Apple Reaches $4 Trillion; Nvidia Approaches $5 Trillion Mark

On Tuesday, Apple achieved a historic milestone by becoming the third company in the world to surpass a market valuation of $4 trillion. The company’s stock saw a slight increase during early trading sessions, allowing its market value to momentarily exceed this significant benchmark before closing the day at approximately $3.99 trillion.

Market Context for Tech Giants

In July, Nvidia and Microsoft had also crossed the $4 trillion threshold. As of the latest trading day, Nvidia’s market valuation stood at around $4.88 trillion, while Microsoft exceeded $4 trillion, closing at approximately $4.03 trillion. The surge in Microsoft’s value has been attributed to the anticipated worth of its stake in OpenAI, estimated at $135 billion.

Performance Comparison of Major Tech Companies

Despite this milestone, Apple’s performance in 2025 has been below expectations compared to its peers. So far this year, Apple’s shares have gained only 7.5%. In contrast, Nvidia has skyrocketed by 50%, Alphabet has increased by 42%, and Meta Platforms has seen a rise of 28%. The broader S&P 500 index has recorded an 18% increase this year.

Recent Developments Benefiting Apple

• A recent ruling allowed Google to maintain its Chrome browser business, positively impacting Apple.
• Google continues to pay Apple billions to have its search engine preloaded on devices, including iPhones.
• In mid-September, Apple launched its new iPhone Air, which sold out quickly in China despite initial delays.

Analysts have observed a shift in sentiment regarding Apple. Reports suggest a stronger demand trajectory for the iPhone 17, with lead times for this model surpassing those from previous years. Analysts at Evercore ISI noted that this may signify a trend beyond the typical iPhone refresh cycle.

Wall Street’s Outlook

Analysts on Wall Street are increasingly optimistic, with several upgrades to Apple’s stock in recent weeks. Apple CEO Tim Cook has also been active in building relationships, having visited President Trump multiple times and attended significant events like a state dinner hosted by King Charles III.

In the past month, Apple has notably outpaced other tech giants, enjoying over a 5% stock increase, compared to Amazon’s 3% and Meta’s 1.5% growth. On Thursday, Apple is set to release its quarterly earnings report, with expectations of surpassing $100 billion in revenue, indicating further potential for growth.