APH vs APTV: Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?
Last updated August 2026
Short answer
APH and APTV are similarly sized, but APTV trades noticeably cheaper on forward earnings (8.35x vs 24.92x): the market is paying up for APH's profile and pricing APTV more conservatively, or for faster growth. Which you prefer comes down to the drivers you believe, and whether adding either over-concentrates what you already own.
APH vs APTV: the tie-breaker metrics
Same yardstick, side by side (as of August 2026). Valuation lined up like this is most meaningful for two names in the same corner of the market, which these are. Figures are approximate; verify before investing.
| Metric | APH | APTV | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward P/E | 24.92 | 8.35 | Valuation on next year's expected earnings, the same yardstick for both. Lower is cheaper for that growth; higher means the market is paying up. |
| Trailing P/E | 40.17 | 33.61 | Valuation on the last 12 months. A big drop from trailing to forward means the market expects earnings to jump, so more growth is already in the price. |
| Beta | 1.24 | 1.34 | Volatility vs the market. Above 1 swings harder than the index; below 1 is steadier. Higher beta means bigger drawdowns to hold through. |
| Price vs 52-week range | 76% of range | 13% of range | Where today's price sits between the 52-week low and high. Near the high is momentum with less margin of safety; near the low is out of favor or a discount, depending on why. |
| Price / book | 12.76 | 1.30 | How much you pay over book value. Very high can signal an asset-light, high-return business or a rich price. |
Reading it: APTV is the cheaper of the two on forward earnings, but cheaper is not the same as better. Pair the valuation with growth (how far the forward P/E sits below the trailing P/E) and risk (beta) before you decide.
Before you buy: how APH and APTV affect your concentration
The metrics above tell you which is the marginally better business. The bigger risk for most people is not picking the slightly worse stock, it is over-concentrating. APH and APTV share themes, so owning both, or adding either to what you already hold, can quietly push a large share of your portfolio into one bet.
This is the part a generic comparison page cannot answer, because it depends on what you own. Connect your brokerage and Walnut shows your real, combined APH and APTV exposure, flags overlap with your existing positions, and tells you if adding one would tip you past a concentration you are comfortable with, read-only by default, with your login staying at your broker. Walnut is not an investment adviser.
What does Amphenol Corporation (APH) do?
Amphenol Corporation designs and manufactures electronic and fiber optic connectors, cable, and interconnect systems used across communications, information technology, automotive, industrial, aerospace, defense, mobile devices, and broadband markets. The business is organized into segments spanning harsh environment solutions, communications solutions, and interconnect and sensor systems, and it grows through a combination of organic design wins and a long, disciplined acquisition history. Its January 2026 completion of the roughly ~$10.5 billion purchase of CommScope's Connectivity and Cable Solutions business meaningfully expanded its fiber optic and IT datacom capabilities.
What does Aptiv (APTV) do?
Aptiv (APTV) is a global automotive technology supplier that builds the electrical and electronic architecture, software, and safety systems that modern vehicles run on. Its products span the software-defined vehicle: advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and active safety, connectors and electrical distribution components, high-voltage and data connections for electric vehicles, in-vehicle networking, and the software and compute that tie sensors and controls together. Aptiv sells to nearly every major automaker, so its revenue tracks global vehicle production and the pace at which cars add electronics, safety features, and software content per vehicle. In a major reshaping, Aptiv completed the spin-off of its lower-margin Electrical Distribution Systems (wiring harness) business on April 1, 2026 as a separate company, Versigent (NYSE: VGNT), leaving a smaller, higher-margin New Aptiv focused on intelligent systems and engineered components. Because it supplies the auto industry, Aptiv is cyclical, with results that swing with car sales, but it also carries a secular growth story: the electronic and software content in each new vehicle keeps rising. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Aptiv is widely viewed as a way to invest in the electronics and software layer of the car rather than in any single automaker.
APH vs APTV: how do they differ?
Both fit overlapping themes, but they are not interchangeable. The useful comparison is which set of drivers and risks you want exposure to.
- APH drivers: AI data center demand; Acquisition-led expansion.
- APTV drivers: Rising electronic and software content per vehicle; A smaller, higher-margin company after the Versigent spin-off.
Which fits which kind of investor
A faster-growing, richer-valued name usually swings harder, so it suits a longer horizon and a higher tolerance for volatility; a steadier, more cash-generative business suits a more conservative or income-minded investor. The honest test is which set of risks you could hold through a drawdown: The most cited risk is valuation, with the stock trading at a premium price to earnings multiple that assumes continued strong growth. For APTV, aptiv is an auto-industry supplier, so its revenue is cyclical and falls when global vehicle production slows in downturns or on supply disruptions.
APH or APTV: which should you pick?
APH vs APTV: the full fundamentals
APH. As of July 2026 Amphenol had posted record Q1 2026 revenue of roughly ~$7.6 billion, with trailing twelve month revenue near ~$23 billion and EPS around ~$3.66. The premium P/E near ~44x reflects investor expectations for continued AI-driven growth and the added contribution from the CommScope CCS acquisition. These figures are approximate and reference the July 2026 reporting picture.
APTV. Aptiv's financials changed materially in 2026 because the Versigent spin-off removed the lower-margin wiring-harness business, so New Aptiv is smaller with a higher margin profile and prior-year comparisons are not apples to apples. As an auto supplier, its earnings are cyclical and move with global vehicle production, so a valuation that looks reasonable at the top of the auto cycle can look expensive at the bottom. The company used proceeds tied to the spin-off to redeem more than $2 billion of senior notes and to repurchase stock. Figures are approximate and dated; verify current numbers before relying on them.
Headline figures (approximate, July 2026): APH shows revenue (ttm) ~$23 billion, net income (ttm) ~$4.3 billion, diluted eps (ttm) ~$3.66, q1 2026 revenue ~$7.6 billion; APTV shows 2026 net sales guidance (new aptiv) ~$12.8 to $13.2 billion, excluding the spun-off EDS business, q1 2026 revenue ~$5.1 billion, up about 5% year over year (GAAP), q1 2026 net income ~$189 million, or about $0.88 per diluted share, 2026 adjusted eps guidance ~$5.70 to $6.10.
The bottom line: APH vs APTV
APH and APTV are related but distinct: same themes, different businesses and risks. Neither wins in the abstract; the right pick is whichever thesis you actually believe, sized so you are not over-concentrated in one theme. Walnut can show your combined APH and APTV exposure against your real portfolio. It is not an investment adviser.
Wondering how APH or APTV fits the portfolio you already own? Walnut is an AI investing app that connects your brokerage read-only and answers questions like that about your actual holdings: overlap, concentration, and how each position tracks the S&P 500. Compare the best AI portfolio analyzers or see the best AI investing apps in 2026.
Investing in Amphenol Corporation with AI
Connect the broker you already use and ask Walnut's AI how APH fits what you actually hold: whether you own it already through a fund, what it would do to your concentration, and how it has tracked the S&P 500. Read-only by default, and you approve anything before it reaches your broker.
FAQ
What is the difference between APH and APTV?
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Amphenol Corporation designs and manufactures electronic and fiber optic connectors, cable, and interconnect systems used across communications, information technology, automotive, industrial, aerospace, defense, mobile devices, and broadband markets. Aptiv (APTV) is a global automotive technology supplier that builds the electrical and electronic architecture, software, and safety systems that modern vehicles run on. They show up together because they share investment themes, but they are different businesses, so the better fit depends on which thesis you are expressing.
Is APH or APTV the better stock?
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Neither is universally better; they suit different views and risk levels. Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Compare what each does, the tie-breaker metrics above, and the risks, then decide which fits your thesis and what you already own.
Which is cheaper, APH or APTV?
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On forward P/E (as of August 2026), APH trades at 24.92x and APTV at 8.35x, so APTV is the cheaper of the two on next year's expected earnings. A lower multiple is not automatically the better buy: a richer valuation can be justified by faster growth, and a lower one can reflect real risk. Weigh the multiple against how fast each business is compounding.
Should you own both APH and APTV?
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Because they share themes, owning both concentrates you in that theme. That can be intentional (a focused bet) or accidental (less diversification than it looks). Walnut can show your combined exposure across both, and whether adding either over-concentrates you, before you buy.
What are the risks of APH vs APTV?
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APH: The most cited risk is valuation, with the stock trading at a premium price to earnings multiple that assumes continued strong growth. A slowdown in AI-related data center capital spending would directly pressure the segment now driving results. Integration risk from large acquisitions like CommScope CCS, including goodwill and added debt, is another concern. Cyclical exposure to automotive, industrial, and mobile markets can create quarter to quarter volatility, and being a global manufacturer leaves it exposed to tariffs, supply chain disruption, and currency swings. Competition from large rivals could pressure pricing and share over time. APTV: Aptiv is an auto-industry supplier, so its revenue is cyclical and falls when global vehicle production slows in downturns or on supply disruptions. Automakers are powerful customers who push hard on pricing, which can pressure margins. The shift to electric and software-defined vehicles brings execution, technology, and timing risk, and EV adoption has been uneven. The company is exposed to tariffs, input-cost inflation, and complex global supply chains. Losing content on a major platform or design win to a competitor can matter. The recent Versigent spin-off changes the company's size and financials, so historical figures are not directly comparable. It is a cyclical position, not a defensive or steady-income holding.
Walnut is informational, not investment advice. This page is descriptive and not a recommendation to buy or sell APH or APTV; figures are approximate and dated (as of August 2026). Verify current data before investing.