Apple Inc An Analysis

Seminar paper from the year 2011 in the subject Business economics - Operations Research, grade: 2,0, Berlin School of Economics and Law (Lord Ashcroft Institute of Management), course: MBA Seminar, language: English, abstract: The story of Apple Inc. started in 1976 and has been characterized by a long line of successes, especially in recent times. However, the news that Apple’s Managing Director Steve Jobs has had to resign caused Apple stocks to drop by 5% (down from $400), which shows how great an impact cofounder Steve Jobs had on the company and its destiny. Nonetheless, Apple continues to be the world’s most valuable company. 1 Apple Inc. is an American multinational company which provides personal computers, software and especially consumer electronics. Today, the company has 49,400 employees worldwide and managed to increase annual sales to $65.23 billion in 2010.2 Apple’s winning mixture of extraordinary products, great style and design, grand strategy, innovative marketing, and inviting communications is basis of this paper’s analysis. Apple owes its overwhelming success in the last years to the iPhone, iPod and iTunes product combination.3 Apple’s success is inextricably linked to Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs has been the great mind behind the company and one of the cofounders who turned Apple in one of the most innovative and successful companies. [...] 1 http://www.macnews.de/newsticker/steve-jobs-rucktritt-apples-aktienkurs-bricht-ein-239783 2 http://phx.corporateir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9Njc1MzN8Q2hpbGRJRD0tMXxUeXBlPTM=&t=1 3 www.apple.com

Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2012 in the subject Business economics - Offline Marketing and Online Marketing, grade: A, University of Kent, course: Masters of Business Administration, language: English, abstract: This paper looks at Apple Inc., which primarily operates in U.S. and involves in development, design, and marketing of computers, portable digital music players, and media devices. It evaluates the macro environment in which Apple Inc. is operating with the help of the PESTLE analysis. Next, it studies the strength and competitive positions of Apple Inc with the help of Porter’s five forces analysis. Later, a SWOT analysis is conducted to understand the micro environment of Apple Inc. Finally, Comprehensive analyses of financial ratios and share performance are conducted to understand the financial condition and the stock performance of Apple Inc.

Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2013 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: A+, Webster University, course: BUSN 6120-2R, language: English, abstract: When reflecting on technology, and the progress that we have made in the last ten years, it is hard to imagine where we would be today without it. We as a society have integrated technology into our lives every single day. A large part of this is due to the ability to connect to the world with our fingertips whenever and wherever we may be. Whether we are surfing the web, listening to music, face timing with our friends and or loved ones, or simply checking in on our social networks. Technology has become a norm and a hygiene factor of our society that most of us could not live without. Apple Inc. and its former CEO, Steve Jobs deserve a substantial amount of credit for these changes. They have led the way in innovation, user friendliness, and ascetically pleasing products that many have tried to contend with and have had no success. Apple Inc. has created a brand so powerful, that their products themselves have become fashionable and almost a never-ending trend. Their brand loyalty is so deep that consumers will stand in lines for not hours but, days awaiting the release of the newest product, even if the changes that are made to it are minimal. They are the first and only company to create a line of products that seamlessly integrate together, and are accessible anywhere with a cellphone signal. However, many question the company’s viability due to the recent passing of former CEO Steve Jobs. Will Apple Inc. be able to continue in its predecessor’s footsteps? Or will Apple Inc. dwindle away like last years fashion trend? This paper will examine Apple Inc. using a SWOT Analysis, and will bring to light Apple Inc. areas of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Seminar paper from the year 2011 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: 2,1, Berlin School of Economics and Law (IMB), course: MBA Seminar, language: English, abstract: The story of Apple Inc. started in 1976 and is a quite successful one. The chief character Steve Jobs just recently resigned as Managing Director of this multinational company. These most recent news caused the apple stocks to drop which shows how much impact the cofounder Steve Jobs has on the company and its destiny. Apple Inc. is an American multinational company, which provides personal computers, software and especially consumer electronics. Nowadays this company hired 49 400 employees worldwide.1 Additionally towards the end of the year 2010 the worldwide annual sales equal $65.23 billion1. Apple Inc. has been so successful in these last decades thanks to its fresh, imaginative way to contemplate and do its business. This winning mixture of extraordinary products, great style and design, grand strategy, innovative marketing, inviting communications is basis of this papers analysis. Apple owes its overwhelming victory in the last years to the IPhone and to the smart IPod and ITunes product combination. In the 5 years between 2003 and 2008 the Apple share value increased 25 times, from $7.5 to $180 per share. In July 2008 prices, before the US Financial Crisis, Apple stock market capitalization was $160 billion. In January 2010 Apple shares topped the $210 mark. Just recently Apple was found to be the most valuable company of the world with share prizes of $373. This simple number shows the immense success apple achieved during the past years. 2 [...] 1 http://phx.corporateir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9Njc1MzN8Q2hpbGRJRD0tMXxUeXBlPTM=&t=1 2 http://flatworldbusiness.wordpress.com/flat-education/intensify/case-apple-inc/

Seminar paper from the year 2013 in the subject Business economics - Operations Research, grade: B, Monash University Melbourne, language: English, abstract: Value chain analysis goes a long way in the categorization of the value adding activities in an organization. This aspect is important with the fact that, firms now increasingly look towards the development of their Sustainable Competitive Advantage based on the value addition to the company’s output at each level of the company (Kaplinsky & Morris, 2001). As the value chain, as explained later in this paper, encompasses the entire organization- classified as the inputs for the primary and secondary activities, the proper analysis of the same is very crucial to the overall development of the organization and its long term sustainability in this competitive world. The analysis of the value chain of the Apple Inc. showed a very critical aspect in the manufacturing and production sector of the company. This is due to the fact that Apple Inc. does not have any manufacturing facilities to produce the hardware for its products. They, instead rely on the outsourcing of the manufacturing to Chinese corporations. This can be very detrimental to the company in the long run. Another aspect that could be improved is the Human resource aspect that makes a part of the support activity of the value chain. Our recommendations would include to build manufacturing units to buffet the firm from external influences, to make changes in the technology aspect by making the operating system open sourced and to have more robust human resource policies to make it very employee friendly.

Seminar paper from the year 2013 in the subject Business economics - Operations Research, grade: B, University of Canberra, language: English, abstract: Apple Inc. has been into the electronics business since some decades in the industry. It had built its place in the markets, all over the world through its dynamic strategies that focused on quality and innovation. Apple Inc. has made progress from being a loss making company to being the biggest company in the electronics industry with incredibly high revenues and profit margins. The assignment is going to be based upon Apple Inc.'s case study and its journey as a whole to becoming a successful company. It will highlight the strategies adopted by the company, their adoption of the environmental changes and how it used these dynamics for its own benefits. Apple Inc.'s vision, mission and beliefs as an organization, the company's strengths and weaknesses have been highlighted in the following assignment. Also discussed in the assignment are the changing business and competitive environment and its impact on the company, the challenges it faces in such an environment and, the strategies it adopts to excel in this field. The structures that the company follows, the systems on which it is based on and other operational efficiencies, all play a major role in the Apple growth story. The company is known for innovation and quality. In spite of the premium prices, the company has almost a maximum market share to it and continues to grow up the success ladder with its ever evolving product line which is a mixture of quality, innovation and highly detailed mechanics. Apple continues to not only survive, but excels in the electronics market which, is becoming more and more competitive by the day.

Apple Incorporated is one of the most sought-after stocks in the world. The company's legendary founder, Steve Jobs, is world renowned. Apple Inc. continues to innovate and disrupt its industry under the current leadership of Tim Cook. These circumstances have resulted in the organization becoming an industry leader. For some investors, these circumstances alone, is justification for investing in a company. However, most people prefer to have an in-depth understanding of the company's main financial statements and financial ratios. By understanding the company's financial statements and financial ratios, investors may be better informed before making an investment decision. In this book, we include a review of Apple's last 5 years of financial statements, specifically, the income statement and balance sheet. I mean a line-by-line review. Further, we calculate, define and discuss numerous financial ratios, covering a 5 year time frame, for the company.This book is meant for investors and business students. In our financial statement review, I start off with defining each line commonly included in an income statement and balance sheet. Next, I walk you through analyzing the financial statements, using Apple Inc. summarized financial statements as a guide. Once this is complete, we then discuss financial ratios.The financial ratio section is structured so you can quickly understand the ratio and see how they are applied to Apple. For each financial ratio, I first define the ratio in simple terms. In other words, you will actually be able to understand what the ratio means. Next, I supply you with the formula used to calculate Apple's various financial ratios, for the last five years. I do all the heavy Excel calculations for you. Finally, I analyze the ratio using historical trends. In the end, a thorough understand of the ratios should be achieved.

Seminar paper from the year 2011 in the subject Business economics - Offline Marketing and Online Marketing, grade: A, King`s College London, language: English, abstract: This place is responsible for designing, developing and sells technological products which include phones, pcs and applications. Its best-known hardware products: Mac PCs, iPods, iPhones, iPads and Apple TVs. Its customer application includes the OS X and iOS operating-system, iTunes, safari web browser, and the iLife and iWork creativity and productivity packages. Apple was established by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Whyne on Apr 1, 1976 to develop and sell pcs. It was incorporated as Apple computers Inc. on Jan 3, 1977, and was relabelled as Apple Inc. on Jan 9, 2007 to reflect its shifted focus towards technology. (Apple, n.d.) Apple is the second-largest technology organization by revenue after Samsung Electronic devices, and the third-largest cell phone maker after Samsung and Htc. Fortune magazine named Apple the most popular organization in the United States in 2008, and in the world from 2008 to 2012.On Sept 30, 2013, Apple organization exceeded Coca-Cola to become the most valuable brand in the Omnicom Group's "Best Global Brands" report. The organization has also received the critique for its contractors' labour methods and also for Apple's own environmental and business methods. (Apple, n.d.) Apple is known for its creative genius and cutting edge work in the field of technology. Apple provides state of the art products which makes it very difficult for its customers to switch over other brands. Highly personalized and smooth functioning products. Since last decade, Apple has launched revolutionary products which have changed the way technology industry functions. Apple has revolutionized smartphone market with iPhone, music players market with different versions of iPods, amazing Mac series and iTunes.