Apple’s market capitalization first surpassed $1 trillion in August 2018, before Amazon reached the same milestone.
Apple crossed the threshold on August 2, 2018. Amazon followed in September 2018, making the two companies the first publicly traded corporations to join the trillion-dollar market-cap group in that period.
The milestones were driven by share-price performance and the companies’ outstanding shares. Apple’s valuation reflected the iPhone ecosystem and services, while Amazon’s reflected its online retail, cloud-computing, advertising, and logistics businesses. Their different business models show why market capitalization compares investor valuation rather than a single operating metric.
A market-cap ranking is a snapshot, not a permanent title. Share prices can change every second, and companies can issue or repurchase shares. For that reason, historical claims should include a date and should distinguish an intraday crossing from a closing valuation.