Apple Stock Performance

Apple Inc stock opened today at $86.14, reaching a high of $86.27. The stock settled at $84.74 and has been trading in after hours at $84.83 up $.09 or .11% as of 5:30 PM ET. There always seems to be a significant difference between Google Finance and Yahoo Finance, when it comes to beta. Yahoo Finance shows a beta of 2.41, while Google Finance shows a beta of 1.44. For those of you who may not know, a beta of a stock tells us the risk of a stock in regards to the market. The higher a number, the more volatile a stock is or fluctuates when compared to the market as a whole, lesser the beta - lesser the movement the stock shows when compared to the market. Google Finance Provided Beta seems to be more realistic to me compared to the beta of Yahoo Finance. With a beta of 1.44, it tells us that Apple Computer Inc stocks are 44% more volatile that stock market.

In its 52 Weeks, Apple Inc stock highest price was $97.80, and the lowest it reached was $50.16. On September 21, 1984, Apple was traded at $3.35, and is now traded at $84.74. Compared to its competitors, Apple stock delivered an increase in its stock price of 12.35 for one year. Microsoft on the other hand, witnessed its stock increase by 8.99%. Hewlett-Packard provided the best returns for shareholders, its stock increased by a 35.64% while Gateway's stock delivered dismal performances. Gateway Inc stock lost its value by 26.16% in the past one year.

I have also written Apple Financial Analysis, If you want to read in-depth.
Apple - Devil's Advocate, I list some of the reasons why I think Apple is worse than Microsoft.
In Apple Image talks about the brand perception I have of Apple