In an interview with The Wall Street Journal following the release of Apple's financial results for the most recent quarter, CEO Tim Cook stated that the company's stock was "undervalued" and that the expansion of the share buyback program "shows how much confidence [Apple] has in the future of the company."
Apple announced an increase of its capital return program to $130 billion, from an announced $100 billion last year, with the company expecting to complete the program by the end of 2015. Apple will take on additional debt both domestically and internationally to finance the program.
The company will also institute a 7-for-1 stock split in June, with shareholders of record on June 2 receiving an additional six shares of stock for each share they own on June 9, and a dramatic reduction in the price of each share to match. Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the company was undertaking the split to make it easier for all potential shareholders to afford to invest in the company.
Apple's board approved an 8% increase in the company's quarterly cash dividend, up to $3.29 from $3.05, and Cook said the company anticipates annual increases in the dividend going forward.
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No! He caved! The stock buyback is a bad idea, I think. The drop in price has resulted purely from Apple's recent failures, probably blamable on Tim Cook (but we don't really know). Quality control has really been lackluster all of a sudden. It would be a waste of money to try making up for that by buying back shares.
If you ask me, something stable and dividend-rich like those S&P500 ETFs are the way to go at this point. As a longtime fan of Apple, I'm beginning to lose hope in them now. Maybe Apple can't do it without Jobs.
First, I'd like to say that I personally enjoyed listening to the Q2 earnings call today. It's always interesting to get a little insight into such an amazing company while being 'around the virtual meeting table'.
As far as stock value goes, I'd say it's definitely undervalued right now and Tim Cook knows it for certain. You can bet Tim and the guys at Apple know something that we don't; that Steve left a product map with tons of great ideas that are a) in the final stages of development, b) will be under development soon or c) will gain 'in development' status once technology catches up to the ideas outlined in the product maps. Steve left Jony Ive in charge of the product design part of the company and knew it would be in the best hands he could possibly leave it in. He often said that he and Jony thought very much alike. He also left Tim Cook to oversee the whole operation knowing he could count on Tim to, unlike Gil Amelio, keep 'the ship pointed in the right direction'. Tim proved worthy while Jobs was on medical leave several times and Steve had a lot of faith in his abilities. In fact, it could be argued that Steve's greatest legacy is not necessarily the products he created while he was with us but actually Apple, the company itself, and the collection of people that now see to its day-to-day operations. What he left behind was a group of amazing people, some wonderful product ideas, and a war chest of cash for them all to finish bringing these ideas to fruition and to fight off the copycats that would surely try to pilfer product ideas in the future. Tim is a patient, yet determined and steadfast leader... and Steve knew that's what Apple needed at the top once he was gone.
Also remember, Steve was a forward thinker. He only kept those around him that were also forward thinkers. I bet, together, he and the others discussed and mapped some wonderful product ideas that have yet to even be remotely realized. Yet. It'll take years of technology advancement and development for some of these ideas to be realized. It will take time. But, as always with Apple, the products will speak for themselves. They always do.
Brace yourselves. I think 2014 is going to be one of those ground-breaking :apple: product years!