Alphabet overtakes Apple as world's second-most valuable company behind Nvidia

Core Insights - Alphabet has overtaken Apple as the second most valuable company globally, with a market capitalization of $3.89 trillion compared to Apple's $3.85 trillion, marking the first time since 2019 that Alphabet has surpassed Apple in value [1] - Alphabet has successfully repositioned itself as a leader in AI innovation, leveraging its scale to compete effectively against rivals like OpenAI and Nvidia, particularly with its AI chips (TPUs) and the Gemini 3 AI model [2] - Alphabet was the top-performing stock among the "Magnificent Seven" Big Tech companies in 2025, achieving a 65% gain, and is expected to maintain strong performance in 2026 [3] Company Developments - Apple is facing executive departures and is preparing for a transition after CEO Tim Cook's expected departure, while struggling to establish itself as an AI leader [4] - Alphabet's market cap of $4 trillion is still below Nvidia's $4.5 trillion, indicating competitive pressure in the AI chip market [4] - In 2026, Alphabet will need to demonstrate how its AI capabilities contribute to revenue growth, as investor scrutiny increases regarding the returns on investments in technology infrastructure [5]