Market Cap

Apple's market cap hits $262.88 billion

It's now worth what Microsoft was six months ago, while Microsoft falls further behind

Apple (AAPL) has set four new record highs in past five trading days. It closed Wednesday at $287.75, pushing its market cap to $262.88 billion, widening the gap with Microsoft (MSFT, market cap: $212.96 billion) and closing in on America's most valuable company, Exxon Mobil (XOM, market cap: $312.89).

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Apple overtakes Microsoft, is now No. MORE

Ballmer's is still bigger than Jobs'

But four years ago Microsoft's quarterly revenue was 2.7 times Apple's. Now it's 2.2% larger.

When Apple (AAPL) reported quarterly revenue of $15.7 billion on Tuesday, there was a lot of speculation that this would be the quarter that it finally overtook its long-time rival.

But it was not to be -- at least not yet. Microsoft (MSFT) reported its fourth quarter earnings after the markets closed on Thursday and it easily MORE

Apple overtakes Microsoft, is now No. 2

Measured by market capitalization, it is second only to Exxon Mobil among U.S. companies

At the close of market Wednesday, Apple's (AAPL) share price stood at $244.11, down $1.11 (0.45%) for the day. Microsoft (MSFT), on the other hand, closed at $25.01, down $1.06 (4.07%).

Why is this significant? Because Apple's market capitalization ($221.36 billion) just overtook Microsoft's ($219.35) for the first time in 20 years, making it the second most MORE

Apple is No. 3, closing in on Microsoft

With its market cap at $213.9 billion, only two U.S. companies are bigger than Apple

Here's one way to measure Apple's (AAPL) progress in March, a month in which its stock price set 11 all-time highs.

On March 9, a few days after the company announced the iPad's ship date, Apple's market capitalization (share price times shares outstanding) was $198.5 billion, making it one of the five most valuable U.S. companies, right MORE

Apple overtakes Wal-Mart

Shares surge on iPad pre-orders, making Apple America's third most valuable company

UPDATE: That was short-lived. By March 15, Apple's market cap had fallen below Wal-Mart's once again.

Ninety minutes after Apple (AAPL) opened its online store for iPad pre-orders Friday morning, a burst of trading -- roughly 2 million shares in 30 minutes -- pushed its stock price to $227.73 and its market cap to $206.5 billion.

That, and a dip in MORE

Apple > Dell + HP

It's been nearly 12 years since Michael Dell told an audience of technology executives -- in a remark some of us never tire of repeating -- that if he were in charge of Apple (AAPL) he would "shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders." (link).

Not only is Apple's market capitalization ($143.3 billion) more than five times Dell's ($27.3 billion), but as Roughly Drafted's Daniel Eran Dilger MORE

Apple Worth More than IBM

Here's an interesting bit of stock market trivia from 9to5 Mac. If Apple (AAPL) shares open anywhere near the 186 mark they passed in after-the-bell trading yesterday, the company's market capitalization ($161 billion) will, for the first time, pass IBM's ($156 billion).

Who's the Big Brother now?