Apple (AAPL) Breaks Resistance After Boosting Investments
In a high-profile announcement at the White House yesterday, Apple CEO Tim Cook joined President Donald Trump to unveil the company's latest pledge: an additional $100 billion in U.S. investments over the next four years. This move elevates Apple's total commitment to the American economy to $600 billion, signaling a major push toward domestic manufacturing and supply chain resilience.
The timing is notable, coming amid escalating trade pressures from the Trump administration, including threats of steep tariffs on imported electronics like iPhones assembled in China and India. Also in the spotlight is President Trump’s announcement of 100% tariffs on chips and semiconductors not produced in the U.S.
The announcement sent Apple (AAPL) shares up over 5% on Wednesday and the stock is extending those gains today. The stock had seen resistance at $215 over the last couple of months but is above those levels this morning. The stock is still down about 15% from December all-time highs at $260.10 but is now breaking out to the upside.
The new $100 billion infusion builds on the foundation of the initial $500B investment, accelerating efforts to diversify away from overseas dependencies. During the White House event, Trump hailed the pledge as "the largest investment Apple has ever made in America and anywhere else," noting a shift from foreign investments to U.S.-focused growth.
The fresh capital will fund a range of initiatives under Apple's newly launched American Manufacturing Program (AMP), designed to incentivize global suppliers to establish or expand U.S.-based operations. Key areas of focus include advanced manufacturing, research and development (R&D), and the creation of an "end-to-end" silicon supply chain within the United States.
The additional $100B investment includes some key partnerships. A $2.5 billion investment will expand production of durable glass for iPhones and Apple Watches at Corning's (GLW) facility in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. This ensures all such glass is made in the U.S. and includes the opening of a new Apple-Corning Innovation Center. Collaborations with Texas Instruments (TXN), GlobalWafers (U.S.-made wafers), GlobalFoundries (GFS - wireless charging tech in New York), and others like Applied Materials (AMAT), Samsung, Amkor (AMKR), and Broadcom (AVGO) aim to cover every stage of chip production, from R&D to packaging. TSMC's (TSM) Arizona plant, where Apple is the largest customer, plays a pivotal role.
Tim Cook emphasized the strategic importance, stating, “Today, we’re proud to increase our investments across the United States to $600 billion over four years and launch our new American Manufacturing Program. This includes new and expanded work with 10 companies across America. They produce components that are used in Apple products sold all over the world, and we’re grateful to the President for his support.”
What does this mean for Apple shares moving forward? The company recently reported earnings which beat across the board but possibly reflected a pull-forward of sales due to the tariff announcements. The stock has lagged its Mag 7 peers this year, but a breakout here could see Apple shares play catch up. With a new iPhone release due next month, investor optimism could also play a part in upside momentum. The outlook is improving for Apple, but a lack of innovation and AI tools could create more headwinds.
