Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Apple Conference Call

apple.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

1–10 of 87 posts

Re: Apple Conference Call

#4

Post by rpledge »

cosjef wrote: post #2

Apple about to announce dividend program?

That's my guess. Or else they'll announce that they're starting a space program!

My understanding is that ably $66 billion is offshore. I really expected them to sit on the cash until the US government gave them some sort of tax amnesty

Re: Apple Conference Call

#5

Post by objclxt »

copious wrote: post #3
cosjef wrote: post #2

Apple about to announce dividend program?

I think they'd be more likely to buy back stock than to start granting dividends.

My two worthless cents: an acquisition. Who they'll acquire is anyone's guess...a carrier (probably not), a content provider (maybe), or something more technical (my insane guess: ARM).

Not that I know more than anyone else, but I don't feel Apple really paying a dividend out. They've never really seemed too beholden to shareholders in the past (well, the Steve Jobs past anyway), and I think they'd rather invest the cash in something that would benefit the business more. It's not as if the share price is in a bad place, after all!

Re: Apple Conference Call

#6

Post by blantonl »

copious wrote: post #3
cosjef wrote: post #2

Apple about to announce dividend program?

I think they'd be more likely to buy back stock than to start granting dividends.

let's hope not, because stock buy backs can be interpreted as a signal that management thinks tremendous earnings growth is behind the company.

Re: Apple Conference Call

#7

Post by pospischil »

blantonl wrote: post #6
copious wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think they'd be more likely to buy back stock than to start granting dividends.

let's hope not, because stock buy backs can be interpreted as a signal that management thinks tremendous earnings growth is behind the company.

Why?

I've read that they offer few benefits, but I've never heard this explanation. I also don't see how it makes sense for a company in their position?

Re: Apple Conference Call

#8

Post by malay »

objclxt wrote: post #5
copious wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think they'd be more likely to buy back stock than to start granting dividends.

My two worthless cents: an acquisition. Who they'll acquire is anyone's guess...a carrier (probably not), a content provider (maybe), or something more technical (my insane guess: ARM). Not that I know more than anyone else, but I don't feel Apple really paying a dividend out. They've never really seemed too beholden to shareholders in the past (well, the Steve Jobs past anyway), and I think they'd rather invest the…

Apple and Tim Cook have made it clear that they have more cash than what is required to run the business. Apple is spending billions on data infrastructure, manufacturing, pre-purchasing components and expanding retail operations; despite all these investments, they still have more cash than what they need.

They will likely generate another $50B in cash this calendar year. Even if they want to maintain the $100B war chest, they could pay out ~$50/share/year. I think a share repurchase or dividend (whatever they think will return more value to the shareholders) is highly likely.

Post reply on HN