Apple ended 2025 with its shares up 9.3%, significantly trailing the S&P 500's 17.4% gain and underperforming most "Magnificent Seven" peers. Investors are closely monitoring the company's generative AI strategy, which has faced scrutiny over "missteps" and slower feature rollouts. Meanwhile, Apple continues to navigate a complex global regulatory landscape, including fines in Italy and settlements in Brazil and Japan requiring open app ecosystems. The company's stock closed December 30 at $273.08, down 0.25%, amidst broader market profit-taking.