Apple could gain from accounting change

Article Excerpt

APPLE INC. $186 (Nasdaq symbol AAPL; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 895.8 million; Market cap: $166.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.8; WSSF Rating: Average) requires iPhone buyers to enter a two-year service contract. Because it offers users free software updates, accounting rules force Apple to spread the value and costs of these sales over two years. This rule has no effect on Apple’s cash flow. A proposed change would let Apple recognize more revenue and profit from the iPhone at the time of sale. It’s a cosmetic change, but it could balloon Apple’s earnings and cut its p/e ratio. Many investors have avoided Apple because it trades at a high 32 times earnings, so a lower p/e could attract new buyers. Apple is a buy. buy…