Apple’s stock market value topped the $500 billion mark in early trading Wednesday. The half-trillion dollar valuation makes it one of the five most-valuable companies at any point ever.

Only Microsoft, ExxonMobil, Cisco and General Electric have ever surpassed that mark, notes “CNN Money.” Apple’s valuation is now higher than the gross domestic product of Poland, Belgium, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, or Taiwan, the article adds. For more info, go to http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/29/technology/apple_market_cap/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote .