin, Competitors2
Arista Networks Inc. 39.73% 40.89% 40.72% 40.73% 40.29% 39.01% 37.64% 35.62% 33.97% 32.48% 31.24% 30.87% 29.63% 29.55% 29.54% 28.52% 28.30% 27.72% 27.48%
Cisco Systems Inc. 17.97% 17.60% 16.96% 17.73% 19.18% 21.88% 23.49% 23.40% 22.13% 20.89% 21.26% 22.00% 22.91% 23.28% 22.94% 22.44% 21.26% 20.92% 21.09% 21.76%
Dell Technologies Inc. 4.81% 4.49% 4.41% 4.04% 3.63% 2.92% 2.03% 2.01% 2.39% 1.74% 5.07% 5.49% 5.50% 6.83% 3.92% 4.21% 3.45% 2.64% 2.29% 4.85%
Super Micro Computer Inc. 4.77% 5.34% 6.94% 7.55% 7.69% 8.88% 7.92% 8.29% 8.98% 8.93% 8.70% 7.38% 5.49% 3.96% 3.00% 2.89% 3.14% 2.69% 2.71% 2.56%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-09-27), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-06-28), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-03-29), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-12-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-09-28), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-06-29), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-03-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-12-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-07-01), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-04-01), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-09-24), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-25), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-26), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-12-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-09-25), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-26), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-27), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-12-26).

1 Q4 2025 Calculation
Net profit margin = 100 × (Net incomeQ4 2025 + Net incomeQ3 2025 + Net incomeQ2 2025 + Net incomeQ1 2025) ÷ (Net salesQ4 2025 + Net salesQ3 2025 + Net salesQ2 2025 + Net salesQ1 2025)
= 100 × (27,466 + 23,434 + 24,780 + 36,330) ÷ (102,466 + 94,036 + 95,359 + 124,300) = 26.92%

2 Click competitor name to see calculations.


The financial data reveals several notable trends in the quarterly performance over the observed periods. Net income demonstrates significant fluctuations, with peaks observed at the end of 2021 and 2024, reaching levels above 34,000 million US dollars. Conversely, some quarters show dips, notably in mid-2024 where net income declines to around 14,700 million US dollars, indicating volatility in earnings.

Net sales follow a broadly similar pattern, with the highest sales figures recorded at the end of 2021 and 2024, each exceeding 120,000 million US dollars. The lowest sales levels occur primarily in mid-year quarters, often falling below 85,000 million US dollars. This pattern suggests seasonal or cyclical influences on revenue generation, with stronger performance typically at year-end.

Net profit margin percentages remain relatively stable throughout the periods, fluctuating between approximately 21.7% and 26.9%. The margin shows a gradual improvement from earlier quarters into 2021 and maintains a generally high level around 25% to 26% for most of the data timeline. There is a slight dip in mid-2024 quarters, mirroring the dip in net income, but it recovers to near peak margins by the end of the dataset.

Overall, the analysis points to a pattern of seasonality where the company experiences higher sales and net income in the December quarters, accompanied by relatively stable profit margins suggesting consistent profitability management. Despite the volatility in absolute net income and sales numbers, the company maintains strong profit margins above 20%, indicating effective cost control and operational efficiency across the periods examined.

Net Income
Displays pronounced variability, with high points in late 2021 and 2024 and lows in mid-2024, reflecting fluctuations in profitability.
Net Sales
Exhibits a seasonal trend with peaks at year-end and troughs mid-year, indicating periodic shifts in revenue generation.
Net Profit Margin
Remains relatively stable and strong, mostly staying above 24%, reflecting consistent profitability despite changes in income and sales.

Return on Equity (ROE)

Apple Inc., ROE calculation (quarterly data)

Microsoft Excel
Sep 27, 2025 Jun 28, 2025 Mar 29, 2025 Dec 28, 2024 Sep 28, 2024 Jun 29, 2024 Mar 30, 2024 Dec 30, 2023 Sep 30, 2023 Jul 1, 2023 Apr 1, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Sep 24, 2022 Jun 25, 2022 Mar 26, 2022 Dec 25, 2021 Sep 25, 2021 Jun 26, 2021 Mar 27, 2021 Dec 26, 2020
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Net income 27,466 23,434 24,780 36,330 14,736 21,448 23,636 33,916 22,956 19,881 24,160 29,998 20,721 19,442 25,010 34,630 20,551 21,744 23,630 28,755
Shareholders’ equity 73,733 65,830 66,796 66,758 56,950 66,708 74,194 74,100 62,146 60,274 62,158 56,727 50,672 58,107 67,399 71,932 63,090 64,280 69,178 66,224
Profitability Ratio
ROE1 151.91% 150.81% 145.66% 144.03% 164.59% 152.84% 135.31% 136.18% 156.08% 157.22% 151.74% 167.77% 196.96% 171.46% 151.24% 139.79% 150.07% 135.04% 110.31% 96.54%
Benchmarks
ROE, Competitors2
Arista Networks Inc. 28.19% 29.83% 29.93% 28.54% 28.82% 29.20% 29.11% 28.91% 29.22% 29.18% 28.46% 27.68% 26.56% 25.84% 22.46% 21.13% 20.30% 19.70% 19.60%
Cisco Systems Inc. 21.73% 21.32% 20.18% 20.75% 22.70% 26.47% 29.06% 30.04% 28.44% 27.12% 27.25% 28.56% 29.70% 29.72% 29.94% 26.69% 25.66% 25.41% 25.89% 27.42%
Dell Technologies Inc. 75.81% 78.28% 114.54% 131.10% 275.31%
Super Micro Computer Inc. 16.64% 18.04% 23.16% 24.16% 21.28% 20.59% 23.80% 28.29% 32.45% 33.21% 31.80% 27.33% 20.00% 14.41% 10.53% 9.77% 10.20% 8.65% 8.32% 7.88%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-09-27), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-06-28), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-03-29), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-12-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-09-28), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-06-29), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-03-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-12-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-07-01), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-04-01), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-09-24), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-25), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-26), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-12-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-09-25), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-26), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-27), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-12-26).

1 Q4 2025 Calculation
ROE = 100 × (Net incomeQ4 2025 + Net incomeQ3 2025 + Net incomeQ2 2025 + Net incomeQ1 2025) ÷ Shareholders’ equity
= 100 × (27,466 + 23,434 + 24,780 + 36,330) ÷ 73,733 = 151.91%

2 Click competitor name to see calculations.


The analysis of quarterly financial performance highlights several notable trends in profitability, equity base, and return on equity (ROE) over the reported periods.

Net Income
Net income exhibits a pattern of substantial fluctuations across quarters. Beginning with a high of 28,755 million USD in late 2020, it declined over the first three quarters of 2021, reaching a low near 19,442 million USD in mid-2022. A significant rebound is observed towards the end of 2021 and again during the final quarter of 2022 and early 2023. However, the income dips again in mid-2024 to 14,736 million USD before climbing dramatically to a peak of 36,330 million USD at the end of 2024. The pattern suggests strong cyclical or seasonal influences and possibly variable business conditions impacting earnings.
Shareholders’ Equity
The shareholders’ equity trend reveals a gradual decline from approximately 66,224 million USD at the end of 2020 to a trough near 50,672 million USD in late 2022. Following this low, equity levels display a recovery trend, increasing to above 66,000 million USD by late 2024 and reaching an estimated 73,733 million USD by the third quarter of 2025. Despite short-term decreases, the overall equity position appears resilient, recovering strongly in later periods, which may reflect retained earnings, capital injection, or asset revaluation.
Return on Equity (ROE)
The return on equity metric consistently remains very high throughout all quarters, starting at 96.54% in late 2020 and climbing steadily to near 197% in late 2022. Although it moderates somewhat after this peak, ROE levels remain elevated, predominantly staying above 130%, and generally stabilizing between 135% and 165% across the 2023 to 2025 periods. This exceptionally high ROE signifies highly effective utilization of shareholders’ equity to generate profits, despite notable fluctuations in net income and equity values.
Summary Insights
The data indicates a business experiencing significant volatility in net income, which is not mirrored by a proportionate change in shareholders' equity, suggesting efficient capital management or strong profit retention strategies. The extraordinary ROE figures throughout imply exceptional financial performance relative to the equity base but may also point toward a relatively small equity base compared to net income or other balance sheet dynamics. These trends suggest focus areas for management related to sustaining profitability amid earnings volatility while maintaining a healthy equity foundation.

Return on Assets (ROA)

Apple Inc., ROA calculation (quarterly data)

Microsoft Excel
Sep 27, 2025 Jun 28, 2025 Mar 29, 2025 Dec 28, 2024 Sep 28, 2024 Jun 29, 2024 Mar 30, 2024 Dec 30, 2023 Sep 30, 2023 Jul 1, 2023 Apr 1, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Sep 24, 2022 Jun 25, 2022 Mar 26, 2022 Dec 25, 2021 Sep 25, 2021 Jun 26, 2021 Mar 27, 2021 Dec 26, 2020
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Net income 27,466 23,434 24,780 36,330 14,736 21,448 23,636 33,916 22,956 19,881 24,160 29,998 20,721 19,442 25,010 34,630 20,551 21,744 23,630 28,755
Total assets 359,241 331,495 331,233 344,085 364,980 331,612 337,411 353,514 352,583 335,038 332,160 346,747 352,755 336,309 350,662 381,191 351,002 329,840 337,158 354,054
Profitability Ratio
ROA1 31.18% 29.95% 29.37% 27.94% 25.68% 30.75% 29.75% 28.55% 27.51% 28.28% 28.40% 27.45% 28.29% 29.63% 29.07% 26.38% 26.97% 26.32% 22.63% 18.06%
Benchmarks
ROA, Competitors2
Arista Networks Inc. 18.60% 19.67% 20.86% 20.31% 20.74% 21.18% 21.69% 20.98% 20.96% 20.88% 20.11% 19.96% 18.90% 17.77% 15.27% 14.66% 14.43% 13.99% 13.82%
Cisco Systems Inc. 8.32% 8.17% 7.57% 7.62% 8.29% 9.85% 13.29% 13.75% 12.38% 11.76% 11.79% 12.36% 12.57% 12.94% 12.54% 11.87% 10.86% 10.88% 10.60% 11.01%
Dell Technologies Inc. 5.76% 5.15% 4.90% 4.52% 3.91% 3.20% 2.22% 2.32% 2.73% 2.15% 6.11% 6.50% 6.00% 5.00% 3.08% 3.28% 2.63% 2.04% 1.73% 3.71%
Super Micro Computer Inc. 7.48% 10.72% 14.85% 13.09% 11.73% 11.84% 13.55% 14.96% 17.42% 18.39% 18.81% 13.45% 8.90% 5.98% 4.67% 4.56% 4.99% 4.56% 4.67% 4.65%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-09-27), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-06-28), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-03-29), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-12-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-09-28), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-06-29), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-03-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-12-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-07-01), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-04-01), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-09-24), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-25), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-26), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-12-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-09-25), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-26), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-27), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-12-26).

1 Q4 2025 Calculation
ROA = 100 × (Net incomeQ4 2025 + Net incomeQ3 2025 + Net incomeQ2 2025 + Net incomeQ1 2025) ÷ Total assets
= 100 × (27,466 + 23,434 + 24,780 + 36,330) ÷ 359,241 = 31.18%

2 Click competitor name to see calculations.


The analysis of the quarterly financial results reveals several noteworthy trends in profitability, asset size, and efficiency metrics over the reported periods.

Net income
Net income exhibits a pattern of fluctuation across quarters without a straightforward linear trend. There are peak values notably in the quarters ending December 25, 2021, December 30, 2023, and December 28, 2024, where net income reached levels exceeding 33 billion US dollars. Conversely, some quarters display a significant decrease, particularly September 28, 2024, where net income declined to approximately 14.7 billion US dollars. Overall, the data indicates periodic variability in net income with substantial seasonal or cyclical effects influencing performance.
Total assets
Total assets show moderate fluctuations over the periods. The asset base generally remains within the range of approximately 330 billion to 380 billion US dollars. Peaks in asset totals align roughly with periods of higher net income, such as late 2021 and late 2024. Despite short-term variations, the asset size remains relatively stable, suggesting consistent investment or asset management strategies without major inflections in asset scale.
Return on Assets (ROA)
The ROA demonstrates an overall upward trend with some oscillations, indicating improving efficiency in asset utilization to generate profits. Starting at 18.06% and rising to over 31% in the final period, ROA portraying an increasing ability to convert assets into net income. Although some quarters show slight dips, the prevailing movement is positive, reflecting strengthening profitability relative to the asset base.

In summary, the company's financial performance is marked by volatility in net income, yet with a steady asset base and rising efficiency in the use of those assets to produce earnings. The increasing ROA alongside fluctuating net income suggests effective asset management efforts that help sustain strong profitability even when absolute earnings decline temporarily.