Apple Again Battling Exxon For Most Valuable Company
CUPERTINO (CBS/AP) - Apple briefly surpassed Exxon as the most valuable U.S. company after an excellent quarter, though the oil company has regained the lead at the market's close.
Apple's stock rose as much as 8 percent, while Exxon's fell as much as 2 percent during trading Wednesday.
Exxon Mobil Corp.'s stock closed up 4 cents at $87.22 for a market capitalization of $418 billion. Apple's increased 6 percent to $446.66 for a market cap of about $415 billion.
Apple said Tuesday that net income in its latest quarter more than doubled, while revenue grew 73 percent.
Cupertino-based Apple first topped Exxon as the most valuable company in August, then fell back to second place. The Irving, Texas-based oil and gas giant had held the top spot since 2005.
Apple overtook Microsoft Corp., now in the No. 3 slot with a market cap of $247 billion, in 2010.
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