Apple tops $4T market value milestone for first time as shares surge on new iPhones

Core Insights - Apple achieved a market value of over $4 trillion for the first time, becoming the third Big Tech company to reach this milestone, following Nvidia and Microsoft [1][8] - The stock price remained stable at $269 after reaching an all-time high, with shares gaining approximately 13% since the launch of new iPhone models on September 9, marking a significant recovery for the year [1][3] iPhone Performance - The iPhone constitutes over half of Apple's profit and revenue, and increased sales drive customer engagement within Apple's ecosystem [3] - The latest iPhone models, including the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air, have attracted customers globally, with early sales of the iPhone 17 outperforming its predecessor by 14% in key markets like the US and China [4][5][7] Market Expectations - Analysts predict that strong demand for the new iPhones will enable Apple to exceed market expectations for the quarter ending in September and provide positive forecasts for the December quarter [7] - Apple's shares are currently trading at 33.2 times projected earnings for the next 12 months, which is higher than the Nasdaq 100's 27.42 [17] Competitive Landscape - Earlier in the year, Apple faced challenges due to competition in China and uncertainties regarding high US tariffs on Asian manufacturing hubs [4] - The iPhone Air's design is seen as a competitive advantage against rivals like Samsung Electronics [5] AI Strategy Concerns - Apple's cautious approach to artificial intelligence has raised concerns about its potential to miss out on significant growth opportunities in the industry [9][13] - Reports indicate that Apple is losing senior AI executives to competitors like Meta, and the rollout of its AI initiatives has been slower than expected [9][12]