Guess what happened in the US stock market last night? 

Apple Inc.(AAPL.US)'s stock price skyrocketed by almost 4%, closing at USD 262.24! 

Its total market cap blasted through USD 3.89 trillion, pushing it right past Microsoft Corporation(MSFT.US) to reclaim the number two spot among US companies, sitting just behind the "unstoppable" NVIDIA Corporation(NVDA.US). 

Pretty mental, right?

Remember how everyone was giving Apple a hard time earlier this year for being slow on the AI uptake? Well, look at them now! The iPhone 17's sales have totally turned things around, like that classic quiet kid who suddenly aces the exam. It's a proper "silent but deadly" move.

Are Apple fans just that powerful, or is it genuinely a great deal?

Even with Huawei making strong moves, the iPhone 17 series decided to let the sales numbers do the talking: in the first 10 days after launch, sales in China and the US were up 14% compared to the iPhone 16 during the same period! 

The base model's sales almost doubled in China, while the Pro Max version dominated the charts in the US. 

How did Apple manage this? 

Some slick moves: making a 120Hz ProMotion display and 256GB storage standard on the base model without raising the price. And China's Double Eleven shopping festival gave it a massive boost, with discounts, trade-in subsidies, and interest-free installments on Apple's Tmall store. 

Those who waited for the deal are probably feeling pretty chuffed.

A legendary case of "selling too soon" for Grandpa Buffett

The person who might be kicking himself the most over this price surge is probably Warren Buffett. 

His company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Class A(BRK.A.US), significantly reduced its Apple stock back in 2024, cutting its holding from 900 million shares down to about 280 million shares, selling at an average price of around USD 185. 

Based on the current share price, that early exit means Berkshire missed out on nearly USD 50 billion in potential gains. And on top of that, they had to pay roughly USD 20 billion in taxes for selling. 

Although the reduction might have been to avoid potential future tax hikes, at least now they know how us regular investors feel sometimes!

Can the good times keep rolling?

Analysts are split on Apple's future. 

The super-bullish ones, like Loop Capital, have raised their target price to USD 315, believing the "replacement cycle has just begun." 

But the skeptics point out that Apple's P/E ratio is already over 32, making it the most expensive stock among the "Magnificent Seven," except for Tesla. 

However, with over 300 million old iPhones entering the upgrade window, if Apple can successfully roll out its AI features, this cycle might just be the opening act. 

As for whether Buffett will keep selling after the November earnings report? 

Well, this drama is only just getting started.