Benchmark research · Apple
ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed AAPL (Apple)
Any investment can look great over a single hand-picked timeframe. To find what truly kept ahead of AAPL (Apple Inc.), we screened AAPL against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs across 8 different time windows from 1 month to 10 years, including reinvested dividends. A contender had to come out ahead in both the short term and the long term to make the list. Data as of October 22, 2026.
Compare the entire market against AAPL live →Key findings
- How hard it was to top AAPL: Of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs screened, just 2 of 958 eligible ETFs (0.2%) and 75 of 1,501 eligible stocks (5.0%) outperformed Apple in a majority of the short-term and long-term timeframes. Only 12 stocks were all-weather, while no ETFs were all-weather, so Apple was difficult to top consistently.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
- Popular alternatives: None of the popular alternatives cleared the consistency bar. INTC outperformed in 3 of 5 short-term timeframes but only 1 of 3 long-term timeframes, while DXJ outperformed in 0 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes. VGT and XLK each outperformed in 0 of 5 short-term and 1 of 3 long-term timeframes. The same-index fund exclusion count was 0.
- Top ETFs: Both qualifying ETFs were commodity funds: BNO outperformed in 5 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, while UGA did so in 4 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes. No ETFs were all-weather.
- Top stocks: 75 stocks made the consistency cut, including 12 all-weather stocks. The top stocks shown include MPC from Energy, WSM from Consumer Discretionary, FRO from Industrials, and HALO from Healthcare. Each outperformed in 5 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- The risk trade-off: The qualifying ETFs and the top stocks had higher volatility than AAPL over 5 years. The ETFs' median volatility was 36.1%, compared with 28.0% for AAPL, and both ETFs had higher Sharpe ratios than the benchmark. The top stocks' median volatility was 44.0%, and 7 of 10 had higher Sharpe ratios, suggesting most delivered more return per unit of risk despite a bumpier ride.
How popular alternatives compare
Well-known funds and stocks investors often compare against AAPL, sorted by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | ||
| AAPL Apple Inc. (benchmark) | — | +2.5% | +6.9% | +27.7% | +28.8% | +35.2% | +104% | +140% | +1,194% | 28.0% | 0.77 |
| DXJ Fell shortWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 0/5 short2/3 long | −2.3% | +0.4% | +10.4% | +23.0% | +34.3% | +125% | +225% | +415% | 19.1%0.7× AAPL | 1.34 |
| INTC Fell shortIntel Corp. | 3/5 short1/3 long | −31.0% | −16.7% | +31.0% | +117% | +132% | +157% | +87.6% | +199% | 55.5%2.0× AAPL | 0.50 |
| CSCO Fell shortCisco Systems, Inc. | 2/5 short1/3 long | −1.1% | −6.2% | +17.7% | +39.7% | +51.2% | +117% | +118% | +361% | 26.1%0.9× AAPL | 0.73 |
| VGT Fell shortVanguard Information Technology ETF | 0/5 short1/3 long | −6.1% | +2.7% | +15.4% | +25.9% | +26.7% | +135% | +130% | +753% | 26.1%0.9× AAPL | 0.77 |
| XLK Fell shortState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0/5 short1/3 long | −7.1% | +1.3% | +15.6% | +26.8% | +28.4% | +126% | +139% | +741% | 26.1%0.9× AAPL | 0.80 |
| MSFT Fell shortMicrosoft Corporation | 2/5 short0/3 long | +4.6% | +33.7% | +20.9% | +10.9% | +0.9% | +61.9% | +75.6% | +862% | 28.2%1.0× AAPL | 0.54 |
| QQQ Fell shortInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 0/5 short0/3 long | −5.8% | 0.0% | +7.8% | +15.3% | +16.9% | +101% | +94.0% | +531% | 23.0%0.8× AAPL | 0.69 |
| AMZN Fell shortAmazon.com, Inc. | 0/5 short0/3 long | −1.8% | +2.3% | −1.9% | +10.5% | +14.9% | +97.8% | +50.1% | +498% | 36.6%1.3× AAPL | 0.41 |
| ONEQ Fell shortFidelity Nasdaq Composite Index ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −4.5% | +1.4% | +5.9% | +12.6% | +15.2% | +104% | +80.9% | +437% | 22.6%0.8× AAPL | 0.64 |
| VOO Fell shortVanguard S&P 500 ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.7% | +15.7% | +88.8% | +80.8% | +319% | 16.9%0.6× AAPL | 0.79 |
| IVV Fell shortiShares Core S&P 500 ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.8% | +15.7% | +88.8% | +80.8% | +319% | 17.0%0.6× AAPL | 0.79 |
| SPY Fell shortState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.7% | +15.6% | +88.4% | +80.3% | +316% | 17.2%0.6× AAPL | 0.78 |
| VTI Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −1.4% | +1.9% | +7.3% | +12.4% | +15.3% | +87.3% | +71.5% | +298% | 17.5%0.6× AAPL | 0.71 |
ETFs that consistently outperformed AAPL
Top 2 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Green cells outperformed AAPL in that period. Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Expense | Assets | |||
| — | AAPL Apple Inc. (benchmark) | — | +2.5% | +6.9% | +27.7% | +28.8% | +35.2% | +104% | +140% | +1,194% | 28.0% | 0.77 | ||
| 1 | BNO CommoditiesUnited States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short2/3 long | +19.0% | +34.0% | +36.4% | +144% | +139% | +118% | +205% | +359% | 37.1%1.3× AAPL | 0.79 | 1.15% | $768M |
| 2 | UGA CommoditiesUnited States Gasoline Fund, LP | 4/5 short2/3 long | −0.6% | +16.0% | +32.8% | +132% | +125% | +117% | +227% | +401% | 35.1%1.3× AAPL | 0.85 | 1.08% | $167M |
Stocks that consistently outperformed AAPL
Top 10 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Individual stocks swing far more than funds; check the volatility column.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Company | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Market cap | |||
| — | AAPL Apple Inc. (benchmark) | — | +2.5% | +6.9% | +27.7% | +28.8% | +35.2% | +104% | +140% | +1,194% | 28.0% | 0.77 | |
| 1 | MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +17.9% | +45.8% | +108% | +181% | +148% | +226% | +660% | +1,314% | 33.4%1.2× AAPL | 1.39 | $129B |
| 2 | WSM Specialty RetailWilliams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.4% | +17.7% | +33.1% | +40.7% | +40.7% | +249% | +202% | +1,298% | 44.4%1.6× AAPL | 0.72 | $31B |
| 3 | FRO Marine ShippingFrontline Plc | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +6.9% | +41.8% | +62.0% | +182% | +148% | +222% | +762% | +1,270% | 49.7%1.8× AAPL | 1.12 | $11B |
| 4 | HALO BiotechnologyHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +8.2% | +60.0% | +82.1% | +77.1% | +89.4% | +258% | +220% | +1,255% | 40.4%1.4× AAPL | 0.78 | $14B |
| 5 | NTRA Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchNatera, Inc. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +2.7% | +51.9% | +93.2% | +75.4% | +113% | +901% | +249% | +3,934% | 57.6%2.1× AAPL | 0.73 | $58B |
| 6 | FTNT Software - InfrastructureFortinet, Inc. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −0.7% | +11.6% | +98.6% | +122% | +104% | +208% | +158% | +2,668% | 44.8%1.6× AAPL | 0.65 | $127B |
| 7 | BWLP Marine ShippingBW LPG Limited | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.2% | +20.7% | +46.1% | +116% | +129% | +232% | +966% | +2,648% | 50.9%1.8× AAPL | 1.19 | $3.8B |
| 8 | LLY Drug Manufacturers - GeneralEli Lilly and Company | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.7% | +12.5% | +42.3% | +21.5% | +61.9% | +131% | +461% | +1,870% | 32.8%1.2× AAPL | 1.22 | $1.2T |
| 9 | LPG Oil & Gas MidstreamDorian LPG Ltd. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −3.9% | +19.7% | +49.2% | +123% | +107% | +123% | +817% | +1,827% | 43.6%1.6× AAPL | 1.24 | $2.2B |
| 10 | COKE Beverages - Non-AlcoholicCoca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.5% | +16.7% | +15.1% | +44.1% | +67.4% | +257% | +468% | +1,564% | 38.0%1.4× AAPL | 1.11 | $14B |
What stands out
The ETF leaders came from commodities, while the top stock group spans energy, retail, shipping, healthcare, technology, and other industries. That range points to several different sources of outperformance rather than one dominant sector. The long-term results were especially notable among the leading stocks: the top names shown outperformed AAPL in all 3 long-term timeframes, while the ETFs each did so in 2 of 3.
The winning stocks still carried a bumpier ride. Over 5 years, the top stocks shown had much higher median volatility than AAPL, although most also had higher Sharpe ratios, a measure of return relative to risk. The ETF group was less broad, but both funds had higher Sharpe ratios than AAPL. These results describe past performance, not a promise that the same groups will keep ahead.
Methodology
- Short-term periods: 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y. Long-term periods: 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than AAPL's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of AAPL's (whichever is larger) count as a tie and are shown in gray.
- Consistent means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods, so a recent hot streak alone is not enough. All-weather means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Rankings use long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then the 10Y return.
- Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years. The Sharpe ratio is return above cash divided by volatility over the same period: higher means more return per unit of risk.
- Returns and risk figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update with each market day. Past performance does not predict future results.