Microsoft briefly became the world’s most valuable publicly traded company in January 2024 by surpassing Apple.
Microsoft overtook Apple in market capitalization during January 2024 trading, with investor enthusiasm for its cloud business and artificial-intelligence strategy helping drive its share price. The ranking later changed as both companies’ shares moved.
Microsoft’s AI strategy included a major partnership with OpenAI and the integration of generative-AI tools into products such as Azure, Microsoft 365, and GitHub. Azure cloud growth was also central to investors’ valuation of the company.
The phrase “most valuable company” in this context means the company with the highest public-market capitalization. It does not necessarily mean the largest by revenue, workforce, assets, or profit. Apple and Microsoft have repeatedly exchanged the top position over time.