Apple needs no introduction, as the tech giant has become a household name over the past few decades thanks to products such as the iPhone and the MacBook. Looking ahead, Apple continues to innovate in numerous key areas, making it a popular addition to equity portfolios worldwide.

This guide discusses buying Apple stock in detail by reviewing the most popular platforms for equity trading before showing you where to invest in AAPL stock today – with no commissions.

The steps above present an overview of buying Apple stock. If you’re looking for a more detailed explanation and a deep dive into Apple stock and their future trajectory – read on. 

Step 1: Choose a Stock Broker

The first thing you need to do when researching investing in Apple stock is to find a respected and cost-effective broker to trade with. The most popular stock trading platforms tend to offer a wide selection of companies to invest in with low fees. In addition, many platforms also allow fractional investing – which means you don’t have to purchase a full share if you don’t want to.

With that in mind, reviewed below are two of the most popular trading platforms if you’re wondering where to buy Apple stock today:

1. eToro

Leading the way when it comes to stock trading platforms is eToro. eToro is one of the most respected trading platforms for beginners and advanced traders, boasting over 28 million registered clients. In terms of safety, eToro is regulated by the FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FinCEN, and FINRA, ensuring clients have a significant degree of investor protection.

eToro offers both CFDs and real stock trading options, with the former allowing clients to use leverage if they wish. Leverage on stocks can reach up to 1:5, meaning you can boost potential profits (and losses) by 5x. Notably, eToro charges no commissions when opening a stock trade and offers fractional investing – meaning you’re able to place trades from as little as $10.

The only fee to be aware of is the spread, which tends to be tight for liquid assets like AAPL stock. There are no management fees, rollover fees, or ticket fees to contend with, making eToro one of the most cost-effective brokers to opt for.

There are also no deposit fees when funding your account, with the minimum deposit threshold being only $10. In terms of payment methods, eToro accepts all major credit/debit cards, as well as bank transfers and e-wallets. These e-wallets include PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller, making it simple to fund your account safely.

eToro also has one of the most popular stock apps on the market, featuring a sleek user interface and a selection of indicators to bolster technical analysis. In addition, eToro offers an array of valuable tools, with the platform’s ‘CopyTrader’ service being widely-used. This allows you to automatically copy the trades placed by experienced eToro users with no added fees – making the trading process completely passive.

Your capital is at risk. 78% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

2. Webull

Another solid option if you’re looking for a broker to buy Apple stock is Webull. Founded in 2017, Webull is one of the most popular trading platforms in the US and is regulated by the SEC, FINRA, and the SFC. Aside from being regulated by these entities, Webull also provides up to $500,000 worth of investor protection through the SIPC scheme.

Webull users can trade a selection of stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptos – although the equities offered by the platform are all from US-based stock exchanges. There are no commissions to contend with when opening a stock trade, and Webull users can trade from as little as $5 per position. The annual margin rate is 6.99% for equity trading, which remains competitive with other brokers.

The account opening process with Webull is fully digital, and there is no minimum deposit threshold to be aware of. Notably, Webull only allows bank transfers as a funding method, with no support for credit/debit card deposits at present. However, deposits (and withdrawals) are entirely free to make.

Webull’s web trading platform is incredibly simple, allowing you to customize certain areas and employ various technical indicators. The mobile app is also intuitive and features extensive price alerts and two-step authentication. Finally, Webull also offers the ability to buy cryptocurrency commission-free, which is ideal if you’re looking to create a diversified portfolio.

Your capital is at risk.

Step 2: Research Apple Stock

We’ve discussed where to buy Apple stock, let’s turn our attention to the company itself. Much like when you buy Amazon stock, it’s vital to analyze the company’s financials and business model to ensure that any investment you make is suited for the longer term.

With that in mind, the sections below present our in-depth analysis of Apple stock, covering what the company is, its financials, and whether investing in Apple stock is a sound idea based on current market conditions.

What is Apple

Broadly speaking, Apple is a huge technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, which is known for creating some of the most popular consumer electronics the world has ever seen. These include the iPhone, iPad, iMac, and MacBook, which remain famous worldwide. Apple is one of the ‘Big Five’ US-based tech companies, alongside Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Amazon, and Microsoft.

According to Statista, Apple is the largest company globally, boasting a market cap of over $2.6 trillion. It is also the largest technology company in the world (ahead of Samsung) and is consistently one of the three largest phone manufacturers globally.

As many people will already know, Apple was founded back in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, with the ‘Apple I’ being the company’s first product. After expanding throughout the late 1970s, Apple went public in 1980 and then developed the ‘Apple Macintosh’, which was the original iMac.

Although Apple began to struggle in the late 1980s and early 1990s, thanks to Steve Jobs leaving the company and intense competition from Microsoft, the company bounced back in the early 2000s. Jobs was enticed back to the company and led the company to incredible success by creating the iPod, iPad, iPhone, and iMac. Jobs was seen as a visionary within the field, and his impact on the company remains to this day.

After Tim Cook took over as CEO in 2011, Apple went from strength to strength, thanks to its incredible brand power. Anything that bears an Apple logo will generate colossal demand, allowing Apple to charge high prices for its products relative to its competitors. According to Forbes, Apple remains the world’s most valuable brand, ahead of Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.

Over the past few years, Apple has continued innovating and adding new products, with the AppleTV+ streaming service receiving much acclaim. The Apple Watch is another product that has generated vast revenue streams for the company, with AirPods also bolstering the bottom line. Apple even has a long line of services that provide recurring revenue, including Apple Pay, Apple Music, and AppleCare+.

Apple Share Price – How Much is Apple Stock Worth

We’ve explored what Apple is and the type of products the company offers, let’s turn our attention to the Apple stock price. As touched on above, Apple initially went public on December 12^th, 1980, under the ticker symbol ‘AAPL’. Stocks were initially priced at $22, although this equates to around $0.39 after accounting for subsequent stock splits.

Apple’s IPO was an instant success, with the company selling 4.6 million stocks and producing over $100 million in capital. This made it the most successful IPO in decades, which also benefitted investors since stocks immediately rocketed on the same day, pushing Apple’s market cap to over $1.7 billion.

Although Apple’s stock has had its ups and downs over the following years, its fortunes began to look more optimistic during the early 2000s. This was a crucial period in Apple’s history, as it was when the company perfected the Mac OS X operating system and launched the very first Apple Stores. These Apple Stores were criticized at first, yet have grown to become one of the most iconic buildings worldwide.

Between 2003 and 2008, the Apple stock price skyrocketed by over 2,500%, fuelled by the release of the iPod and the iTunes Store. Apple also announced the MacBook during this period, which has become one of the most widely-used laptops in the world. Apple’s stock continued to surge throughout the years that followed, thanks to the launch and subsequent success of the iPhone.

The iPhone continues to drive Apple’s stock higher to this day due to its massive impact on its revenues. Apple sold 1.39 million iPhones in 2007, according to Statista, with this figure rocketing to over 217 million in 2018. During that timeframe, Apple’s share price rose another 798%, hitting a peak of $58.

After a few minor dips along the way, Apple’s stock continued to exhibit relentless growth and surged by 409% between 2018 and late 2021. According to data gathered from MacroTrends, Apple’s shares hit an all-time high of $182.01 on January 3^rd, 2022. This gave Apple a market cap of $3 trillion – the first company ever to hit this level.

At the time of writing, Apple’s stock has pulled back from these highs and are trading around the $144 region. Various macroeconomic factors, such as rising inflation, continued interest rate increases, and supply chain shocks, are harming tech stocks – and Apple is not immune to these issues. 

Apple Stock Dividends

Although Apple has a storied history when providing capital gains, it can be considered one of the most popular dividend stocks on the market. The first thing to note is that Apple does indeed pay a cash dividend and has done so since 1987. These dividends have been paid quarterly and were only disrupted in the years that Apple performed a stock split.

Fast forward to the present day, and Apple pays a dividend of $0.23 per share. This is up from the $0.205 per share paid in 2021, with the most recent payment being made on August 11th, 2022.  Apple is well known for increasing its dividend amounts every year, which should never be a problem considering its remarkable profits.

According to Dividend.com, Apple’s current dividend yield is 0.63%. This is lower than the average yield offered by technology companies, which is 1.37%. Notably, Apple’s payout ratio is only 14.31%, highlighting that less than a fifth of the company’s profits are distributed to shareholders. Although this seems low, Apple has a reputation for reinvesting profits to create exciting new products – and this trend doesn’t look likely to change anytime soon.

Your capital is at risk. 78% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Apple Stock Strengths

Considering all of the information we have presented thus far, it’s natural to wonder whether Apple stock be regarded as a solid investment at current prices. To gain further clarity on this question, let’s dive in and explore some of the main factors that make Apple such an intriguing investment opportunity:

Stellar Financial Results

The first thing to note when discussing Apple as an investment opportunity is the incredible financial position that the company is in. According to Investing.com, Apple’s net profit margin over the past twelve months is an impressive 25.71%. This allowed Apple to generate over $19 billion in profit during fiscal Q3 2022.

According to its most recent earnings report, the company had over $336 billion in assets, providing the foundation for future innovation. From a valuation perspective, Apple’s P/E ratio currently stands at 23.51, which is to be expected given the company’s huge profit margins.

Consistent Product Innovation

One of the reasons Apple has managed to stay ahead of its competitors is its innovation strategy. Apple has not rested on its laurels and provides consistent upgrades to its products that appeal to consumers.

A clear example of this is Apple’s MacBook, which is upgraded every couple of years. Although the aesthetic has remained relatively unchanged, Apple’s innovations within the product line (e.g. the Touch Bar) have kept consumers coming back for more. This ties in with Apple’s impressive brand loyalty, which allows the company to make minor changes, yet still see colossal demand.

Resistant to Market Effects

Another reason to consider adding Apple to your portfolio is that the company tends to be resistant to external factors. Investors who buy GameStop stock will realize the importance of this, as the company could not maintain its lofty status once the initial hype died down. This isn’t the case with Apple, as the company’s products remain in demand, regardless of market conditions.

An example of this was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, stocks of companies worldwide were sinking due to uncertainty. Although the AAPL share price did dip when the initial lockdowns were announced, the price bounced back and surpassed pre-pandemic levels within a few months. Apple stocks then continued to rise throughout 2021, even in the face of new restrictions and market volatility.

Huge Brand Appeal

Following on from the previous section, Apple’s brand appeal is undoubtedly what makes the company stand out from the crowd. Although Amazon and Google are huge names within the space, they don’t have the same type of ‘fans’ that Apple has. This is evidenced by the enormous queues outside Apple Stores whenever the company launches a new iPhone or Apple Watch.

This brand appeal has been built up over decades of providing visually appealing products that are simple to use. Many popular coffee shops or university lecture halls will undoubtedly show several people using MacBooks or iPhones, which have become a sort of ‘status symbol’ due to what they represent. Ultimately, this means that Apple can launch products in various industries and still receive demand – even if they don’t have much market share. 

Solid Business Model

Finally, Apple’s business model is excellent and ensures that the company will remain a growth machine for years. Although Apple initially started as a computing company, it has evolved into a sort-of ‘lifestyle brand’ that offers products in various niches. These include laptops, mobile phones, watches, earphones, headphones, accessories, and more.

This approach means that Apple does not rely on one product’s revenue, ensuring that any supply chain issues or legal ramifications can be navigated seamlessly. Various reports state that Apple may be entering other niches that it has no previous experience in – with the rumoured ‘iCar’ being one of the most eagerly-anticipated products on social media.

Step 3: Open an Account & Buy Apple Stock

We’ve covered everything you need to know about investing in Apple stock, let’s turn our attention to the trading process itself.

With that in mind, the five steps below will detail the process of purchasing Apple stock with a regulated broker.

Step 1 – Open an Account with a Regulated Broker

Firstly, head over to the broker’s homepage and click ‘Start Investing’. You’ll then be asked to provide a valid email address and choose a username and a password for your account. Alternatively, you can download a mobile app from the App Store or Google Play and sign-up through that if you wish.

Step 2 – Verify your Account

Once your account has been created, click ‘Complete Profile’ on your account dashboard, where you will then be asked to complete the platform’s KYC checks. Following this, you’ll need to upload proof of ID (e.g. passport) and proof of address (e.g. bank statement) for verification purposes. The broker will verify these documents and email you once everything has been validated.

Step 3 – Make a Deposit

After verification is complete, you are free to make a deposit. The minimum deposit with some brokers is only $10 and many platforms offer free deposits US-based clients. In terms of deposit methods, brokers commonly accept the following:

• Credit/debit card (VISA, Mastercard, Electron, and Maestro)
• Bank transfer
• PayPal
• Neteller
• Skrill
• Rapid transfer

Step 4 – Search for Apple Stock

Once you’ve funded your account, you’re ready to buy Apple stock. Type ‘Apple’ or ‘AAPL’ into the search bar on your dashboard and click ‘Trade’ when Apple appears. On the screen that follows, click ‘Trade’ once more.

Step 5 – Buy Apple Stock

An order box will appear on your screen, much like the one below. In this box, simply enter your position size, choose whether you want a stop-loss or take-profit level, opt for leverage if you wish, and then click ‘Open Trade’ when you are happy with everything.

Factors Affecting Apple

Putting everything together, you might be wondering whether Apple is a strong stock. Things look bright for the company, especially since Apple is currently trading a discount relative to January’s all-time highs. Given that Apple stock is known for its consistent growth, being able to invest at a lower price is a rare opportunity.

As most market analysts will testify, Apple’s brand power is one of the main reasons that the company looks set to continue growing in the years ahead. The price points that Apple can charge for its products are much higher than most of its rivals, meaning Apple’s profit margins are enormous. This means the company generates tens of billions of dollars in profit every quarter, providing the fuel needed for further innovation.

Although Apple does pay a dividend, its yield and payout ratio are low compared to other industries. This may put off investors looking to generate passive income, although tech companies are not well known for providing high dividend yields. Instead, these companies opt to reinvest profits back into the business – which is also the strategy that Apple employs.

There’s no telling what Apple’s next ‘big product’ will be. According to Statista, Apple spent an incredible $21.91 billion on R&D in 2021 – the most significant annual outlay in the company’s history. With Meta Platforms looking to enter the metaverse in coming years, there’s scope that Apple may follow suit.

Overall, we see no reason to consider Apple a selling opportunity, with the company seemingly going from strength to strength. Although Apple’s fiscal Q3 2022 figures were slightly disappointing, the company’s fiscal Q1 2022 figures were record-breaking – hinting that Apple could bounce back once macroeconomic conditions are most conducive to long-term growth.

Buying Apple Stock – Conclusion

This guide has discussed buying Apple stock in detail, covering everything investors need to know about the investment process and the stock’s prospects. As always, any investors looking to buy Apple stock must complete prior independent research and employ proper risk management before making any buying decisions.

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