AAPL

Apple Inc. Technology - Consumer Electronics Investor Relations →

NO
43.4% ABOVE
↑ Moving away Was 34.2% last week
-15% -10% -5% 0% 5% 10% 15%+
Buy Threshold $193.90
14-Week RSI 55

Apple Inc. (AAPL) closed at $278.12 as of 2026-02-02, trading 43.4% above its 200-week moving average of $193.90. The stock moved further from the line this week, up from 34.2% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 55, indicating neutral momentum.

Over the past 2308 weeks of data, AAPL has crossed below its 200-week moving average 22 times. On average, these episodes lasted 28 weeks. Historically, investors who bought AAPL at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +16.6%.

With a market cap of $4.1 trillion, AAPL is a mega-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 2.6%. Return on equity stands at 152.0%, indicating strong profitability. The stock trades at 46.4x book value.

The company has been aggressively buying back shares, reducing its share count by 7.3% over the past three years.

Over the past 33.2 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in AAPL would have grown to $64730, compared to $2849 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 21.6% vs 10.6% for the index — confirming AAPL as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.

Free cash flow has been declining at a -3.9% compound annual rate. A deteriorating cash flow trend warrants extra scrutiny — the stock may be cheap for a reason.

Growth of $100: AAPL vs S&P 500

Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.

What Happens After AAPL Crosses Below the Line?

Across 11 historical episodes, buying AAPL when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +1.0% after 12 months (median -32.0%), compared to +11.8% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 30% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +81.3% vs +32.0% for the index.

Each line shows $100 invested at the moment AAPL crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.

Advertisement

Historical Touches

AAPL has crossed below its 200-week MA 22 times with an average 1-year return of +16.6% after recovery.

Crossed BelowRecoveredWeeksMax Depth1-Year ReturnReturn Since Touch
Nov 1981Oct 19824648.3%+62.5%+427629.6%
Sep 1983Jan 19841527.7%+10.8%+335026.3%
Jan 1984Feb 1984410.1%+13.4%+310975.7%
Mar 1984Apr 1984613.2%-18.5%+308024.7%
Jun 1984Jul 198457.6%-32.1%+306571.3%
Aug 1984Dec 19841616.1%-43.4%+306571.3%
Feb 1985Mar 19865544.5%+0.5%+326606.5%
Mar 1986Apr 198610.3%+168.2%+303705.5%
Dec 1989Dec 198913.2%+19.6%+117532.9%
Jan 1990Mar 199087.8%+37.9%+114975.4%
Aug 1990Dec 19901628.3%+47.5%+108020.7%
Jun 1991Jul 199131.2%+34.0%+94810.1%
Jun 1992Jun 199210.1%-7.5%+86380.6%
Aug 1992Aug 199233.6%-31.9%+89122.2%
Sep 1992Oct 199224.1%-47.4%+88120.3%
Jun 1993May 199510051.1%-38.5%+87558.2%
May 1995Jun 199521.1%-36.8%+87547.2%
Sep 1995May 199813854.8%-41.3%+103619.1%
May 1998Jun 199866.1%+57.6%+132971.6%
Oct 2000Feb 200417753.7%-27.3%+83491.6%
Oct 2008Oct 200810.6%+111.6%+9521.7%
Nov 2008Mar 20091917.8%+126.6%+10176.4%
Average28+16.6%

Not financial advice. This is an educational tool. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Do your own research before making investment decisions.

Data as of Friday close, 2026-02-02