Apple Shares Soar Past $250 After Earnings. Market Cap Skyrockets Towards $240 Billion.

Apple demolished earnings estimates today (both it's own and Wall Street's), so as you might expect, the company's stock is surging in after-hours trading. At one point, after the earnings release went out, shares shot all the way up to over $263, up nearly $20 from where they closed the day, at $244.59. This was the first time Apple shares have passed the $250 threshold. While the shares have since leveled off a little bit (currently at $258.85, up $14.26 in after-hours), the company seems destined to open trading tomorrow at a new all-time high. And, as we've been detailing over the past several weeks , it will once again be the closest it has ever been (well, since the 80s) to hated rival Microsoft when it comes to market cap.