The background
Earlier this month, Einhorn claimed that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s hoarding of cash reflects a depression-era mentality. As of December, Apple has amassed a $137 billion cash stockpile, the vast majority of which has been accrued in the last 2.5 years. By contrast, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO Tim Cook recently countered that the company promised to return $45 billion to shareholders over three years through dividends and share repurchases, and spent $10 billion on capital expenditures last year. Cook argues that these uses of cash refute the idea that Apple has a “Depression-era mentality.”
Leaving aside the semantics, the problem with Tim Cook’s argument is that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) generated over $50 billion in operating cash flow in its most recent fiscal year, and nearly $24 billion last quarter alone! Thus, while Apple’s investment and cash return plans would be generous for almost any other company, these initiatives will only slow the rate at which cash accumulates. The $137 billion already on Apple’s balance sheet will remain there.
The proposal
This leads to the key problem with Einhorn’s proposal. While Einhorn chastised Apple for keeping so much excess cash on its balance sheet, under his proposal Apple would still leave its war chest untouched. Instead, the company would issue “iPrefs” — preferred stock — to existing stockholders (at no charge). Einhorn’s proposal calls for the preferred shares to be worth $50 each, and yield 4% (a $2 annual dividend).
According to Einhorn, issuing one iPref for each Apple share would cut Apple’s EPS by $2, and reduce the stock price from $450 to $430, but in return shareholders would get $50 of preferred stock, which they could sell. So the transaction would create $30 of value. Einhorn claims that the company could even issue five iPrefs for each existing share, unlocking $150 per share in value.
Keep it simple
However, Apple would better serve its shareholders by returning its excess cash. As my Foolish colleague Evan Niu pointed out on Thursday, Apple could attract lots of value investors if it initiates a clear plan to do so. Many analysts have blamed Apple’s recent stock swoon on the exit of growth investors from the stock. If Apple can reignite its growth later this year, these investors might return. However, in the meantime Apple should undertake a larger share buyback (to attract value investors) or a dividend boost (to attract income and value investors alike). These policies might entail drawing upon the $137 billion in Apple’s bank account, but they would benefit shareholders more than Einhorn’s “iPrefs” by bringing new investors into Apple.
The article iPrefs Aren’t the Answer for Apple originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Adam Levine-Weinberg.
Fool contributor Adam Levine-Weinberg owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple.
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