
NASDAQ:AAPL
This summary was created by AI, based on 91 opinions in the last 12 months.
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is currently experiencing mixed sentiments among experts regarding its long-term prospects, particularly in relation to artificial intelligence (AI) and its traditional hardware business. While some experts appreciate Apple's strong product margins and robust service segment, there is notable concern over its lag in AI development compared to competitors. The company’s strategy of allowing other tech firms to invest heavily in AI, only to step in later, is a point of discussion. Many analysts believe Apple's profitability will remain strong due to its vast user ecosystem and cash reserves, though its valuation is a point of contention, with some suggesting that it’s fully priced amid slow growth. A considerable number of reviews highlight upcoming product launches and their potential to boost shares, although the skepticism surrounding AI adoption continues to loom.
As a value investor, he thinks this is going to make something over $40 this year. It has $150 a share in cash. Take off the cash and you are getting $40 of earnings for $300, which is 7X earnings for one of the great companies in the history of the world. He is assuming a major share buyback will be announced at the annual meeting as well as an increased dividend. Yield of 2.3%.
Has been surprised at the magnitude of the drop in price. This was a positive high momentum company on the upside and has flipped around to a negative momentum. Fundamentally, not a lot has changed. By the end of their fiscal year, he thinks they will have about $175 a share in cash. Trading at about 5.5X ex-cash. Extremely cheap but right now the market is not carrying about fundamentals.
Now that the stock has retreated back to around $442, he is looking at this closely. Very concerned about the next couple of quarters which are going to be a little bit shaky because of margin pressure. They need a refresh of the product. Apple 5 is good but is not selling outside of North America as well as people had hoped. 75% of the profits in the industry. Has the ability to layer on the big base of new products that will rejuvenate it.
Don’t confuse a good story with a good investment. Tripled over the last 3 years and the market expected this to continue. Really a product of a fund-filled story. As Apple moved higher on earnings, mutual funds came in behind and reweighted to the index which pushed it higher and higher on supply and demand. Unfortunately, expectations have come down and funds have caused more volume to go into the market and pushed the price down further and further.
Just announced good sales in China but stock price hasn’t reflected this. How come? A lot of concerns in China are on margins which are not quite as high as North American margins. Apple pretty well revolutionized a big part of the technology space and has some of the largest revenues of the technology sector. Valuations look fairly attractive. When you get into such large companies with such large revenues, especially with margins quite high, you wonder how they will replace that, so she tends to stay away. (See Top Picks.)
It should hold at the current level. If it breaks down through $430, it’ll probably go down a bit further, high $380’s-$390’s. If you believe in this on a long-term fundamental basis, it will have a lot of grinding through those places where people paid much more and are trying to get their money back. There are better stocks in this space.