Apple CEO Tim Cook Could Reportedly Step Down As Soon As Next Year— Inside iPhone Maker's Push To Position John Ternus As Successor - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Core Viewpoint - Apple Inc. is actively preparing for a leadership transition as discussions intensify regarding Tim Cook's successor, with a potential handover as soon as next year [2][4]. Group 1: Leadership Transition - Tim Cook, who has been CEO since 2011, may step down as early as next year, with no formal decision yet announced [2]. - John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, is seen as the leading candidate for the CEO position, gaining strong support within Apple's leadership [3]. - The company is unlikely to announce a new CEO before its earnings report in late January, which will cover the important holiday quarter [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Apple reported $102.47 billion in fiscal fourth-quarter revenue, exceeding analyst forecasts, with earnings of $1.85 per share, marking the 11th consecutive quarter of beating estimates [5]. - Revenue increased by 8% year-over-year, with double-digit earnings growth attributed to strong performance in the Americas, Europe, and Asia [5]. - If Cook steps down in 2025, he would conclude a transformative 14-year tenure characterized by Apple's expansion into services, wearables, and custom silicon [5]. Group 3: Market Position - Apple is ranked in the 95th percentile for Growth and 84th for Quality according to Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings, indicating strong performance relative to industry peers [6].