Stockchase Opinions

Jeff Mills on Fast Money Apple Inc AAPL-Q COMMENT May 09, 2022

Market outlook He wants to see more selling before the market reaches capitulation. Almost there. For Apple, today saw the first time since October 2020 that the stock broke its upward trendline. There was similar price action in Microsoft. The economy will continue to slow and inflation and rates will peak. Then, you wade into these growth names. Apple and Microsoft have to give back more before the market capitulates.
$152.170

Stock price when the opinion was issued

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BUY
Concerns about AI strategy.

AI is an important piece, but not the only one for a company like this. Terrific cashflow, cash reserves. Strength in the balance sheet speaks for itself. Some of the results this week are conducive to higher returns going forward and, in turn, a higher stock price. Making investments in US, so US government no longer looking to punish them.

Has broken above 200-day MA today, which is one positive technical signal.

BUY

He bought even more because of the stock's momentum. Momentum is crucial in today's market. Plus, Apple has such a dominant, huge market cap--portfolio managers underweighted this earlier this year, but are not rebuilding positions in Apple quickly.

HOLD

12-month price target of $258. One of his Top Picks last time around. Many horses in the race, and you know they're going to do something on the AI side. May do something with TSLA and Grok. Hold on. If it gets above $250, start writing some calls.

Not in his fund, but in a lot of separately managed accounts.

PARTIAL BUY

The tariffs don't change the long-term strategy of owning Apple. Its valuation is smack in the middle of its range of recent years, neither cheap nor expensive. You can start building a position now and take your time adding more.

BUY
Apple expects a $1.1 billion Q4 tariff hit

Is adding to his position, being underweight. He wants to buy more at $190-195, but today's tariff report produced enough negativity (down over 2%) to add shares. Apple can hold its ground in a sideways/down market. There are many questions about tariffs going forward. Today was the first of three tranches of buying.

BUY

The CEO is open to M&A activity with $113 billion worth of cash while their $100 billion share buyback has been in autopilot the last few years. Investors like the idea of Apple potentially buying a company to lead in the AI race. The earnings and revenue growth, sales in China and services sales were all good. The big story is the M&A potential.

BUY

Usually, they allow others to invest in new technologies, let's them make the mistakes, then Apple enters to capture the entire space, as in music and the phone. He expects the same game plan with AI. This strategy is already baked into the shares. The PE is richly valued. Part of this comes to shifting services to 28% of their overall business, a high-margin business, including their app store. And the app store will be their entry into AI. Over 20 years, the shares have seen good and bad times, including three 50% drops. Recent revenue and earnings growth has been poor, so you need faith for the long run.

BUY ON WEAKNESS

She added around $210-215. Their earnings call was excellent. Growth is only 2%, but topline was much better. The iPhone 17 will be a better roll-out than the 16, given the AI presence, and Apple continues to do well in China, especially the Mac. The negativity over Apple is over. Buy dips.

TRADE

A trade, not a long-term investment. He trimmed it, because he's been buying higher from $206, and will sell when he sees exhaustion in shares. $235 was a temporary ceiling, so he took some profits (sold half his position). He doesn't look at prices, but how the stock reacts to the overall environment. Is purely a trade.

HOLD

Sat out capex on data centres and infrastructure that's depleting other companies' cash balances. Time will tell whether this was a good move or not. The big capex spend may not have been the most efficient use of capital. 

Core company beliefs are free cashflow and earnings. Consistently buys back shares, which enhances return to shareholders. Apple owns the end consumer. Don't count it out yet.