Microsoft Becomes World’s Most-Valuable Public Company, Ousting Apple Thanks To Tariffs

Microsoft became the world’s most valuable publicly traded company after it ousted Apple from the top spot amid ongoing economic turmoil brought about by US tariffs.

The news comes after a four-day slide in Apple’s stock price, which saw its market capitalization fall to $2.64 trillion.

Apple’s stock saw its market cap sit at $2.59 trillion when Tuesday’s markets closed. But the report notes that Apple hasn’t had things its own way amid the ongoing markets complications.

Apple’s stock has dropped by about 23% in just four days, losing $700 billion in value. Investors are selling their shares because they’re worried about Apple’s strong ties to China for making and selling its products. Since Apple depends a lot on Chinese factories, it could be hit hard by Trump’s tough trade tariffs.

The impact of Trump’s tariffs is yet to be fully known, but there are already concerns that Apple’s future iPhones could see their prices balloon as a result.

Apple relies on global manufacturing, and new tariffs could see it become increasingly costly for it to import its products into the United States. As a result, Apple may increase the prices it charges for iPhones and more in an attempt to protect its profit margins.

While the United States has backtracked on some of its tariff plans, a 125% tariff on Chinese imports is not one of them.