Apple is going to miss Tim Cook — one statistic perfectly illustrates why

Apple announced Tim Cook will step down as CEO on Sept. 1 and become executive chairman, with John Ternus named CEO. The article emphasizes Cook’s enormous market impact: since Aug. 24, 2011 Apple’s split‑adjusted share price rose from $13.25 to $269.28 (≈1,932% return; unadjusted ≈2,289%), far outpacing the S&P 500’s ≈505% gain over the same period. Apple’s market cap has grown to roughly $4 trillion and Services now generates over $100 billion annually. The leadership change arrives ahead of Apple’s April 30 earnings report, a key early test for the new CEO. Market implications include continuity of a cash‑rich, globally installed base business but also challenges from a maturing smartphone market, tariff uncertainty and AI competition—factors investors will watch closely around the earnings and strategy under Ternus.