Apple Inc. (AAPL): seasonality, best and worst months, and drawdowns
Information Technology · 45.9 years of daily prices, Dec 12, 1980 to Oct 29, 2026
Since 1980, AAPL has closed higher in 55% of months and 67% of calendar years. Its strongest month on average has been October (+6.2%), and its weakest September (-3.7%). Its deepest drop was -82%, from Mar 22, 2000 to Apr 17, 2003, and it was back to the old high by Jan 26, 2005.
Average return by calendar month
| Average | Up | Years | |||
| Jan | +3.6% | 57% | 46 | ||
| Feb | +1.7% | 54% | 46 | ||
| Mar | +2.2% | 50% | 46 | ||
| Apr | +3.7% | 57% | 46 | ||
| May | +2.5% | 54% | 46 | ||
| Jun | -1.9% | 46% | 46 | ||
| Jul | +3.2% | 63% | 46 | ||
| Aug | +5.4% | 63% | 46 | ||
| Sep | -3.7% | 37% | 46 | ||
| Oct | +6.2% | 69% | 45 | ||
| Nov | +2.9% | 56% | 45 | ||
| Dec | +1.5% | 60% | 45 | ||
"Up" is the share of years that month closed higher. Unfinished months aren't counted.
Best and worst
| Best | Worst | |
|---|---|---|
| Day | +33.2% Aug 6, 1997 |
-51.9% Sep 29, 2000 |
| Month | +45.4% January 2001 |
-57.7% September 2000 |
| Year | +212% 1998 |
-71% 2000 |
This year so far: +28.6%.
Drawdowns
AAPL has fallen 20% or more from a high 17 times and 10% or more 45 times since 1980. In a typical year it has dropped 31% from that year's high at some point, even in years it ended up.
How it moves
| Days that close higher | 50% |
| Typical daily move (1 std. dev.) | ±2.7% |
| Typical monthly move | ±12.5% |
| Moves beyond 3 std. dev. vs. a bell curve | 4.8× as often |
| Beta to the S&P 500 (5 yrs) | 1.17 |
| Price growth per year | +19.5% |
| ... missing its 10 best days | +14.9% |
Price only, before dividends.
See all of AAPL's stats
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Start the free options lessons →Updated Oct 30, 2026 from daily closing prices. Educational information, not investment advice. Past patterns don't guarantee future results. All stock pages