Brian Marshall, Gleacher & Co. analyst, “has flashed out his thoughts with the unthinkable: ‘[Apple COO] Tim Cook’s third time at the helm might be permanent.’ Marshall notes that, ‘The last time this happened (six-month period starting in January, 2009), we used that weakness in the stock as an opportunity to get constructive and upgraded Apple to a Buy at approximately $80. However we believe there are significant differences this time around,’ namely Apple’s not a hidden gem now, there are ‘marginal incremental buyers’” of the stock, and Jobs used the word ‘hope.’ As a result, Marshall suggests ‘We expect [Cook] will become the full-time CEO of Apple this year with Jobs hopefully serving as a senior advisor.’ Marshall says he would ‘get aggressive’ on the stock at $300. But he also reiterates a Buy rating on the stock and a $355 price target,” Tiernan Ray reports for Barron’s.
JP Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz, “suggests Jobs will bounce back. ‘While not knowing the details behind the current medical leave, we point out that Mr. Jobs has demonstrated a great resolve to improve his health previously, emboldened by the attitude and philosophy that helped him lead.’ Apple has been without rival in large cap growth in tech over the past decade, even with Cook at the helm, and Moskowitz expects much of the same this time around,” Ray reports. “Ben Reitzes, Barclays Capital: Reiterates an Overweight rating and $420 price target. ‘Apple’s succession plan is obvious to us – Tim Cook is a proven executive who can handle the pressure and knows how to run the inner workings of Apple in Steve’s shadow. We believe Apple is in capable hands.’ Fundamentals for Apple ‘obviously remain very strong.'”
Read more in the full article here.
It’s constantly amazed me how many analysts think all of Apple’s success rests solely on the shoulders of Steve Jobs. Visionary, yes. But he didn’t do all this in a vacuum.
I love how Analyst get paid for guessing. LOL
Again, Steve, we’re with you! We wish you the best.
Exactly right, boulderfrog.
Apple will thrive by applying the following to every software interface design and prototype device from now until the end of time:
“Would Steve think this is good?”
Perhaps the decision-makers won’t have the same instincts, vision or taste, but I don’t see any cheap, hurried or inelegant crap coming out of Cupertino — ever.
And I can’t say that about any other company.
Jobs used the words “hope” and “soon.” Doesn’t mean “hopeless” and “never.”
Man, I wish I had thei job…
Maybe the mantra should be, “What would Steve do?” And all will be right in the world.
I think this would be a very smart move, and I recall many others posting to MDN have said the same thing. Let Steve give Tim Cook the CEO hat, and Steve take on the “Chief Technology Officer” hat or something like that. He still makes major decisions/input, but let the day-to-day stuff burden someone else.
Steve Jobs may not have got Apple to produce wonderful products by himself. However, most of Apple’s greatness can be tied to Steve Jobs’ direct influence. Other companies who don’t have Steve Jobs aren’t producing products as great as Apple. Without Steve Jobs, In fact it can be argued that much of today’s tech can be a result of Apple’s innovation under Steve Jobs. Apple did poorly in the 1990’s without Steve Jobs. I think Steve Jobs is the magic behind Apple’s success. I certainly hope for the best with Apple going forward without Steve Jobs. I love programming on OS X and using their products like the iPhone with FaceTime. New leaders in Apple have much promise, just like newly elected officials did with all their campaign promises. I just am prepared for the idea that new leaders will take every possible step to ruin the company like our politicians do. Apple was Camelot under Steve Jobs. Magical, a dream, almost unreal, and likely never to exist again.
Yeah, and analysts said that Apple would be lucky to sell a million iPads in 2010. Analysts said that the Apple Stores would be a tremendous failure. Analysts said that the iPhone would be a flop because of its lack of a physical keyboard. Do I need to go on?
There is a large group who have been groomed for years to take over the helm at Apple, who reportedly have been taking on more and more of the burden.
One can only hope that, when the era of Steve Jobs is sadly past, the barbarians who would feast on this fatted calf are held at bay, and that Apple’s own immune system will protect it from contracting sculleyosis or fiorenal failure.
Wonder what Apple will “Cook” up?! – Wah, Wah, Wahhhh!
(drum rip, a smattering of hand claps & poorly enthused laugh track plays now)
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“flashed out his thoughts”
Really? He revealed them briefly, then hid them again? Perhaps “he fleshed out his thoughts” is what was meant? Then again, that is pretty awkward.
Are these large news organizations so deeply in trouble that they cannot afford to keep editors on staff?
Hey Steve J. We all here are Praying 4u to have a Speedy Recovery.
W.T. Effyall got it right by calling Apple a fatted calf with its immune system and barbarians as worries. It’s downhill from here as pressures will lead to short-sighted decisions that will make the few richer and make Apple products less secure, less useful, less innovative and less desirable. I have little confidence in people making decisions for a better world.
Gleacher & Co. ranked 19th out of 41 entities making predictions on Apples 1Q metrics, off almost twice as much as the average “non-analyst” pundit.
Forgive me if I’m not ready for embrace Mr. Marshall’s expertise on this matter – or anything pertaining to Apple, really.