Apple Now Worth As Much As Microsoft, HP And Dell … Combined


If you look at how Apple fares on the public markets today, compared to other tech powerhouses, you’ll notice that the Cupertino computer giant is currently valued at roughly $301 billion, which is close to the sum of the market cap of three of its closest rivals: Microsoft(~$200.3 billion), Hewlett-Packard (~$72.8 billion) and Dell (~$29.3 billion).

Market cap is of course just one metric – and arguably not even the best one – to make comparisons between companies. It is, nevertheless, a most excellent trend barometer and a simple way to compare valuations.

To be frank, I’m not sure this is the first time Apple’s equity value has come this close to the combined value of Microsoft, HP and Dell, but it’s most definitely the first time I’ve noticed. And while we’re at it …

It’s been a little over a year since Apple passed Microsoft in market cap (they also turned out to be more profitable than the Redmond software company last quarter).

That was a pretty big deal. And then the next 12 months happened.

Today, the difference in market cap between Apple and Microsoft is approximately $100 billion.

That’s more than the combined worth of Research In Motion, Nokia, Netflix and eBay.

Or: $100 billion is the sum of market capitalizations of Amazon and Adobe.

Or: $100 billion is only $15 billion shy of Intel’s total market cap.

As for Microsoft, they’re in a rough patch. The company that boasted a market cap of around $400 billion 10 years ago (compared to Apple, which then hovered around $8 billion) saw IBM edge past them for the first time in 15 years just a few weeks ago.

Both IBM and Microsoft currently boast a market cap of around $200 billion.

And now the next 12 months will happen.

(Image via Flickr user jpctalbot, used with permission)

Apple image
Website:apple.com
Location:Cupertino, California, United States
Founded:April 1, 1976
IPO:1980

Started by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, Apple has expanded from computers to consumer electronics over the last 30 years, officially changing their name from Apple… Learn More

Microsoft image
Website:microsoft.com
Location:Redmond, Washington, United States
Founded:April 4, 1974
IPO:March 13, 1986

Microsoft is a veteran software company, best known for its Microsoft Windows operating system and the Microsoft Office suite of productivity software. Additionally, the company has… Learn More

Hewlett-Packard image
Website:hp.com
Location:Palo Alto, California, United States

Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ), commonly referred to as HP, is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA. HP is one of the world’s largest information technology companies and… Learn More

Dell image
Website:dell.com
Location:Round Rock , Texas, United States
Founded:1984

Dell develops, manufactures, and sells personal computers and other computer-related products including servers, data storage devices, network switches, software, computer peripherals and televisions. Learn More

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