Which Apple Suppliers Are Most at Risk From a Failed iPhone Launch?

By Trey Thoelcke Updated Jan 13, 12:21PM EST · Published Mar 4, 12:55PM EST

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Which Apple Suppliers Are Most at Risk From a Failed iPhone Launch? — © Wikimedia Commons

A quick look at Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) 2015 supplier list shows that the vast majority of its widely revered supply chain is based out of Asia. China, Japan, Taiwan and Vietnam all feature heavily on the list. There are a comparably small number of U.S.-based suppliers.

Location aside, there’s one thing the lion’s share of these companies have in common: they rely heavily on the success of Apple’s flagship products. A launch flop could quickly translate to some downside in the publicly traded elements of Apple’s supply chain, so with a rumored fresh iPhone launch slated for the end of March, here’s a look at those set to suffer the most if such a flop were to happen.

Sony

Under the leadership of CEO Kazuo Hirai, Sony Corp. (NYSE: SNE) has shifted its focus from consumer hardware producer to parts manufacturer. One of its leading departments, its imaging department specifically, produces the lens that Apple has used in its iPhones and iPads for the past three generations of gadgets.

In the newest models spurred by the growing trend of selfies, iPhones use two of Sony’s lenses. The Wall St Journal claims the company makes as much as $20 on each iPhone 6. With over 13 million of the devices sold on launch weekend alone, the payout for Sony on a successful launch quickly adds up. Of course, the downside is just as great if the launch flops.

Samsung

Many people aren’t aware of the fact that Samsung Electronics provides Apple with a large number of components for both its phone and tablet ranges. Yes, the two companies are fierce competitors in the sale to consumer side of the mobile market, but on the supply and manufacture side, they are very much partners.

Past reports suggested that Samsung provided Apple with as much as 40% of the processors Apple uses to make its iPhones, and more recent estimates put this figure at 75%. Whatever the figure, there’s no question Samsung is positioned to gain from a successful iPhone launch from a supplier perspective, at least, and just as with Sony, is equally exposed to a failure.
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Skyworks Solutions

A slightly less well-known, though still double-digit billion-dollar tech giant, is Skyworks Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: SWKS). The company supplies analog radio frequency (RF) chips to Apple, which Apple uses in all of its iPhone models. The benefit to Skyworks of being a member of the Apple supply chain becomes obvious from a quick glance at its valuation over the past five years. At this time in 2011, the company sold for a little over $30 a share. At its 2015 peak, Skyworks reached more than $110 a share — a more than 250% gain across the period.

It’s down 38% on these highs at present, likely as a response to a wider market drawdown, but the successful launch of a new iPhone and the orders from Apple this generates for Skyworks could be a major catalyst behind the reversal of this correction. If the device fails to attract consumer attention, of course, it could compound the current weakness and drive a further sell-off.

By Matt Winkler

About the Author Trey Thoelcke →

Trey has been an editor and author at 24/7 Wall St. for more than a decade, where he has published thousands of articles analyzing corporate earnings, dividend stocks, short interest, insider buying, private equity, and market trends. His comprehensive coverage spans the full spectrum of financial markets, from blue-chip stalwarts to emerging growth companies.

Beyond 24/7 Wall St., Trey has created and edited financial content for Benzinga and AOL's BloggingStocks, contributing additional hundreds of articles to the investment community. He previously oversaw the 24/7 Climate Insights site, managing editorial operations and content strategy, and currently oversees and creates content for My Investing News.

Trey's editorial expertise extends across multiple publishing environments. He served as production editor at Dearborn Financial Publishing and development editor at Kaplan, where he helped shape financial education materials. Earlier in his career, he worked as a writer-producer at SVE. His freelance editing portfolio includes work for prestigious clients such as Sage Publications, Rand McNally, the Institute for Supply Management, the American Library Association, Eggplant Literary Productions, and Spiegel.

Outside of financial journalism, Trey writes fiction and has been an active member of the writing community for years, overseeing a long-running critique group and moderating workshop sessions at regional conventions. He lives with his family in an old house in the Midwest.