Final answer:
The item most apt to be considered material nonpublic information is the upcoming product release date, as it is confidential and could influence investment decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the options provided, the one most likely to be considered material nonpublic information is a) Upcoming product release date. Material nonpublic information refers to confidential information that could influence an investor's decision to buy or sell securities if such information were made public. An upcoming product release can significantly affect a company's stock price, as it might impact future revenues and market position.
Other options such as b) Quarterly earnings (publicly disclosed), c) CEO's favorite movie, and d) Company's founding year, do not qualify as material nonpublic information. Quarterly earnings, when disclosed, are public information. The CEO's favorite movie is irrelevant to the company's financial performance or business prospects, and the company's founding year is historical information that is typically already public.