Barron’s Says Apple is America’s Most Respected Company – I Beg to Differ

Barron’s, one of my favorite weekly reads, published the results of a survey this weekend that showed Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) as America’s most respected company. With all due respect to the publishers of this great investors’ tool, I beg to differ. Barron’s says that what matters most is that the company display strong management; that it practice ethical business; it should have a sound business strategy; display a competitive edge and show product innovation. I think we can make a critical argument against each of these factors in Apple’s case. Finally, I think that what investors report to Barron’s is not being backed up by real investment dollars in many cases, based on my interpretation of the one true measure of investor respect, valuation. With all that being said, Apple still tops my list among stocks to own today. That is because I believe it dropped the ball in years past and is a value today because of it ahead of what I hope will be one of the big new value-added developments I have long been waiting for. For more, see Barron’s Rated Apple as America’s Most Respected Company – I Beg to Differ. The top five companies included Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B), Boeing (NYSE: BA), Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) (Nasdaq: GOOGL) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ).

If Apple Soars is Google Out the Door?

1-Year Chart Comparison of GOOGL & AAPL at Yahoo

It’s a legitimate question to ask. Might Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) shares fall if Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) shares rise in coming months? Some will say that even if it occurred, it would be coincidental, because the paths of the two stocks are mutually exclusive. But are they?

The one-year chart comparison of the performances of Google (Nasdaq: GOOGL) and Apple (AAPL) shows rising shares and positive returns across the board. However, you will note that the most recent history seems to portray at least a divergence if not negative correlation between the two. There are other than operational reasons why that might be, and we get into those in our report Why Google Could Fall if Apple Rises.

The Bloody World Cup Runneth Over

Just as it seemed the way was cleared for stocks and blocked for gold with the overcoming of several obstacles that obstructed the first half of the year’s performance, the World Cup hath begun. Unfortunately, I’m not speaking about the futbol event that is currently dominating the attention of the world over. Rather, I’m speaking of the world cup that runneth over with blood. Geopolitical chaos has resurfaced where most thought it had settled, and it has sprung up anew in places long thought won by civilization. And so, while I believe stocks may still have an upward path short-term depending on what unfolds, my view on gold diverges. The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD) has strong support now to hold current ground, and is poised to take more, because of the uncertainties and developments with Russia and in Iraq. For all the gory details see The World Cup Runneth Over with Blood – So Make Your Cup Golden.

Apple’s Playbook (AAPL)

In my reporting on Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) over the years, I believe I’ve been an early voice exposing catalysts or the absence of catalysts behind the stock’s movement, or rather lack of upside movement. It has sometimes taken awhile for the company to find the route I have laid out for it in my articles. Eventually, though it seems the message gets through, judging by the actions that eventually follow through. Or, more likely, at the insistence of activist investors, Apple is finally actively seeking to correct its valuation issue. The stock has been deeply discounted to the value of peers like Google (Nasdaq: GOOGL, Nasdaq: GOOG), Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) and others for too long now. Whatever the case, Apple is clearly and finally seeking to add value by means other than operational. However, what comes next is likely going to be an operational catalyst. If it’s not, then another of my articles may prove prescient, and it’s one that would definitely drive change at Apple. The good news is that I don’t see that happening, and I do see Apple finally rising to new heights. For all the sexy details on how this will be, see Apple’s Playbook Revealed. to new heights. For all the sexy details on how this will be, see Apple’s Playbook Revealed.