^{The Apple Fifth Avenue store in New York on July 28.Victor J. Blue / Bloomberg via Getty Images file}

Apple has officially crossed the $4 trillion market capitalization threshold for the first time in history, marking a major financial milestone for the world’s most valuable consumer technology company. Although the stock briefly touched the record before closing slightly below it, the achievement underscores the company’s strong momentum and investor optimism.

Microsoft, meanwhile, also traded above the $4 trillion mark and managed to close above that level, securing its place as a steady rival in the trillion-dollar race. Both giants continue to compete for dominance while trailing behind Nvidia, which remains the world’s most valuable publicly traded company with a market capitalization surpassing $4.6 trillion.

Apple’s Surge Driven by iPhone 17 and Market Confidence

Apple’s recent rally has been fueled largely by robust sales of the new iPhone 17 series, launched in September. Early data suggests these models are outperforming their predecessors, sparking renewed enthusiasm from investors. Over the past three months, Apple shares have surged 25%, reflecting the strongest quarterly growth for the company since early 2022.

The company is set to report its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday, and analysts expect strong performance across both hardware and services segments. According to JPMorgan’s Samik Chatterjee, Apple enters earnings week “with a greater halo of positivity than at any time in the past year.” The analyst maintains a buy rating and recently increased his price target from $275 to $290 per share, citing improved demand and supply chain stability.

Microsoft’s Steady Rise with OpenAI Stake

Microsoft shares climbed roughly 2% on Tuesday following confirmation that it had finalized a 27% stake in OpenAI’s for-profit division. The tech giant has been a primary backer of the ChatGPT maker since 2019, integrating its AI models across key Microsoft products like Azure, Office, and Windows.

The company’s stock has gained about 6% over the past quarter, supported by its growing presence in generative AI and cloud services. Microsoft will report its quarterly earnings on Wednesday, a day before Apple, setting the stage for what analysts expect to be one of the most closely watched tech earnings weeks of the year.

Apple’s Strategic Supply Chain Moves Amid Tariff Uncertainty

Apple’s rise to a $4 trillion valuation also reflects its success in navigating global trade and tariff challenges. The company has strategically diversified its supply chain away from China, shifting major portions of U.S.-bound manufacturing to India and Vietnam.

This move has helped Apple maintain strong ties with the U.S. administration while reducing exposure to potential tariff risks under the Trump administration’s trade policies. “Apple’s combination of increased domestic investment and a rapid shift in international manufacturing has strengthened its positioning in the global tariff landscape,” wrote Chatterjee in a research note.

What’s Next for Apple

As Apple prepares to release its quarterly results, investors are watching closely for updates on iPhone demand, services revenue, and new product pipelines, including potential developments in AI and augmented reality.

With shares trading near record highs and a market cap that briefly reached $4.01 trillion, Apple’s latest milestone cements its place as one of the most influential companies in global finance — and a bellwether for the broader stock market.

For now, all eyes remain on Thursday’s earnings call, where the world will see if Apple can maintain its trillion-dollar momentum and possibly overtake Microsoft and Nvidia in the race for tech supremacy.