NEW YORK, February 21, 2026, 11:10 (EST) — Market is closed.
- Apple closed out Friday at $264.58, climbing 1.6%.
- Megacap tech climbed into the weekend after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on tariffs.
- Next up: West Virginia’s iCloud lawsuit, plus Apple’s shareholder meeting on Feb. 24.
Apple Inc finished Friday at $264.58, up 1.6%. Shares moved in a range from $258.30 to $264.85 during the session. As U.S. markets go quiet for the weekend, investors will watch Monday’s open with trade policy and legal news again in focus.
Momentum picked up following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn President Donald Trump’s global tariffs, fueling a wide rally among Wall Street heavyweights. “Today is a removal of some uncertainty, and we’re on to the next phase,” said Mike Dickson, who leads research and quantitative strategies at Horizon Investments. (Reuters)
Apple’s gain made its presence felt in the Dow. The stock climbed $3.81, tacking on about 54 points to the price-weighted index. Just one dollar up or down in a Dow component typically shifts the index by around 6 points. (MarketWatch)
Attention has swung from the bigger economic picture to Apple’s home turf. JB McCuskey, the attorney general of West Virginia, filed a lawsuit against Apple, claiming iCloud enabled the spread of child sexual abuse material and charging the company with prioritizing privacy—even as it moved forward with stronger end-to-end encryption that prevents even Apple from accessing user files. In response, Apple said it is “innovating every day” to address threats and aims to introduce a “Report to Apple” function for U.S. users soon. Thorin Klosowski, a security and privacy activist with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, called the lawsuit “a clear attempt to put pressure on Apple.” (Reuters)
Apple TV has landed a deal with EverPass Media to stream its live sports lineup into bars, restaurants, hotels, and gyms, according to EverPass. “Apple’s content strengthens and diversifies our library of premium offerings,” said EverPass CEO Alex Kaplan. (Reuters)
Apple clawed back losses on Friday after dropping 1.4% the day before, dragging harder on the S&P 500 than any other name as traders questioned steep valuations and showed patchy conviction in the AI story. “Not everyone’s going to win and not all expectations are going to be met,” said Keith Buchanan, senior portfolio manager at GLOBALT Investments. (Reuters)
Apple’s annual shareholder meeting lands on Feb. 24, a date that could move the needle for both bulls and bears. The company plans to hold the event virtually, starting at 8:00 a.m. Pacific. (Apple Investor Relations)
Nvidia’s earnings in the middle of the week deliver a sector-wide reality check, setting the tone for sentiment in big tech. Apple, while not a pure AI stock, continues to move with the group. (Investors)
Still, it’s a messy picture. Trade rules may shift quickly, court decisions or not, and if duties come back, import-heavy consumer electronics could feel it in margins or demand. As for the iCloud dispute, that one threatens to kick off another fight over just how much Apple can lean on encryption before it draws more legal or regulatory fire.
Apple shares begin trading again this Monday, Feb. 23. Looking ahead, Feb. 24 brings the shareholder meeting, while any legal filings or company replies related to the West Virginia suit could move sentiment at the start of the week.
