Apple Jumps 6%, Ends Trading Shy of $1 Trillion Market Cap

What to Know

  • Apple shares hit the $200 mark in midmorning trading
  • Shareholders had previously been looking for a price of $203.45 to make Apple the first publicly traded U.S. company worth $1 trillion
  • The company reported results for its fiscal third quarter that beat on earnings per share

Apple shares gained almost 6 percent Wednesday after a strong fiscal third-quarter report, but ended trading shy of a highly anticipated $1 trillion market value.  

The stock closed at $201.50, just below the intraday high of $201.76. Shareholders had previously been looking for a price of $203.45 to make Apple the first publicly traded U.S. company worth $1 trillion — though the tech giant is expected to announce an adjusted outstanding share count later Wednesday that is likely to move the threshold.

The iPhone maker slightly missed Wall Street forecasts for sales of the flagship handset, but surpassed estimates for average selling price. It also beat on earnings per share and revenue from the growing software and services segment

Wall Street was largely bullish on the report, which many saw as Apple staying the course. Analysts at Morgan Stanley and RBC Capital both noted Apple is steadily on its way to $1 trillion. 

"Apple's narrative is shifting towards their ability to sustain mid-single digit sales growth despite flat iPhone units and low-to-mid teens EPS growth via buybacks," RBC analysts wrote in a note. "Hit Snooze for 90 Days. Path to Trillion Intact." 

As of Wednesday's close, Apple has gained 19 percent in 2018 and 34 percent in the last 12 months.

— CNBC's Ariel Shapiro contributed to this report.

This story first appeared on CNBC.com. Here is more from CNBC:

Copyright CNBC
Contact Us