Apple Passes Microsoft to Become Second-Largest U.S. Company by Market Capitalization

[bommai]

Has anybody ever passed Exxon in terms of market cap?

Actually Exxon has been on the top only recently (last few years). The 1990s and early 2000s ever the years of GE. GE was at $600 Billion + before the collapse of 2001. It has never regained it again. At that time, microsoft and cisco actually beat GE at over $600 Billion each. Then the dotcom collapse and 9/11 happened.

 

[goldstmarc2]

I agree with you, But I think we should start with you for writing APPLE IS DEAD as your signature in a post that clearly states Apple is is good shape...

My signature is done intentionally because of what BRLAWYER says. Don't pay any attention to it.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Has anybody ever passed Exxon in terms of market cap?

Yes, back in 1999, Wal-Mart had a higher market cap than Exxon. That's just the one example I could think of to compare. There are likely other such companies, as well.

ExxonMobil has been one of the largest since the late 1880's, as it is the combination of two companies, Exxon and Mobil, that were both created during the breakup of Standard Oil in 1911.

P.S. The NASDAQ just closed for the day, with Apple ahead of Microsoft in market cap by about $3 billion.

 

[Mac4Brains]

Does this mean that Apple is now the big brother of the computer industry? Well of late they have been acting like it.

 

[PaulSorensen]

Boom.

That is all

 

[chatin]

Ozzie could be trouble for Apple.

MSFT got slammed today down $1.04 or over 4%. If Gates gives Ballmer 2 weeks notice then look for Ray Ozzie to try to boost the stock with some common sense moves.

 

[ipadrobot]

Does this mean that Apple is now the big brother of the computer industry? Well of late they have been acting like it.

no. apple is not the big "brother" of the computer industry.


Apple is the BIG DADDY of the computer industry

 

[Speedy2]

Has anybody ever passed Exxon in terms of market cap?

Oh, Exxon hasn't been up there for very long. MSFT and especially GE were more valuable before the mid 00s spike in oil prices started. (And before GE crashed because of its finance division). Also, during the Dotcom bubble other companies like Cisco or Oracle were extremely huge in market cap. I also remember that telcos were extremely overvalued during that time.

 

[z4n3]

My signature is done intentionally because of what BRLAWYER says. Don't pay any attention to it.

Well I think BRLAWYER was making a joke posting MS ALIVE, MS DEAD etc. etc. with the fluctuations that were occurring between Apple and MS

So you are both saved from being banned

 

[NikeTalk]

Can I get some dividends?

 

[Speedy2]

MS has tried to branch out (media, gaming, internet), but has limited success... probably due to their size, diverse product/service offerings, culture, and structure.

It's because hardly any Microsoft product has ever been really good. Good as in 'oh boy, I really like that one thing they put out'. Instead, MS has always been a nerdy company, making products for nerds, with a CEO that managed to steer the ship into waters with the big money. They didn't win because they had the fastest ship, but because they had some luck with the wind in the beginning and everyone else had no idea how to actually sail. Now, the smart CEO is gone and the ship is rocking on its spot and other guys learned how to build really fast ships and how to steer them.

 

[PaulSorensen]

Can I get some dividends?

Most companies that don't have significant growth pay dividends... Most companies that have significant year-over-year growth don't pay dividends because the investors are getting value from the increasing stock prices.

It's not a hard-and-fast rule, but that's how it usually seems to be done in practice. It'd be great if they did both - but most don't seem to.

 

[Peace]

It's official!!

http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/26/technology/apple_microsoft/index.htm

 

[HLdan]

My signature is done intentionally because of what BRLAWYER says. Don't pay any attention to it.

That's really a shame that BR Lawyer has that much power that he's gotten to you enough to change your signature in his honor. .
It doesn't really help you much honestly, it just makes you look like a troll on the forum.

 

[StuddedLeather]

And soon, World Domination! Muahahahahaha!

Lmfaoooo!
+1
Remember when they said we wouldn't EVER top them?!
Apple you prove them wrong each and everytime! It's official!!!!

Apple >>>>>> Everything else.

[end]Fanboy-ism[end]

=)

 

[cvaldes]

Most companies that don't have significant growth pay dividends... Most companies that have significant year-over-year growth don't pay dividends because the investors are getting value from the increasing stock prices.

Which is driven by reinvesting profits back into the company to develop new products and services which increases earnings.

That's probably why other CEOs voted Steve Jobs as the world's most valuable CEO. He (and the other senior managers) are effectively reinvesting those profits into researching and developing new plans and expertly executing them to increase business.

When you pay out dividends, basically you are saying, "Oh, we can't think of a good purpose for this money, so we'll give it to you. You figure it out. Invest it somewhere else because you'll probably get a better return."

There are exceptions, but generally that's how companies that issue dividends are thinking.

 

[JAT]

Again, congrats to Apple. But for all you people who really think there is some kind of "war" between Apple and MS, you're stuck in 1994.

-Eric

1) If this holds any truth at all, that was in 1999. And you know it. (Talk about whining ).

Obviously, you two never speak to Windoze IT guys. I've been a Mac fan at least since 1985. And the rhetoric has NEVER changed in 25 years. I heard it in 2010 when the iPad was announced.

The IT zealots are insane, it's nice to prove them so.

 

[PaulSorensen]

Which is driven by reinvesting profits back into the company to develop new products and services which increases earnings.

That's probably why other CEOs voted Steve Jobs as the world's most valuable CEO. He (and the other senior managers) are effectively reinvesting those profits into researching and developing new plans and expertly executing them to increase business.

When you pay out dividends, basically you are saying, "Oh, we can't think of a good purpose for this money, so we'll give it to you. You figure it out. Invest it somewhere else because you'll probably get a better return."

Agreed - I'll take the growth over dividends every time.

 

[rdowns]

You're next, Exxon!

If it was their well leaking in the Gulf, Microsoft would have enjoyed the shortest tenure atop the list.

 

[rjohnstone]

I've been watching and investing in stocks for a long time.
Let's see how long this holds.
Apple has been notorious for having large swings in stock price over the longer term.
The steady climb up over the last 18 months is positive.
Let's see if they have what it takes to stay there.

 

[louis Fashion]

Dow 31

Dow 31

Good post.

You may want to check AAPL on Friday when everybody sells and heads off for the weekend. May be a good time to buy if you are interested.

Think of it this way, if you buy 200 shares at 240 and sell at 260 you could afford a new iPhone and pay the monthly contract for two years. I believe that is called hedging.

 

[Berio]

"Steve Jobs - the digital dictator"

slightly off topic - but still interesting - for all of you who understand German: here's a short segment from german TV about "Steve Jobs - the digital dictator" - http://bit.ly/cWqSOw

to be broadcast tomorrow on the eve of ipad release.

 

[gugy]

wow,
and the MS faithful always believe this would never happen.

Congrats Apple. Now please go back and update the MacPro, Cinema Displays, etc and don't forget about the professional folks that make a living using your products.

 

[sicn]

I am no MS-fanboy but to value Apple higher than Microsoft seems a bit over the top. If anything, Oracle and Microsoft should be in the same league, not Apple and Microsoft. Apple produces short-lived lifestyle products, Oracle and Microsoft produce enterprise software that needs to be supported for years and generates a steady stream of revenue........ (if you can call Microsoft "enterprise", looking at some of their products which they dare label "Enterprise Edition" I am seeing heavy inflation in the term.)

 

[ericinboston]

Obviously, you two never speak to Windoze IT guys. I've been a Mac fan at least since 1985. And the rhetoric has NEVER changed in 25 years. I heard it in 2010 when the iPad was announced.

The IT zealots are insane, it's nice to prove them so.

Huh? I have absolutely NO IDEA what you are talking about in your entire post....what's your point?



-Eric