Loading...
Symbols:
Get Seeking Alpha Free Stock Alerts by Email!
Get Free Stock Alerts by Email!
Transcripts
- Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. F3Q08 (Quarter End 09/05/08) Earnings Call Transcript
- General Electric Company Q3 2008 Earnings Call Transcript
- DragonWave Inc. F2Q09 (Qtr End 08/31/08) Earnings Call Transcript
- Emmis Communications Corporation F2Q09 (Qtr End 08/31/08) Earnings Call Transcript
- Audiovox Corporation F2Q09 (Qtr End 08/31/08) Earnings Call Transcript
- Robbins & Myers, Inc. F4Q08 (Qtr End 08/31/08) Earnings Call Transcript
- Total System Services, Inc. Q3 2008 Earnings Call Transcript
- Tortoise Capital Resources F3Q08 (Qtr End 08/31/2008) Earnings Call Transcript
- Intraware, Inc. F2Q09 (Qtr End 08/31/08) Earnings Call Transcript
- LTX-Credence Corporation Business Update Call Transcript
-
Editor's Picks
-
Most Popular
- AMD Sheds Fabs to Keep Up with Intel
- Are Analysts Being Fooled By The Data?
- Auto Industry: Is Government's Loan Actually a Bailout, Payback, or Investment?
- Competitive Markets Don't Just Happen; It's Time to Regulate In the Public Interest
- The End of the BRIC Trade
- Best Market Reentry Time? When There's a Solution To Counter-Party Risk
- Full list of Editor's Picks »
- Cramer Should Be Suspended »
- The Bottom's Within Sight - Barron's »
- Back Room Deal? - Cramer's Mad Money (10/10/08) »
- Bargain Buys For Patient Investors - Barron's »
- Largest Bond ETF Now Trading At a Massive Discount »
- Is Gold A Sucker's Bet? »
- This Isn't a Bottom, It's a Disturbance in The Force »
- Where We Go from Here: Best and Worst Cases »
- The Devastating Week That Was »
- Jeremy Grantham: Stocks Still Aren't Cheap »
- Paulson in a State of Panic »
Trading Center
Hedge Fund Jobs
Job Seekers: Search jobs by category, get job alerts by email or live feed, apply online See full list of jobs »
Employers: See all recruitment options, get applications online or by email Post a job »
sfhc21
3 Comments
Why Apple Stock Is Poised To Go Flat - At Best
Let's continue to poke holes in his arguments:
1. "I mean Apple being a larger company than GE with only 5% market share in the electronics department, I doubt it."
When Apple is still doubling it's earnings (counting deferred revenue up front), not that difficult. You see, there comes a firm belief from many of us that Apple will be the computer of choice in five years. It will overtake Microsoft. Apple will overtake GE in marketcap. Apple will become the biggest company in the world by owning our entire digital life.
2. "What if people prefer a much smaller mobile device with only voice capabilities to a large one with a screen and a lot of data tools?"
Not gonna happen. It's about convergence in the future. But even if so, then Apple will make one that's easier to use than any other competitors device. It's the beauty of Apple. They don't necessarily start trends. They see where they are going, and do it better than anyone else.
3. "Recent projections tie a significant amount of projected revenues to the App Store."
A few. But not enough revenue to significantly affect earnings.
4. "I think major game developers would be quick to establish their own devices and own App Stores."
[sarcasm]Right...becau... EA made their own Nintendo DS.[/sarcasm]
It's all about convergence. No one wants to carry around 3 or 4 different devices in their pocket. That's why a "smaller mobile device with only voice capabilities" is not the future.
Game developers will embrace the iPhone. Period. They aren't going to make their own device, especially given the costs and since the App store isn't a profit maker anyways.
Apple's whole business model has been to use iTunes, to use the App Store to sell hardware...iPhones, iPods, Macs. That's why so many other online music services have failed, because the service in itself isn't that profitable.
5. "Apple is trying to make up for its decreasing margins in the devices department through making use of the greater volume in its iTunes and App Store. However, if a serious attempt is made by Apple’s rivals in targeting its online stores Apple’s profit margins can be under serious trouble. In turn, an earnings miss could make a huge dent in Apple’s stock."
Remember that the iPhone isn't just $199, but that it's getting at least $200+ per device from the carriers. So technically, it's margins are not decreasing on that product at all.
Second, Apple's rivals have seriously tried to make a dent against iTunes. Microsoft, Dell, Napster and they have all failed!
6. "As people get more financially strained, discretionary premium products are the first thing to go."
Possibly. But cell phones are no longer a discretionary product. I think as things get tighter, consumers will get smarter.
What will get canceled is satellite radio services as you can now access programs and radio on the iPhone itself. Satellite TV and Cable will get canceled because you can now access just the shows you want through AppleTV and the iPhone.
Convergence!
Heck, even a MacBook or iMac will save you money because of all the software that comes with it.
Even With Apple, Price Will Follow Value
"So I'll fit the growth curve to that, which means taking into account analyst estimates for 34% growth in the current quarter (I'll put that as my full year-one growth even though growth estimates for the next quarter are 18.5%)"
Try 54%. The problem with your model is that you are always significantly below what Apple's true growth will be. I can give credit to those who deserve it. But your numbers are so far off that you simply don't deserve the credit. It simply proves that you don't understand the growth Apple is experiencing and that, like you said, Apple was a victim of sector rotation and the general pull-down of the market.
AmTech Expects Apple To Meet Or Beat In Report Monday
Only 10% YOY growth for Q1 08? Come on Wu. Apple has averaged 70%+ for the past year. Once again, Wu will have to up his estimate in January. And he'll still be way short as usual.