Alphabet Surpasses Apple to Become World's Second Largest Company
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 07 2026
0mins
Should l Buy AAPL?
Source: Benzinga
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 index rose 0.3% to 6,963.30 during midday trading on Wednesday, extending a three-day rally and indicating strong investor confidence in tech stocks.
- Alphabet's Stock Surge: Alphabet Inc.'s stock increased by 2.3%, allowing it to surpass Apple in market capitalization and become the world's second-largest company, reflecting investor optimism regarding its new products and market outlook.
- Intel's Product Launch Success: Intel Corp. saw its stock jump nearly 7%, driven by positive investor reactions to its new product lineup unveiled at CES, particularly a gaming-focused processor, showcasing its innovative capabilities in a competitive market.
- Employment Data Stabilization: ADP reported that private sector payrolls are expected to increase by 41,000 in December, rebounding from a revised decline of 29,000 in November, suggesting a modest stabilization in hiring trends, although still below levels indicative of a healthy labor market.
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Analyst Views on AAPL
Wall Street analysts forecast AAPL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for AAPL is 299.69 USD with a low forecast of 230.00 USD and a high forecast of 350.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
32 Analyst Rating
19 Buy
11 Hold
2 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 275.910
Low
230.00
Averages
299.69
High
350.00
Current: 275.910
Low
230.00
Averages
299.69
High
350.00
About AAPL
Apple Inc. designs, manufactures and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables and accessories, and sells a variety of related services. Its product categories include iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Wearables, Home and Accessories. Its software platforms include iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS. Its services include advertising, AppleCare, cloud services, digital content and payment services. The Company operates various platforms, including the App Store, that allow customers to discover and download applications and digital content, such as books, music, video, games and podcasts. It also offers digital content through subscription-based services, including Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple News+, and Apple TV+. Its products include iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone SE, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Pro, iPad Pro, iPad Air, AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Future Outlook: While the specific financial terms of JPMorgan Chase's acquisition of the Apple Card business remain unclear, this partnership is expected to bring a significant influx of new customers to the bank, potentially invigorating its stock and strengthening its competitive position in the market.
See More
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- Market Share Expansion: As the largest credit card issuer in the U.S., JPMorgan Chase currently provides credit for approximately 150 million cards, while the Apple Card has over 12 million users; although this addition is not dramatically impactful, it presents significant cross-selling opportunities for Chase.
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