Apple sets record for company value at $623B

Yahoo News ^ | August 20,2012 | PETER SVENSSON

[Hojczyk]

Apple is Wall Street's all-time MVP —that's Most Valuable Property.

On Monday, Apple's surging stock propelled the company's value to $623 billion, the world's highest, ever. It beat the record for market capitalization set by Microsoft Corp. in the heady days of the Internet boom.

After a four-month dip, Apple's stock has hit new highs recently because of optimism around what is believed to be the impending launch of the iPhone 5, and possibly a smaller, cheaper iPad.

Apple Inc. has been the world's most valuable company since the end of last year. It's now worth 53 percent more than No. 2 Exxon Mobil Corp.

Apple's stock hit $664.74 in midday trading before retreating slightly to $662.38. That was $14.27, or 2.2 percent, higher than Friday's close.

Microsoft's 1999 peak was $620.58 billion, according to Standard & Poor's.

The comparison to Microsoft does not take inflation into account. In inflation-adjusted dollars, the software giant was worth about $850 billion on Dec. 30, 1999. Microsoft is now worth $257 billion.

Analysts believe Apple's stock has room to grow. The average price target of 38 analysts polled by FactSet is $745.80.

Despite the surge, Apple's stock is not particularly expensive compared to its earnings for the last twelve months. The company's "price-to-earnings ratio" is 15.6, compared to 16.1 for the S&P 500 overall. That suggests investors, unlike analysts, don't believe the company can grow its profits much from current levels.

By contrast, Microsoft had a price-to-earnings ratio of 83 at the 1999 peak. The stock was caught up in the Internet mania of the time and investors believed it could boost its future earnings massively.

Analysts believe the launch of a new iPhone in a month or two will be Apple's biggest product introduction yet.

[ColdOne]

Apple built that!

[aMorePerfectUnion]

no this isn’t - can’t be - true!

I have it on good authority that Apple makes inferior products to windows. Has a tiny market share. Makes all the wrong decisions on its products. Blah, blah, blah...

[moonshot925]

I own 1,500 shares.

[Drill Thrawl]

Just imagine what the gubment could do with all that money if only Apple would pay it's fair share.

/s

[evets]

Founder Ronald Wayne sold his 10% share for $800 in 1976.

Today it would be worth $58 Billion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Wayne

[af_vet_rr]

The comparison to Microsoft does not take inflation into account. In inflation-adjusted dollars, the software giant was worth about $850 billion on Dec. 30, 1999. Microsoft is now worth $257 billion.

Two words: Steve Ballmer

[wally_bert]

I have one that I got as a gift a few years ago. I wished I had some spare money to buy more. My only complaint with Apple last time I checked is that they have no DRIP program.

[newzjunkey]

Apple still have no DRIP program.

[wally_bert]

No doubt some whiz kid at Apple has their own reason (good or not) not to have it.

I have some steady money coming in this month from a side venture that lasts however long and I am doing some small scale investing to rebuild what I have lost a couple years ago.

[af_vet_rr]

Founder Ronald Wayne sold his 10% share for $800 in 1976.

Today it would be worth $58 Billion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Wayne

He seemed to have done well for himself since then, and from the interviews I've seen, he didn't seem too upset.

If anybody is going to be upset over missed financial opportunities, it should be Xerox. Xerox missed out in two ways. In return for giving Apple access to their UI, Xerox was allowed to buy 100,000 shares of pre-IPO Apple stock at a million dollars back in 1978 or 1979. If Xerox hadn't sold that stock fairly early, they'd own around 800,000 shares of Apple stock, around half a billion dollars or so. More importantly, Xerox never really acted upon the UI they developed. They could have been up there with IBM, and Microsoft would probably be just making Office software.

[Swordmaker]

 Apple market cap hits record $632 billion —PING!

Apple Market Cap Ping!

Please, No Flame Wars!
Discuss technical issues, software, and hardware.
Don't attack people!
Don't respond to the Anti-Apple Thread Trolls!
PLEASE IGNORE THEM!!!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[martin_fierro]

My friendly local office tightwad finally broke down & bought a (used) 13” Macbook Pro.

I’ll enjoy watching him become an addict. < |:)~

[nascarnation]

Apple is run by a gay guy so they’re on the FR sh!tlist.

And Ballmer and Gates contributed to the Wash State gay marriage initiative.

It’s Linux as the only acceptable system, LOL.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Apple is run by a gay guy so they’re on the FR sh!tlist.

“And Ballmer and Gates contributed to the Wash State gay marriage initiative.

“It’s Linux as the only acceptable system, LOL.

I’m in the don’t ask, don’t tell camp. I consider it perverse. I don’t want to know. I don’t want to be forced to treat it as normal.

But in the end, whichever you choose, it’s just a computer...

[SunkenCiv]

Wealthy.

[Revolting cat!]

Whatshisname is turning over in his grave!

[Randy Larsen]

I own 1,500 shares.

Not bad, but unfortunately the govt. owns about half of your 1500 shares if you were to cash them in.

[tubebender]

How can that be when the capital gains tax rate is 15%?

[Randy Larsen]

Taxes are above my pay grade obviously..