Can iPhone 17 Sales Push Apple’s Market Valuation Past the $4 Trillion Mark?

In Focus

• Apple’s market valuation is nearing $4 trillion
• Apple shares rose 4.2% on October 2025, reaching a new high
• The stock surge pushed Apple’s market capitalization to about $3.9 trillion
• Lasted Apple stock surge was driven by iPhone 17 sales

Apple is nearing a $4 trillion valuation as share prices hit a new high on October 20, 2025. According to Reuters, the stock surge was fueled by robust early sales of Apple’s new iPhone 17 series.

Why is Apple’s Valuation Nearing $4 Trillion Dollars?

Apple stock rose 4.2% to trade at $262.9. This pushed the tech giant’s market capitalization to about $3.9 trillion. Apple’s valuation milestone made it the second most valuable firm after AI-chipmaker, NVIDIA.

Recent iPhone 17 sales boosted Apple shares to a record high. Data from research company Counterpoint showed higher sales for iPhone 17 series compared to its predecessor in the U.S. and China. In the initial 10 days of their availability in the two countries, iPhone 17 models out-sold the iPhone 16 by 14%.

Apple unveiled iPhone 17 on September 9, 2025 during a highly anticipated “awe dropping” event. iPhone 17 series comprises four models namely iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Each of these models comes with notable enhancements.

Apple had contemplated an iPhone price increase to cater for rising production costs due to import tariffs. However, the tech giant opted to maintain iPhone 17’s prices.

iPhone 17 is Doing Better than Expected

Analysts expected Apple’s iPhone 17 to face headwinds due to minimal AI features, single camera, and smaller battery size. But this hasn’t been the case in China. On October 17, 2025, Apple’s iPhone Air sold out within minutes of its launch in China.

“They rolled out the latest version of their iPhone and it’s doing much better than anticipated … the demand trends for the company’s iPhones are now on the front foot,” Chief Market Strategist at B Riley Wealth Art Hogan said.
The strong demand for iPhone 17 Air in China shows that the new series remains popular in the Asian market despite the stiff competition it faces from Android devices. In January 2025, Apple lost China’s smartphone market share to domestic competitors like Vivo and Huawei after iPhone sales in the country dropped by 17%.

Apple’s $4 Trillion Valuation at a Glance:

• Apple unveiled iPhone 17 on September 9, 2025
• iPhone 17 models out-sold the iPhone 16 by 14% in China and U.S
• iPhone Air sold out within minutes of its launch in China
• Analysts expect Apple to surpass market expectations for the current quarter
• Apple stock has been rising modestly since August 2025

Apple Stock Struggles in 2025

At the beginning of 2025, Apple stock struggled as the tech company faced stiff competition in China and uncertainties resulting from U.S. tariffs on Asian economies like China and India, where it manufactures its products.

Brokerage firm Everscore ISI included Apple stock in its Tactical Outperform List. The company expects the iPhone maker to surpass market expectations for the current quarter when it announces its quarterly earnings on October 30, 2025. Everscore ISI also expects Apple to issue a positive outlook for the next quarter.

“The recent launch of online orders in China may be a positive tailwind for the December quarter, as initial delivery time data reflects stronger initial demand relative to other regions at launch,” Evercore ISI analysts said in a note.

Prior to the recent Apple shares surge on iPhone 17 sales, the stock has been rising modestly since August 2025. This rise happened after the tech giant committed to $100 billion in additional U.S. investment. This commitment could help the company sidestep potential import tariffs. If the gain holds, Apple stock could rise over 5% this year.