Apple just became this week the most valuable company in the modern era when its market value passed $623 billion to break Microsoft's record from the dot-com boom era, $616.3 billion on Dec. 27, 1999.

According to Bloomberg, the stock has jumped more than 80-fold in the past decade while earnings per share have gained more than 300-fold to $28.05 a share last fiscal year from 9 cents in 2002. Shares of Cupertino, California-based Apple would be worth more than $703 if the company were valued on par with the rest of the Nasdaq and analysts, on average, are predicting that the stock will increase to $736.70 in 12 months.

Investors’ optimistic view on Apple in the close future depend on the success of the next iPhone even thugh its competitors in the mobile market are doing pretty well. Apple’s present versions of the iPhone and the iPad, accounted for more than 60 % of revenue in the last fiscal year, while the iPod’s share has shrunk to 6.9 %.  Based on this results and sales from the previous models the company can expect sales well over 200 million units during the life of the device. The company is said to unveil a revamped version of the phone somewhere in September.

Apple owns 375 retail stores worldwide and this weekend opened its 375th one in Canada. According to the loop, the company has seen almost 300 million worldwide visitors so far (the past 10 months) in its fiscal year 2012. 

However the company is also gaining share among new customer groups: corporations. The number of iPhones in the Fortune 500 has more than doubled and the number of iPads has more then tripled in the past year, Apple executives declared last month.

Apple ranks ahead of Exxon Mobil Corp. while Microsoft held the No. 3 spot.

All-time record is held by PetroChina Co. that was valued at $1 trillion, on its first day of trading in Shanghai in 2007.

 

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