Apple's Stock Charts an Independent Course

Apple's stock diverges from Nasdaq 100 as Berkshire trims stake, highlighting market's focus on the tech giant's measured AI strategy ahead of new hardware launches.

A notable divergence is unfolding for Apple, as the technology giant finds itself at the center of two distinct market narratives. On one hand, a legendary investment firm has trimmed its stake; on the other, the stock's price movement is decoupling from the broader tech index. These seemingly separate developments share a common thread: the market's evolving assessment of artificial intelligence (AI) strategy.

The Nasdaq Disconnect: A Correlation Breakdown

Recent analysis from Bloomberg highlights a striking technical shift. The 40-day correlation coefficient between Apple's share price and the Nasdaq 100 index has plummeted to 0.21, marking its lowest level since 2006. This figure stood at 0.92 as recently as May, indicating that Apple is no longer moving in lockstep with its mega-cap technology peers.

Market strategists attribute this independence largely to Apple's perceived cautious approach to AI investment. While competitors aggressively allocate capital toward generative AI, Apple has adopted a more measured stance. According to Art Hogan of B. Riley Wealth, this relative restraint could be a short-term stabilizing factor. In an environment where investors are nervous about potential AI market disruptions, avoiding the herd mentality might provide insulation from volatile sector sentiment. This dynamic helps explain why Apple's stock is not mirroring every AI-driven fluctuation within the Nasdaq 100.

Berkshire's Strategic Reduction

Concurrent with this technical shift, Berkshire Hathaway's latest 13-F filing reveals a modest reduction in its colossal Apple position. During the fourth quarter of 2025, the conglomerate sold approximately 10.3 million shares, a cut of about 4%. Despite this move, Apple remains Berkshire's largest equity holding by a wide margin, with the remaining stake valued at roughly $62 billion.

The timing of the transaction adds a layer of intrigue, as it occurred in Warren Buffett's final quarter as CEO. Since January 1, 2026, Greg Abel has assumed leadership. The regulatory disclosure does not specify whether the decision to sell was made by Buffett himself, the new CEO Greg Abel, or portfolio manager Ted Weschler.

Upcoming Catalyst: The March Event and AI Hardware Pipeline

Apple is not standing still on AI. The company has announced a "special Apple Experience" event scheduled for March 4 in New York, London, and Shanghai, where new hardware launches are anticipated.

In parallel, reports from Bloomberg indicate an accelerated development timeline for three AI-centric wearable devices. These include smart glasses, a wearable device, and AirPods featuring enhanced AI capabilities. The ecosystem is expected to be built around a significantly upgraded Siri assistant. Amidst this, Wedbush Securities maintains its 'Outperform' rating. Analyst Dan Ives has characterized the stock's recent weakness as "unwarranted," projecting that 2026 will be the year Apple "enters the AI game."

In recent trading, the share price has shown resilience rather than explosive growth. The stock is currently quoted at 222.20 euros, reflecting a year-to-date decline of 3.85%.

The March 4 event is now viewed as a critical moment for Apple to deliver tangible product momentum. The market is awaiting a clearer demonstration of how seriously the company intends to integrate AI into the daily lives of its users.