Note that in the case of Apple, the fine is proportional to the benefit Apple gained from Ireland. So if the fine is meaningless, then so was the original value

Note that in the case of Apple, the fine is proportional to the benefit Apple gained from Ireland. So if the fine is meaningless, then so was the original value of the ill-gotten gains. (This is in addition to the other commentators, who have correctly pointed out that if you just divide market cap by the fine, you're producing a number that isn't useful for anything but misleading people).