Apple ranked first by global market capitalization at the end of 2021.
Apple finished 2021 as the world’s largest publicly traded company by market value. Its shares benefited from the continuing strength of the iPhone business, growth in services, and investor expectations surrounding its hardware and software ecosystem.
The year was significant because Apple became the first company to touch a US$3 trillion market capitalization during trading, although it did not maintain that level at every point afterward. The company also continued selling iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and AirPods alongside its core smartphone range.
Year-end rankings are snapshots rather than permanent titles. A company’s position can change with daily movements in share prices, currency exchange rates, share buybacks, and newly issued stock. “Global” also includes companies listed outside the United States, such as Saudi Aramco and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.