Despite setback, Apple still has appeal

Article Excerpt

APPLE INC. $451 (Nasdaq symbol AAPL; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 939.1 million; Market cap: $423.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.6; Dividend yield: 2.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.apple.com) is down 36% from its all-time high of $705.07 in September 2012. Thanks to the huge success of the iPhone and iPad, as well as the star power of the late Steve Jobs, Apple’s co-founder and CEO, the company became a media and broker favourite. However, increasing competition from devices powered by Google’s Android software have hurt Apple’s appeal. The company still has a loyal customer base and will probably use some of its $137.1 billion in cash and investments to increase is dividend and buy back shares. Even so, the stock will continue to have trouble living up to investors’high expectations. Apple is still a hold. hold…