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Apple Had the Cash to Buy Any of 486 S&P 500 Companies, but Tim Cook Bet $851 Billion on This Instead

The CEO's capital allocation framework has significantly boosted Apple's earnings per share over the years.

Apple Had the Cash to Buy Any of 486 S&P 500 Companies, but Tim Cook Bet $851 Billion on This Instead

Published July 17, 2026 · Category: Finance

Overview

The artificial intelligence (AI) boom continues to grab the lion's share of the market's attention. Businesses that have jumped into the trend with both feet have seen their shares perform well as investors gravitated to this trade.

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has largely sat on the sidelines in this race, however, avoiding the massive spending activity of its peers. That doesn't mean it has been a slouch in terms of share price performance, though. The Magnificent Seven stock is up 22% in 2026 (as of July 16), and it has skyrocketed by 1,250% over the past 10 years.

Details

Few companies can match Apple's incredible profitability. And the market fully appreciates how incredibly sound this dominant consumer technology business is from a financial perspective.

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Source

Originally published at www.fool.com.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Data may be delayed up to 15 minutes. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.