Today’s Change

(3.26%) $8.84

Current Price

$280.19

Apple (AAPL +3.26%), a consumer electronics and software giant, closed Friday at $280.25, up 3.28%. The stock moved higher after Apple reported record quarterly results, issued upbeat guidance, and expanded its capital-return plans. Investors are watching whether demand for the iPhone and MacBook Neo sustains double-digit revenue growth. Trading volume reached 76 million shares, about 63% above its three-month average of 46.6 million shares. Apple IPO’d in 1980 and has grown 218,248% since going public.

How the markets moved today

The S&P 500 added 0.28% to finish at 7,229, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.89% to close at 25,114. Within the technology sector, Microsoft closed at $414.44, up 1.63%, while HP finished at $20.83, down 0.14%, underscoring mixed reactions across device makers.

What this means for investors

After rising 3% today, Apple is again nearing all-time highs, despite being critiqued by many in the market for “missing” the broader AI revolution. During Q2, Apple’s sales grew 17%, and EPS rose 22%, sailing past analysts’ expectations. Management guided for sales to increase between 14% and 17% in Q2.

Several analysts raised their price targets on the stock, citing that Apple could be an AI beneficiary despite largely sitting out the massive capex spending cycle engulfing its mega-cap tech peers. My most intriguing takeaway from the quarter was that higher-than-expected demand for Apple’s MacBook Neo helped set a March record for new Mac users.

Despite being a $4 trillion company, Apple continues to find new ways to deliver solid growth for its shareholders.