Forbes\' Platinum 400

Apple is among the winners in of America's best big companies that outperformed the S&P 500 over the past 12 months. Ranked No. 4 in stock return over the past year--behind SanDisk (memory), Holly (Oil & Gas), and Valero (Oil & Gas)--Apple's stock is up 103 percent since 2004, due in large part to sales of its popular iPod music and video player, which helped Apple's revenue increase 68 percent, to $13.9 billion, in its 2005 fiscal year that ended in September. After a year of absence, Apple rejoined the Platinum 400 for 2005, according to the report. It is the third time Apple has made the list. Apple led the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry with a five-year return of nearly 50 percent, outpacing its competitor Dell (6.3 percent return) and industry heavyweight Cisco (-19.2 percent) as well as the industry average of just under 10 percent. Apple was No. 19 when ranked for its 5-year total return.

by MacNN Staff