Apple surpasses Microsoft to become world’s biggest tech company, second-most-valuable U.S. company

189 Comments

In one of the clearest signs yet of the renaissance that’s finally putting a close to The Dark Age of Personal Computing, Apple Inc. (AAPL) has overtaken Microsoft (MSFT) to become the second-most-valuable U.S. company.

Microsoft spent most of the trading day fending off Apple relentless assault — sometimes by excruciatingly small amounts — but, at approximately 2:15pm EDT, shares of Apple rose $4.35, or 1.78%, to $249.57, putting Apple’s market value at $227.10 billion and finally overtaking Microsoft’s which declined $0.20, or 0.77%, to 25.87, putting their market cap at $226.72 billion.

Watching it happen in real-time and then savoring the replay on 15-minute delay was doubly satisfying!

What I can’t figure out is why he (Steve Jobs) is even trying (to be the CEO of Apple)? He knows he can’t win. – Bill Gates, June 1998

Expect the companies to trade positions back and forth in the near term, but Apple should put the derivative Microsoft in their rearview mirror soon enough.

As per NYSE, the top five U.S. publicly-traded companies, based on full market values, are:
1. Exxon Mobil (XOM) – $283.06B
2. Apple (AAPL) – $227.10B
3. Microsoft (MSFT) – $226.72B
4. Wal-Mart (WMT) – $189.57B
5. Berkshire hathaway (BRKA) – $175.76B

MacDailyNews Take: Pop the corks! Congrats, Apple, on a job very, very, very well done!

One more thing… Boom!

189 Comments

  4. Wow, that happend much quicker than I thought.
    They WILL go back and fourth for a time, but we all know which directions the two are going in the long run.

    So THAT’S why Apple included the stock app in the iPhone. ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />

    Reply

  6. “We could get rid of our old PCs, some of which have outdated software such as Microsoft Word 2003,” the source told the Times. “The majority of MEPs have already got iPhones and they are very happy with them. The PC was good for its time but the iPad is a much better device.”

    Marta Andreasen, the UK Independence Party member and euro skeptic who sits on the budget committee told the Times, “We were told the iPads would actually cut costs as they are not expensive and that we would be able to stay connected while outside the office or on holidays, but many of the older MEPs don’t even know how to use the Internet properly.”

    “I am against that because it seems completely unnecessary, especially when European taxpayers are facing such difficult times.”

    Europe in Crisis, Lawmakers Get New iPads
    by: Patrick Allen
    CNBC Senior News Editor

    Reply

  9. @ Contrarian

    I just take advantage that we live in France and bought several dozens of those from the producer (without breaking the bank). And my investement style (mostly AAPL and AAPL calls, of course) is contrarian (buy when there is blood in the streets and sell when everybody is cheering).

    Anyway, congrats to Apple, Steve and all AAPL longs ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />

    Reply

  23. @Jeff,

    But that means, that means, you just killed Apple and are drinking its blood?

    I still have drinking on the brain. Perhaps a martini, the drink that is civilization.

    “There is something about a Martini,
    A tingle remarkably pleasant;
    A yellow, a mellow Martini;
    I wish I had one at present.
    There is something about a Martini,
    Ere the dining and dancing begin,
    And to tell you the truth,
    It is not the vermouth—
    I think perhaps it’s the gin.”

    Reply

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