The stock market as a whole has seen an average annualized return of 10.41% (7.25% adjusted for inflation). But individual stocks like Apple (APPL) have performed very differently.
Of course, AAPL has seen some major returns on investment. It’s been a lucrative stock for those who bought it early on and even in more recent years. But is it still a good buy? And if you were to purchase it now, what might it be worth in five years?
Apple Stock’s Historical Returns
There’s no way to accurately predict the future, but looking to the past can be a good starting point. Back in December 1980, Apple’s initial public offering (IPO) was $22 per share. This works out to about $0.10 per share on a split-adjusted basis.
Here’s the average Apple stock price at other key points in time (also adjusted for splits and dividends):
- 35 years ago (1991) — 0.3740
- 25 years ago (2001) — 0.3032
- 15 years ago (2011) — 10.91.69
- Five years ago (2021) — 137.7231
- Current (January 2026) — 261.3064
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The stock has been on an upward trend since it first went public, though it’s seen a few dips at key points (such as in 1985, 2000 and 2008). In the past five years, it’s seen two dips:
- 2022 — down 26.40%
- 2026 — down 6.01% (as of January 19)
Now, look at its performance over the past five years (from Jan. 19, 2021 to Jan. 19, 2026). Taking its closing prices, it went from $127.83 a share to $259 a share. That’s a 102.61% overall increase — a bit more than double the original value.
This means if you’d had $1,000 to invest back in 2021 at the adjusted price, you’d have been able to purchase about seven shares. Those seven shares today would be worth approximately $1,813.
What Your Investment Might Be Worth in 5 Years
So, what if you were to invest $1,000 in AAPL stock today? Assuming you don’t already own any, your investment would get you a grand total of three shares.
There’s no way to know how the stock will perform going forward. But what if the past five years are any indication of what’s to come? What if, somehow, the stock sees the exact same 102.61% increase from now until January 2031?
In that case, your three shares (each originally priced at $259) would be worth $524.76 each. The total value of your initial $1,000 investment would be $1,574.
That’s a $574 return on your investment. Again, this is assuming nothing changes and you don’t invest any additional amount (or sell any shares) between now and then.
Is Apple Stock Still Worth the Investment?
According to Kiplinger, Apple stock has seen an annualized total return of 27.6% over the past 20 years, accounting for dividends. This means if you’d invested $1,000 in the stock back then, you’d have around $130,000 today.
But there’s no going back in time, so the only thing you can do is make decisions based on what you know — and what’s been happening in the market. As for whether AAPL is worth investing in today, here’s what Kiplinger (citing a recent S&P Global Market Intelligence report) found:
- 24 of analysts say it’s a “strong buy”
- Five say it’s a “buy”
- 15 say it’s a “hold”
- Three say it’s a “sell”
- One says it’s a “strong sell”
All in all, the majority of experts err toward buying the stock. But like anything else, it’s not a sure thing. Before you invest in individual shares, consider your own risk tolerance and time horizon. And if you’re thinking about making some bigger moves, you might want to consult a professional advisor.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: If I Invest $1,000 Now into Apple Stock, What Will It Be Worth in 5 Years?
