Accelerating US Manufacturing and AI Ambitions
Apple deepens US manufacturing with Texas expansion & AI server production. Shareholders approve dividend increase to $0.26 per share while rejecting a China audit proposal.
In a significant strategic shift, Apple is deepening its commitment to American manufacturing, moving beyond symbolic gestures to concrete investments. The tech giant’s multi-faceted plan involves expanding production capacity in Texas, launching new training initiatives, and cultivating a domestic supplier network to regionalize its supply chains. A key question for observers is how tangible this transformation will become by the 2026 target date.
Shareholder Meeting Endorses Dividend Hike, Rejects China Audit
During its virtual annual meeting held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Apple’s shareholders approved several key measures. They voted in favor of increasing the quarterly cash dividend to $0.26 per share, up from the previous $0.25. This marks the fourteenth consecutive annual raise, setting the projected annual dividend at $1.04 per share. The company’s recent financial performance, including a quarterly revenue of $143.8 billion and a net profit of $42.1 billion, provides context for this shareholder return.
The meeting also saw the re-election of the entire board of directors, including Tim Cook and Art Levinson. Ernst & Young was confirmed as the independent auditor for 2026, and an updated equity plan for directors received approval. However, a shareholder proposal requesting an independent “China Entanglement Audit” was voted down.
Texas Expansion: From Macs to AI Servers
Central to Apple’s US offensive is a substantial expansion in Texas. The company plans to relocate a portion of its Mac Mini manufacturing to the United States, with production slated to begin in late 2026 at an existing facility in Houston. This move is part of a broader, four-year, $600 billion investment program designed to strengthen domestic supply chains and scale regional production.
In Houston, Apple is doubling its operational space to approximately 500,000 square feet. This will be complemented by a new 20,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, scheduled to open in 2026, aimed at workforce development. Concurrently, the company is accelerating the local assembly of AI servers at the Texas site, reportedly ahead of the initial schedule.
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The localization efforts extend beyond Texas. Apple has already sourced billions of dollars worth of components from US-based semiconductor plants across several states. Furthermore, all new smartphones and smartwatches launching in late 2026 are expected to feature cover glass from a partner manufacturing facility in Kentucky.
Strategic Acquisition Bolsters Photonics Expertise
Nearly simultaneously, EU disclosure documents dated February 24, 2026, confirmed Apple’s acquisition of the startup invrs.io LLC. The acquired firm specializes in developing AI-powered, open-source frameworks for photonics design—a technology critical for advanced optical hardware and sensor systems.
On the trading floor, Apple’s shares showed minimal movement following these announcements, recently quoted at 230.95 Euros, reflecting a slight decline of 0.06%. Market attention is now firmly fixed on Apple’s execution, specifically its ability to successfully broaden the announced production shifts and the accelerated rollout of AI server capacity in Texas throughout 2026.
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