Apple has rarely issued press releases trumpeting new acquisitions since the landmark 1997 deal for NeXT that brought Steve Jobs back into the fold, and the company's now-massive size could help it continue its silence even with a rumored $3.2 billion deal for Beats Electronics.
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who is known to use his substantial clout to steer public companies' financial policies, recently boosted his stake in Apple by 2.8 million shares worth nearly $1.65 billion.
On May 15, Apple will pay "shareholders of record" the company's new higher quarterly dividend of $3.29 per share, but investors need to have purchased the company's stock by the market's close on Wednesday in order to qualify.
Apple suppliers had a particularly strong month of April, suggesting that shipments to the iPhone maker may have been stronger than their traditional seasonal average as the company ramps up for new product introductions, new data shows.
Recent gains by Apple's stock have pushed its share price past some Wall Street analysts' price targets, leaving their forecasts underwater, while others could be next if the upward trend continues.
Riding high on a strong March quarter and the announcement of an expanded capital reinvestment program, shares of Apple closed above $600 on Monday afternoon, setting a new 52-week high for the company.
Sales throughout Apple's vaunted retail empire have begun to decline as the company's distribution network widens and the product line matures, according to a new report, though the outlets remain massively profitable and serve as a "magnet" for new Mac buyers.
With shares of Apple stock continuing to gain value, RBC Capital Markets has been prompted to raise its price target on the iPhone maker for the second time in as many weeks.
Apple fueled excitement among investors on the U.S. bond market this week, when the company brought forward a highly sought after seven-part bond offering valued at $12 billion to help fund its share repurchase plans.
After announcing its 7-1 stock split, Apple also outlined why it did so, answering in advance the oft-raised question with a simple answer: "We want Apple stock to be more accessible to a larger number of investors."
Apple's stock has skyrocketed since last week's March quarter earnings report, in which the company excited investors with strong iPhone sales, a higher quarterly dividend, a larger share buyback program, and an upcoming 7-for-1 stock split [updated].
A year after it turned to the bond markets to fund its capital repurchase program, Apple is planning to do the same yet again, with a sale price that would reportedly be the second highest in corporate history.
Apple's capital return program, focused on buying back stock, does appear to have had a favorable impact on Apple's share price. After spending $44 billion on stock buybacks over the past four quarters, Apple's stock has risen 29.2 percent or $129.28, a contribution that moved the company's market cap from $392 billion a year ago to $492 billion today, even as the company removed 80 million shares from circulation.
During its fiscal Q2 ending in March, Apple spent $18 billion to buy up its own stock off the market. More than three quarters of that total was used to snatch up discounted stock after investors panicked following Apple's Q1 earnings announcement in January.
Apple's second-quarter earnings report was packed with surprises that delighted investors on Wall Street, prompting some analysts to respond by raising their price targets for the iPhone maker's stock.
During Apple's quarterly earnings conference call, chief executive Tim Cook said he looked forward to welcoming Angela Ahrendts as the company's new retail and online leader next week, while offering public thanks to outgoing chief financial officer Peter Oppenheimer.
During its quarterly conference call for the second quarter of 2014 on Wednesday, Apple announced huge growth for its iPhone lineup, while iPad sales were
Apple surprised the market on Wednesday by not only beating expectations for its second fiscal quarter of 2014, but also announcing a 7-for-1 stock split, increased share buybacks, and a a higher quarterly dividend. Following the announcements, executives from the company participated in a conference call with analysts and the media, and notes of interest follow.
Apple on Wednesday released its quarterly earnings for the second quarter of 2014, announcing a seven-for-one stock split coming in June, as well as a boost to share buybacks now capped at $90 billion.
Apple on Wednesday exceeded market expectations for its second quarter of fiscal 2014, posting $45.6 billion in revenue and quarterly net profit of $10.2 billion, or $11.62 per diluted share.
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AppleInsider Staff
Mikey Campbell
Daniel Eran Dilger
Neil Hughes
