Complete Misses
Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) was probably the first cell phone giant to feel the hit of the smartphone revolution. Only the company’s failing wasn’t weak sales of a new smartphone, it was pretty much missing the revolution altogether. That’s left the company in rough shape and forced it into a partnership with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) because it couldn’t build both desirable phones and a desirable smartphone operating system.
Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK)’s revenues have been falling since 2007, and it lost money in each of the last two years. To add insult to injury, not only have the shares fallen dramatically, but the company eliminated its dividend to help shore up its finances. Its partnership with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has resulted in a decent phone, the Lumia, but it hasn’t been enough to turn performance around. Investors should continue to avoid the shares.
Research in Motion…or Not
Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) helped to create the smartphone revolution with its email-enabled phones. However, the company insisted on trying to do everything itself and didn’t keep up with changing technology. That allowed new entrants to steal its customers. In a little over five years, the shares have cratered from around $140 to about $10 a share.
It’s back with a new phone, the BlackBerry 10, but initial sales results aren’t living up to analyst expectations. Investors should avoid the company. Over the last two years, Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY)’s revenues have fallen from nearly $20 billion to $11 billion. It lost almost $1.25 a share last year and posted another share net loss in the first quarter.
Losing Faith
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares have fallen some 40% from their late 2012 high. That’s a huge decline that’s mostly a result of investors having bid the shares up too far too fast. However, there are legitimate concerns that led to the market’s change of heart. For example, with mature markets becoming increasingly competitive, the company will either need to find a large new source of customers or bring out some impressive new technology.
Neither seem to be in the cards right now. So despite the top-line growing from $6 billion to $156 billion over the past ten years, investors are rightly looking to the future with concern. That said, the market tends to overshoot on both the upside and downside. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares now trade with a price to earnings ratio of around 10 and sport a yield of about 2.9% or so.
And, the company remains wildly profitable, posting earnings of over $10 a share in the first quarter. So even if the company’s growth slows or stalls, there’s still a lot to like here. The yield also provides a floor under the shares. Looking to the future, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is working on cracking the Chinese market, looking to introduce cheaper phones to reach less affluent customers, and is still working on new gear.
Growth, income and value investors should consider Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares now that they’ve had their turn in the barrel.
Repeat Performance
Now Samsung is getting its chance to get roughed up in the barrel. According to Bloomberg, the company’s market cap fell by an amount equal to the entire market cap of Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) in just one month. While Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) has been struggling to keep up on the consumer electronics front in recent years, that such a comparison can be made suggests that Samsung’s share price has gotten ahead of itself.
That’s changing fast, however, as Samsung’s new phones and tablets are missing analysts’ sales expectations. That’s a sign that growth is going to be harder to come by in mature markets. Moreover, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is staring to look for ways to replace its reliance on Samsung for key cell phone parts. A clear demonstration of the increasing competitiveness of the industry. Although Samsung is a leader in the mobile space, investors have realized that it won’t be able to grow to the sky anymore than Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) could.
Although the top-line has more than doubled over the last five years, Samsung is facing headwinds that could curtail that. The shares fell over 12% in June, but there could still be some downside since the decline has really only just begun. Investors should probably avoid the shares for now.
Increasingly Difficult
The cell phone market is getting increasingly competitive, which increases the risks of investing in the space. Samsung is the one taking it on the chin of late, but Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK), Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY), and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) have all had their turns. Of this quartet, Apple is the only one that seems like a decent investing option today.
Reuben Brewer has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL).
The article It’s Time for Another Cell Giant to Take a Turn in the Barrel originally appeared on Fool.com.
Reuben is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network — entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
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