(Bloomberg/Ryan Vlastelica) — Apple Inc. shares broke into positive territory for the year on Monday, the latest milestone in an advance that has put the iPhone maker within striking distance of a record. The stock rose 4.3% to $256.10, and is now up 2.3% for 2025. “I think expectations had been low, so the demand is a pleasant surprise, and whenever you get a positive surprise, that’s obviously supportive for the stock,” Stone said. Despite the move, Apple continues to trail other names within big tech, especially companies with more-pronounced exposure to artificial intelligence. While Microsoft Corp. has risen more than 20%, Apple remains 1.1% below its own record close.