Stocks: (AAPL)(MOT)(NOK)(DELL)(HPQ)
Investors who are fans of Apple’s stock are beginning to wonder what the company’s next act will be. While iPod sales are still strong, the product has been around for five years.
The primary concerns is that Apple has sold 70 million iPods, and with a footprint this big, year over year comparisons will inevitably slow Mac sales have improved, since they are only half of Apple’s sales they may not be able to to make up for any slowdown in the iPod. Mac sales are slowing, but companies like Dell and HP will do whatever they can to keep Apple’s share from damaging their sales.
Prudential says that music player sales will slow to a 10% growth rate withing four years.
Apple has an IPTV device that will connect PCs to TVs. This may be out next year. Apple may also go into the cellphone market, but that puts it up against companies like Nokia and Motorola which have huge head starts
Apple owes some of its success with the iPod to a "first mover" advantage. It does not have that with phones and computers.
And, at $88, the stock is no longer cheap.
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