NEW YORK — Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares rose modestly to $293.84 in midday trading Tuesday, up 0.40% or $1.16, as investors continued rewarding the tech giant's strong fiscal second-quarter 2026 performance and aggressive capital return program. The stock has climbed steadily since its April 30 earnings beat, trading near recent highs and reflecting confidence in Apple's iPhone momentum, record services growth and accelerating artificial intelligence strategy.

Apple reported fiscal Q2 revenue of $111.2 billion, up 16.6% year-over-year, and earnings per share of $2.01, both surpassing Wall Street forecasts. iPhone sales surged 22% to $57 billion, marking the strongest March quarter in company history. Services revenue reached a record $30.98 billion, while gross margin expanded to an all-time high of 49.3%. The board authorized a massive $100 billion share repurchase program and raised the quarterly dividend to $0.27 per share.

The results triggered a strong post-earnings rally, with shares jumping nearly 4% in early May trading. Tuesday's modest advance extends that positive momentum, even as broader market caution lingers over geopolitical risks and elevated valuations across big tech. Apple's market capitalization remains above $4.3 trillion, cementing its position as one of the world's most valuable companies.

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