'Lacking Demand': Apple Skids to One-Year Low

CNBC Yahoo ^ | April 17, 2013 | JeeYeon Park

[jwsea55]

Apple (AAPL) tumbled to its lowest level in over a year as investors continued to dump shares of the tech company amid worries over second-quarter iPad mini shipments.

The once-darling tech giant of Wall Street shed more than 3 percent Wednesday, falling to its lowest level since last January, following a report from DigiTimes that iPad mini shipments could fall 20 to 30 percent quarter-over-quarter to 10 to 12 million in the June quarter due to "lacking demand in the market."

"We continue to see risks to [Apple's] consensus estimates, primarily with respect to the June quarter," wrote Edward Parker of Lazard Capital Markets. "June should be the trough quarter ahead of multiple new product introductions into this summer and into fall."

[Mr. Jeeves]

To compare the iPhone with them was to literally destroy them. They weren’t even in the same universe.

The problem for Apple now is that the Samsung Galaxy phones are on the same level - maybe superior in some ways and inferior in others, but you aren't going to be missing anything significant if you choose Samsung over Apple.

Without Steve Jobs, the market is not confident Apple can make a new quantum leap and get way ahead of its top competitors. They had a massive first-mover advantage for several years - now they have to start competing on price like everybody else.

[DoughtyOne]

They’re not alone in that. And if someone wants to take them to task for that, then I’m all for it. I do get a bit weary of folks laughing at their stock status as if their products are lousy.

[DoughtyOne]

It’s true that the competition has made good strides toward reducing Apple’s advantage. I do know the iPhone iPad operating system is tight. I can’t speak to the others, but it’s certainly possible they’ve become tight as well.

Perhaps you know from experience, and if so I bow to your expertise on the matter.

In a healthy competitive atmosphere, I welcome strong competition. I do however think there is a weakness in our corporate investment system, where as large a profit as last year, isn’t good enough.

One of Apple’s employees loses an eye-lash, and the stock falls $50 bucks. That’s over simplified to be sure, but you know what I mean.

A healthy split between Apple and the other firms, leaves a lot of healthy for everyone to enjoy. I’m all for it.

Apple does deserve credit for defining the new telecommunications handset environment. I think that’s great.

Frankly, I’d like to see a 5-6 inch iPhone version also.

[Future Snake Eater]

I don’t own one, but I remember when they came out and nobody had even heard of Obama. That pretty much sinks the premise of your post.

[Swordmaker]

Good part of the Apple’s drive is Jobs embrace of Obama. If these two hadn’t been siamese twins, the iphone wouldn’t have been that much of a cult item.

And of course, Jobs didn’t drive Apple innovation so much as Woz.

You realize that Wozniak has not been involved with Apple for 25 years or more, don't you. . . and missed ALL of the growth of Apple from near bankruptcy to the largest corporation by market cap in the world. So your facts are completely wrong. Wozniak only had input on the Apple I and II.

[harpu]

I’m sorry but your POINT is?!?

[SengirV]

Does anyone really think that Apple’s stock would have tumbled this much if Steve Jobs were still alive and healthy!?!

I’m sorry but your POINT is?!?

My POINT was to show YOU that a much larger tumble had occurred under Steve Job's reign. In direct opposition to your claim that it could not have possibly happened had Steve still been alive. I would think that would have been obvious, but I guess not.

[harpu]

"My POINT was to show YOU that a much larger tumble had occurred under Steve Job's reign."

Yep, I understand BUT you failed to mention a couple of key points that had MUCH to do with Apple's stock drop back then.
...1) The NASDAQ dropped from 4131.15 (Jan'00) to 1950.40 (Dec'01), a more than 50% drop, and
...2) Apple stock split '2 for 1' in June 2000.

Facts that may not be important if you're an Apple/Jobs 'hater' but they are truly relevant facts if choosing to point out Apple stock performance during the Jobs era.

-30-

[SamAdams76]

This has to be the most utter collapse of a company I have ever seen. Another article stated that they only sold 4 million iPhones last quarter. Has anybody ever seen a performance worse that that? All those at Apple should hang their heads in shame at this abysmal performance. They should rend their clothing before going into the Starbucks this morning for their lattes so that we can see who they are and stay the heck away from them.