Apple (AAPL) Stock Hits All-Time High Amid Strong Performance and Upgraded Earnings Estimates

Apple Inc. (AAPL) shares surged to a record $280 in early trading on Tuesday, marking a 21.2% gain over the past three months. The tech giant has outperformed both the Dow Jones index and its Magnificent-7 peers, fueled by robust investor confidence and a bullish outlook from Wall Street analysts.

Earnings estimates for Apple have been revised upward, with a projected 10.4% increase for the current quarter. T-Mobile's Black Friday promotion, featuring a free Apple bundle, is expected to further boost holiday sales and customer engagement.

With Apple's market capitalization surpassing $4 trillion again, analysts highlight a strategic advantage over AI-heavy competitors like Amazon and Meta. Unlike peers facing scrutiny over AI profitability, Apple and Alphabet (GOOGL) demonstrate tangible returns from their AI investments, with Gemini's success and Apple's strong fall sales.

Once perceived as lagging in the AI race, Apple now appears to be pacing its advancements more effectively, aligning innovation with market demand.