Apple became the first company to surpass $1 trillion in market capitalization in the United States.
Apple reached the milestone on August 2, 2018, when its shares traded above the level required for a roughly $1 trillion valuation. The event followed years of growth driven by the iPhone, whose launch in 2007 transformed Apple’s business and the smartphone market.
Apple’s milestone is distinct from the earlier company to reach a $1 trillion valuation in any market. PetroChina briefly reached that level on its 2007 Shanghai listing, although its share price later declined sharply. That is why wording about the United States matters.
The achievement also illustrates the difference between market capitalization and enterprise value. Market capitalization counts equity value only; enterprise value additionally considers debt, cash, and other balance-sheet items.