Case Study : Apple Inc.

Based in Cupertino, California, Apple Inc. has become one of the titans of the technological industry in the 39 years since it was created in the spring of 1976. This growing company employees over 115,000 people and has 450 retail stores in 16 different countries. With an annual revenue of $233 billion in 2015 Apple Inc. is the most prosperous technological company in the world. Along with its many retail locations Apple also runs the online Apple Store making it a truly global brand. Over the years Apple has expanded their product line; in its infancy the company specialized in personal computers but more recently the main product line is phones and tablets. Apple’s other significant products include computer software and other consumer electronics (iPod, Apple Watch, and Apple computers).

Steven Jobs and Stephen Wosniak created Apple in 1976. The two young entrepreneurs probably would have never thought their company would be so successful. They first came out with a microcomputer, which was used mostly by hobbyists and had little success. It wasn’t until 1977 when Jobs and Wosniak introduced to the world the Apple 2 that they tasted any form

Apple Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, and portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, accessories, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications (Apple, 1). Apple Inc. is popular mainly due to its smartphones iPhone and laptops MacBook. According to article Best & Worst Laptop Brands 2015 by LAPTOP editors, Apple Inc. products are to be the best among the top companies in the same industry (Best & Worst). However, there are questions asked between investors if it is profitable to invest in Apple Inc. or other company. We are going to compare the performance of Apple Inc. with Hewlett-Packard Co., which is a company mainly offering personal computers, access devices, imaging- and printing-related products and services (Hewlett-Packard, 3). Hewlett-Packard Co. seems to be on the third place among the companies in the industry (Best & Worst). Therefore, to have better understanding of each company’s performance, we are going to analyze income statement and balance sheet of each company by using horizontal and vertical analysis. In addition, we are going to look at the ratios to see which company would have better return on investment.

This paper is a business situation analysis of Apple, Inc. Apple a market leader in the consumer computer industry with products including desktop, laptop, and handheld computers, as well phones, media streaming, and now watches. A multinational company, Apple was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne on April 1, 1976. They specialize in designing, developing, and selling high-end computers, software, and other electronic devices. Because of Apple’s broad product portfolio they compete with many different companies in a range of markets. This analysis will be conducted using historical information, a SWOT analysis, and portions of Porter’s Five Forces Model to understand its business strategies, impact within markets, products and services offered, corporate leadership, and future.

Q1. Perform an industry analysis of the smart-phone industry. Do you believe Apple was effective in neutralizing the threats and capitalizing on the opportunities posed by the forces in the smart-phone industry? If yes, explain how. If not, explain why not.

Apple Inc., for many years, has been one of the most productive establishments in the electronics market. Apple, Inc. is a prosperous international business in the area of electronics mainly due to a few contributing dynamics that give the firm a competitive advantage. In this paper I will outline what has led to Apple Inc.’s success by analyzing the firm through Michael Porter’s five forces, the VRIO framework, culture and ethics within the organization and business alliances.

Apple Inc. Started as the movement into the usage and manufacturing of personal computers in the year 1977 (Schermerhorn, 2010). Through changes in management and differences the various styles, the company missed out on opportunities that led to the loss of competitiveness to companies such as Microsoft, Gateway, as well as Dell. Later on, the company conquered its competitors and emerged as one of the best computing companies. Today, Apple operates in numerous lines that are inclusive of the music industry, mobile phones, and computer industry. The operations of this company range from manufacturing the hardware as well as the software for use in these devices. Notably, Apple continues to dominate the technology industry though not as aggressively as it did some years back. The company has since incorporation opened over sixty-five outlets that have enabled the company to move into the new world. In comparison to its competitors, Apple has gained customers that understand the superiority of its products.

As the billion dollar home entertainment industry, specifically within music, continues to grow and evolve at record rates, there seems to be some clear trends of availability, accessibility, manageability, portability and economic factors playing vital roles in the requirements to remain competitive in the digital music industry.

Apple Inc. was built up on 1st April 1976 around then the organization was known as Apple PC, Inc. Apple almost has 35,000 representatives overall and its business recording about US$42.90 billion by 26th September 2009. It arrived in a magazine named Fortune that Apple had been most refreshing organization in the United States in 2008 and worldwide in 2009. Apple fundamentally offers tablets, iPods, and mobiles and so forth here we are set to focus on their portable PCs. Apple has various types of tablets for distinctive employments. In their item go Apple book, Apple book star which comes in diverse sizes 13", 15" and 17" contingent upon client 's use.

Apple Inc. is one of the leading publically traded companies in the world. Products from Apple become not only a household item but a daily necessity for majority of it consumers. Apple’s stock has obscured over $700 billion dollars in market capitalization in the year 2014 which provides a 7-for-1 split where accounting is concerned, which is about a 60% increase in the last year. Apple’s vast selection of products keeps the company fresh and moving in the direction where investors are feeling nothing short of satisfaction. Choosing to invest in Apple is a brilliant decision because even when circumstances are bleak Apple fights its way back to the top. In 2013 that was as substantial drop in stock; a major reason for that was the

Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. Apple software includes the Mac OS X operating system; the iTunes media browser; the iLife suite of multimedia and creativity software; the iWork suite of productivity software; Aperture, a professional photography package; Final Cut Studio, a

Apple Inc. is a popular U.S. based multinational organization. It is a publicly traded concern and its primary headquarters is located in Cupertino, California.

Apple was established by Steve jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne on the 1st April 1976 to enhance and market personal computers. It was titled Apple INC on the 9th June 2007, to emulate its aim at producing consumer electronics. They are in the Electronic industry and its most profitable goods are the Mac Computers, the iPod player, the iPhone, and the iPad tablet. Apple constantly debuts ingenious goods which ranks it one of the most customers, suppliers and investors and has a record of beating all rivals.

Apple Inc. is a California based company that was incorporated in 1977. According to University of Oregon Investment Group, “Apple operates out of 8 different segments: Desktops, Portables, iPod, iPhone, iPad, other music related products and services, peripherals and other hardware, software, service and other sales” (2012). According to the company’s 2013 10-K, “Apple sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores, and direct sales force, as well as through third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, and value-added resellers.”

We all know that, Apple Inc. (Apple), the leader of innovation and technology was founded by Stephen Wozniak and Steve Jobs in the year 1976. The company has an extremely huge customer base and is well known throughout the world. The company basically deals with the production as well as marketing of various electronic gadgets, software applications and the personal computers (PCs) (Burrows and Grover, 2006). It is to be noted that Apple at present operates over 300 retail stores all over the world (Apple Inc., 2014). Apple develops Mac