Apple was the first company to surpass US$1 trillion in market value during 2018.
The company crossed the threshold on August 2, 2018, after its shares rose following quarterly results. Apple’s achievement became a defining marker of the technology sector’s expansion, especially the ability of a consumer brand to generate enormous profits and recurring income from a global platform.
Market value, or market capitalization, is not the same as annual sales, assets, or cash reserves. It represents what investors collectively paid for all outstanding shares at a particular price. That figure can rise or fall without any immediate change to the company’s factories or employees.
Amazon became the second U.S. company to reach US$1 trillion, doing so in September 2018. Alphabet and Microsoft passed the same threshold later.