Apple Inc. (AAPL): Beg, Steal, or Borrow

It could be worse, though. Analysts see Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) revenue slipping 11% this quarter on the way to a loss on the bottom line. A gross-margins contraction in this scenario will result in another quarter of declining profitability at Apple, but that could also be worse. Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) “believes it will approach breakeven financial results” this quarter.

However, at least the Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) camp has new products that it can pin its hopes on. Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) even alluded to improving hardware margins for the current quarter, and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) isn’t there yet.

“Our teams are hard at work on some amazing new hardware, software, and services that we can’t wait to introduce this fall and throughout 2014,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said during Tuesday’s earnings call.

This fall? Does that mean that any confidence-boosting catalysts, including the iPhone 5S or rumored HDTV and smart watch announcements, are at least four or five months away? Will these updates and new product categories even improve the trend of cascading margins?

Yes, Apple exited the week with more question marks than it had when it started. The share price still moved higher, and there’s a valid argument to be made that Apple’s stock had just gotten too cheap for what remains the most profitable consumer tech company in the country.

But it’s still not safe to exhale, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) investors. Apple still has a lot to prove.

The article Apple: Beg, Steal, or Borrow originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Rick Munarriz.

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Apple.

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