Why Public Companies Should Have Public Tax Returns [View article]
Bad idea. Why stop there? Why not all personal income taxes. Your conclusion results when you start from the premise that the government is entitled to all. Personal freedoms are still important. Our corporate tax code is an abomination and a job killer. If democrats got what they wanted (much higher tax receipts from corporations) you would have fewer jobs created in US and more companies going completely offshore. Many multinationals do a minority of their business in the US. If forced to pay taxes on worldwide income they would just leave.
Rubbish. What you mean to say is that envious greedy persons would like it better if the law took more from successful businessmen like Mr. Romney. His actions did not violate the letter or spirit of the law.
From what I learned about Mr. Romney he rendered great service to others in his church and community. He worked and saved the Salt Lake City Olympics for no remuneration. He did all this while succeeding in the business world. To denigrate him made a poor article actually offensive. You owe him an apology.
For you to pass moral judgment on him is beyond the pale.
I'm an apple shareholder but not an activist (I don't actually even read and sign a proxy). However, count me among those cheering their latest move. There's not unanimity among Apple shareholders on the move but I bet most like the move. That is the only constituency Apple should care about. They certainly shouldn't give a hang what a bunch of self-appointed moralists think or say.
High US corporate taxes hurt out ability to attract the next plants and fabs. If they have to build another Foxconn plant they will use the foreign cash reserves.
A lot of smart execs (all the CEOs of successful drug, biotech and tech companies) tend to hold a lot of cash overseas. It's like our tax policies were written by the Irish, Chinese and Puerto Ricans who get a lot of the good jobs we chase away.
I agree with you that they should take shareholder friendly actions like dividend increases and share buybacks. I disagree on paying the tax. Apple has good company with most successful multinational companies holding more cash overseas. That is the direct result of the wrongheaded tax policy that attempts to tax worldwide income for entities headquartered in the U.S. Apple and other multinationals can afford to take the long view and wait for political change. I back management's current decision to park the money overseas.
If Obama were smart, he'd get on with his legacy building. He needs a strong recovery. A lower repatriation tax would both raise a lot of revenue in the short run and set off a wave of investment that would kick start the job market. He's not smart enough to do that however.
How Apple Can Generate A Decent Return On Its Cash [View article]
Thanks for your comment. I like this idea the best. Even some significantly out of the money puts on Apple have nice premiums. I'm sure if the market got used to this activity the put premiums would probably drop.
Large size of cash stash may make it impractical to write against more than a small part of the cash horde. Still it would allow you to boost the return on the cash significantly. Worse case is you retire shares at a lower price.
With Apple, What A Difference A Week Makes [View article]
You're engaging in overstatement. Do you see Apple falling to $100? When it has $145 per share in cash and the cash balance is growing by over $15 per share per quarter? I say there are plenty of things preventing Apple shares from falling below the numbers you cited.
Apple iPhone 5: What Are The Implications From AT&T And Verizon? [View article]
Paulo,
I appreciated your thoughts on estimating iphone volumes and extrapolating from T and VZ sales.
I'd like to know how margins are impacted by the change in the mix from high end to older models becoming more prominent. I would have expected that in emerging markets but am a little surprised to see it in the US. I suspect the margins on the older models is still significant.
So many facts, so much noise. Still, the positives overseas with more retail and better China penetration make for a big upside. I've stayed long since buying at $370 though I took profits on half my position once and then bought back in later at a much lower price.
I still reflect on what Peter Lynch taught about not getting caught up in investment details but investing in what you know and experience. I know from personal experience that Apple makes the best products. I love the iphone and ipad. I've played with alternatives and think they are crap.
It will probably fall negative $60 (or go up $60) initially with more to follow if the pattern described holds.
I don't know but I doubt if there is much of a correlation between Apple profit reports and Amazon movements. They only compete in one area (tablets) and that's not much of a competition. I doubt one could find a statistically significant correlation there.
What are the chances Macro Investor comes up with a scary Apple scenario after Apple posts great numbers? What are the chances that Macro Investor says "I've seen the light and I'm going long Apple?"
I agree. Take the article for what it is--an interesting statistical view. Thanks to the author for wading through the stats. Criticism should be limited to mistakes in calculation or methodology (which most are probably not qualified to make). I appreciate articles that offer a new perspective.
Why not catch the updraft before you short the rally? Shorting Apple's rallies the last few years probably would have resulted in big losses unless one is the most nimble of traders and always got out of his short positions at the precise moment.
I'm sure there are a few short traders who have made money in Apple the last six months. I bet there aren't any who have been in that business over the last six years that have made any money.
A Cheaper iPhone Would Confirm A Lack Of Innovation And Declining Margins At Apple [View article]
Spence,
Your comment seems so internally consistent. You're a long time AAPL owner and you feel there's no shareholder support from management? If you're a long time holder you have received a lot of support to your bottom line from Apple shares. Steve Jobs never went out and talked up the stock--single minded focus on products led to eventual mind blowing returns on the stock.
Cook and the current apple management team have the same focus. As it should be. When they start pimping the stock everyday is the day I sell.
I can't tell you how many times Jim Cramer had Chesapeake's Aubrey McClendon on his show pimping Chesapeake stock over the last few years--all while the stock cratered. Fixation on what the market is doing to your company is to me a sign of weakness.
You will regret selling. How long have you been investing?
A Cheaper iPhone Would Confirm A Lack Of Innovation And Declining Margins At Apple [View article]
Apple made many interations of the Ipod, many of cheaper than top line models. They milked that product line for years? Why not try to offer a slight variant of existing products to a new mass market? The analogy to the BMW lines is apt.
How can you say they have nowhere to go but the cheap seats? Iphone users still report the highest satisfaction levels of all phone users (notwithstanding protestations from some android users that their phones are better). All consumer surveys I have sen also indicate that iphone users are far more likely to seek new iterations of iphone than android users are to seek new android models.
On other product lines (desktops, laptops) apple also has a broad product offering. Why is that people are now making a big deal of line extensions in ipads and iphones? The central premise of your article is silly.
Why Apple Should Announce A $100 Billion Stock Buyback [View article]
Don't know if 100b is the right number but I would like to see an annual reduction in float and an increase in dividend. Cook ill keep enough money around for all new initiatives.
Why Public Companies Should Have Public Tax Returns [View article]
Shame On You, Apple [View article]
From what I learned about Mr. Romney he rendered great service to others in his church and community. He worked and saved the Salt Lake City Olympics for no remuneration. He did all this while succeeding in the business world. To denigrate him made a poor article actually offensive. You owe him an apology.
For you to pass moral judgment on him is beyond the pale.
I'm an apple shareholder but not an activist (I don't actually even read and sign a proxy). However, count me among those cheering their latest move. There's not unanimity among Apple shareholders on the move but I bet most like the move. That is the only constituency Apple should care about. They certainly shouldn't give a hang what a bunch of self-appointed moralists think or say.
Apple Should Pay Its Tax Bill [View article]
Apple Should Pay Its Tax Bill [View article]
A lot of smart execs (all the CEOs of successful drug, biotech and tech companies) tend to hold a lot of cash overseas. It's like our tax policies were written by the Irish, Chinese and Puerto Ricans who get a lot of the good jobs we chase away.
Apple Should Pay Its Tax Bill [View article]
If Obama were smart, he'd get on with his legacy building. He needs a strong recovery. A lower repatriation tax would both raise a lot of revenue in the short run and set off a wave of investment that would kick start the job market. He's not smart enough to do that however.
Buffett Has The Solution For Apple [View article]
How Apple Can Generate A Decent Return On Its Cash [View article]
Large size of cash stash may make it impractical to write against more than a small part of the cash horde. Still it would allow you to boost the return on the cash significantly. Worse case is you retire shares at a lower price.
With Apple, What A Difference A Week Makes [View article]
Apple iPhone 5: What Are The Implications From AT&T And Verizon? [View article]
I appreciated your thoughts on estimating iphone volumes and extrapolating from T and VZ sales.
I'd like to know how margins are impacted by the change in the mix from high end to older models becoming more prominent. I would have expected that in emerging markets but am a little surprised to see it in the US. I suspect the margins on the older models is still significant.
So many facts, so much noise. Still, the positives overseas with more retail and better China penetration make for a big upside. I've stayed long since buying at $370 though I took profits on half my position once and then bought back in later at a much lower price.
I still reflect on what Peter Lynch taught about not getting caught up in investment details but investing in what you know and experience. I know from personal experience that Apple makes the best products. I love the iphone and ipad. I've played with alternatives and think they are crap.
Apple Blossoms In The Spring [View article]
I don't know but I doubt if there is much of a correlation between Apple profit reports and Amazon movements. They only compete in one area (tablets) and that's not much of a competition. I doubt one could find a statistically significant correlation there.
What are the chances Macro Investor comes up with a scary Apple scenario after Apple posts great numbers? What are the chances that Macro Investor says "I've seen the light and I'm going long Apple?"
Apple Blossoms In The Spring [View article]
Apple Blossoms In The Spring [View article]
I'm sure there are a few short traders who have made money in Apple the last six months. I bet there aren't any who have been in that business over the last six years that have made any money.
A Cheaper iPhone Would Confirm A Lack Of Innovation And Declining Margins At Apple [View article]
Your comment seems so internally consistent. You're a long time AAPL owner and you feel there's no shareholder support from management? If you're a long time holder you have received a lot of support to your bottom line from Apple shares. Steve Jobs never went out and talked up the stock--single minded focus on products led to eventual mind blowing returns on the stock.
Cook and the current apple management team have the same focus. As it should be. When they start pimping the stock everyday is the day I sell.
I can't tell you how many times Jim Cramer had Chesapeake's Aubrey McClendon on his show pimping Chesapeake stock over the last few years--all while the stock cratered. Fixation on what the market is doing to your company is to me a sign of weakness.
You will regret selling. How long have you been investing?
A Cheaper iPhone Would Confirm A Lack Of Innovation And Declining Margins At Apple [View article]
How can you say they have nowhere to go but the cheap seats? Iphone users still report the highest satisfaction levels of all phone users (notwithstanding protestations from some android users that their phones are better). All consumer surveys I have sen also indicate that iphone users are far more likely to seek new iterations of iphone than android users are to seek new android models.
On other product lines (desktops, laptops) apple also has a broad product offering. Why is that people are now making a big deal of line extensions in ipads and iphones? The central premise of your article is silly.
Why Apple Should Announce A $100 Billion Stock Buyback [View article]