Ternus Faces High Expectations as He Takes Reins from Cook at Apple

Apple's new CEO John Ternus is set to take over from Tim Cook, who handed over the reins on Tuesday. Under Cook's leadership, Apple's stock soared 2,275% since he took over in 2011, making it one of the most reliable bets for investors.

Cook inherited a company with a market capitalization of less than $350 billion and turned it into a diverse $4.6 trillion business that also sells watches, AirPods, and financial services. He oversaw successful product launches like AirPods and the Apple Watch, but others, such as the Vision Pro headset and a failed foray into self-driving cars, fell flat.

While Cook's focus on stock buybacks reduced Apple's outstanding share count by nearly 45% since 2012, some investors have criticized him for not innovating enough in areas like AI. Analysts predict that Ternus may change the company's risk appetite and invest more in R&D, Capex, and M&A.