Apple is an American multinational technology company that specializes in consumer electronics, software, and online services. It is headquartered in Cupertino, California, United States. Apple shares are traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol AAPL. The company is part of four major indices in the market, including the NASDAQ 100, the S&P 100, the S&P 500, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Since its initial launch in 2004, Apple has sold over ten million devices and its shares have increased more than threefold. Apple has continued to excel over the years with the invention of the Mac OS X operating system, the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad. Despite the current coronavirus outbreak, investors believe that its impact on Apple's finances will be temporary and that demand for its shares will increase once it subsides. However, sentiment quickly reversed when investors and analysts began to question if the peak return on Apple shares had passed.
Along with Facebook (FB), Amazon (AMZN), Netflix (NFLX), and Alphabet's Google (GOOGL), Apple forms the FAANG group - a collection of five of the most popular and best-performing American technology firms. Apple has grown to become one of the world's most valuable companies by market capitalization and largest by revenue. As a global leader in technology, Apple faces competition from tech giants such as Amazon, Facebook, and Google. The company's stock price is mainly affected by sales of its iPhone - its biggest revenue generator - but also by sales of iPad and Mac (which together account for almost 20% of revenues).
Additionally, Apple is facing competition from Google in the smartphone market as iOS and Android compete as operating systems for smartphones. Apple's initial public offering in 1980 raised more capital than any other IPO since Ford Motor Company in 1956. Stock information and graphics are provided by Tickertech, an external service; Apple does not provide information to this service. In 1985, Apple's board of directors expelled Jobs from the company; however, he returned as CEO in 1997. Four years prior to this event, Apple launched its first personal computer that was sold without a programming language - thus beginning the successful Macintosh range. The Apple II was introduced in January 1977 and revolutionized the industry with its introduction of color graphics for the first time ever.
Alternatively, investors can trade a contract for difference (CFD) on a particular stock and speculate on the difference in price of the underlying asset without actually owning it.