For many, Apple products have become an integral, and often unavoidable, part of life whether you’re a fan of Apple or not. iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, programs, and applications have taken over and drastically altered the tech scene over the last few decades.
Plus, during the past several years, after its founder Steve Jobs’s tragic death in 2011, Apple continues to introduce innovative, life-changing products.
So, you might find yourself wondering how to buy Apple (APPL:NASDAQ) stock, especially after it became the world’s first trillion dollar company in August 2018. You came to the right place.
A Brief History of Apple Stock
While Apple stock continues to climb, this wasn’t always the case. The tech company’s beginnings were a tiny bit more humble. Here’s a brief timeline and chart showing Apple’s stock and company history.
- April 1, 1976: Apple was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in Cupertino, California, where the duo designed personal computers
- September 1980: Yearly sales increase by over 533 percent since its founding – to $118 million
- December 12, 1980: After seeing success with its first two computer models (Apple, Apple II, and Apple III), the company went public. It’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) was underwritten by Morgan Stanley & Co. and Humbert & Quist. They sold 4.2 million shares at the opening price of $22 per share, becoming the largest IPO of its time.
- December 13, 1980: Apple shares open on the exchange at $29, already up 32% from its opening price.
- September 16, 1985: Citing differences, Steve Jobs leaves Apple. Steve Wozniak leaves that year as well. Share prices remain steady, sometimes in decline, until the 2000s.
- 1997: Steve Jobs becomes interim CEO. Apple sees profits within the next twelve months.
- November 2001: The classic iPod is introduced to the world. Apple stock prices climb almost 7%
- 2007: One of the most recognizable phones in the world, the iPhone is launched.
- October 5, 2011: Apple’s founder, Steve Jobs, passes away. Stock prices remained resilient.
- August 2018: Apple shares hit $207.05, giving the company the title of the first company in the world to hit a one trillion dollar market capitalization.
Why Should I or Should I Not Buy Apple Stock?
Pros of buying Apple stock:
- Growth has remained strong over the past 18 years, even after founder and CEO passed away in 2011
- Apple continues to design and manufacture innovative products, constantly creating newer versions of their classic.
- iPhone, Macs, and iPads continue to perform well
- Apple hit the trillion dollar market cap in 2018
Cons of buying Apple stock:
- Shares may be expensive for first-time investors. As of August 2018, shares sit at over $200 each
- Apple, no longer the only tech giant on the scene, finds itself in the middle of large competitors, such as Samsung.
How to Buy AAPL Stock
Step 1: Figure out how much you’d like to invest in Apple
Buyers, remember that you can buy partial shares of stocks, too. And, of course, only invest what you can afford to lose. Check the current price and choose an amount appropriate for you.
Step 2: Choose your brokerage
If you’ve already got a brokerage, great – you probably know where to go from here. If you’re new to investing, you may have to open an account. Opening an account is pretty simple, just make sure you pick the right account based on your budget, wants, and needs. Unsure of which brokerage to use? Check out Benzinga’s Best Online Brokerages to narrow down your picks.
Step 3: Make the purchase
The exact process will vary depending on your brokerage. But, you’ll probably have to choose between a “market” or “limit” order. A market order is a request to buy as soon as possible at the best price and a limit order is a request to buy at a specific price only, or better. Successfully completed the steps above? Congratulations! You now own Apple stock.
Final Thoughts on Buying Apple Stock
While Apple has seen mostly successes since it became public in the mid-1980s, it has struggled a bit, and picked itself out from a slump to see some of the biggest stock market wins of the 21st century. Some may think it’s too late to make money off of Apple, but it could still be your turn.
The stock has been trending up for decades and the company continues to turn out innovative products that the public adores.
