· Investors’ appetite for growth has propelled the stock to an all-time high.

· The company’s recent product launch could impact the S&P 500.

All time high

Investors’ strong appetite for growth has propelled Apple’s stock to soar above $185 a share. The company’s rally this year has shown no signs of slowing down, adding a staggering $800 billion to the Tech titan’s market cap (MC), which reached nearly $2.9 trillion at the beginning of this week. With such an impressive performance, Apple is now within striking distance of the elusive $3 trillion valuation.

Apple’s stock is widely considered a safe haven due to its robust growth. The rebound in iPhone sales, solid growth in its Service business, a substantial $90 billion buyback program, and a strong balance sheet have positioned the company well to withstand economic uncertainties. Additionally, Apple benefits from having one of the largest and most loyal customer bases, with frequent product upgrades.

Market participants and Apple enthusiasts eagerly turned their attention to the company’s highly anticipated event on Monday. Apple unveiled a reality headset priced at a staggering $3499, aiming to sustain its sales growth and redefine the tech industry, much like it did with the Mac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. However, this time Apple is entering the market with a steep price tag, venturing into a sector that has yet to capture consumers’ interest fully.

Rate hikes, what rate hikes?

Apple’s exceptional market performance throughout the year has played a significant role in bolstering the success of the S&P 500. Despite concerns about potential negative impacts from the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes on equity markets, the widely recognized and heavily traded ETF SPY, designed to track the S&P 500 index, has experienced a substantial 12.5% increase year-to-date. Notably, 2.4% of this gain can be attributed to Apple’s impressive performance.

Apple’s MC, representing over 7% of the total S&P 500, has considerably influenced the index’s overall performance. However, investors actively pursuing SPY (S&P 500 ETF) and investing in Apple should exercise caution. The recent introduction of Apple’s VR set into its product line has not been well received by investors. Since the product launch, the stock has experienced a slight decline. If this sentiment extends to the entire S&P 500 index, it could lead to a market downturn.