Consumer electronics giant Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) recently announced a pair of next generation iPhones. The iPhone 5S looks like a nice refresh of the previous high-end flagship, the iPhone 5, and the iPhone 5C looks to be a compelling, higher-margin alternative to selling a marked down iPhone 5, but neither of these launches really moved the needle, so to speak (and shares actually fell roughly 5%). That being said, Apple’s pipeline is full of new product releases going into 2014. The question, then, is whether this will really matter to investors?
These products are mostly refreshes
The overarching theme here is the products that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is set to roll out are all set to be refreshes. The new iPhones simply refresh older models, and I’m sure many are expecting a next generation set of MacBook Pro machines, a new full-sized iPad, and a new iPad mini. I’m confident that these devices will all be exquisitely designed, but that’s really par for the course for Apple.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s product launches need to do two things:
- Regain market segment share (without hurting the gross margin profile)
- Drive significant top/bottom line growth
The first one is pretty tricky, particularly considering that much of the new and untapped growth areas are actually at the very low end of the market. The problem is that at some point, the high end finally becomes saturated and a slow-to-no growth business at best. The low end, while great for unit volume growth, isn’t exactly a gross margin wellspring.
Are there any new device categories coming?
There are two emerging device categories Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) does not currently participate in that it could conceivably choose to do so:
1. “Phablets” – these are smartphones with large screens that border on being tablets, hence the name
2. PC/tablet hybrids
The first set of devices is one that I don’t expect Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to leave on the table, although there could be some interesting implications. Apple’s product lineup is specifically designed to minimize overlap so as to drive as many device sales as possible. If Apple were to introduce a “phablet,” a sale of such a device could potentially replace the sale of both an iPhone and iPad. However, I’m not sure how well this argument holds up as it is just as likely that Apple is gaining back a sale that it would have lost to a competing “phablet.”
If anything is going to help spark longer-term growth (rather than a product refresh uptick), then it’ll need to be these type of new device categories. A major source of the negative sentiment among investors is that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) hasn’t been the first to these new categories (small tablets, phablets, PC/tablet hybrids), which tends to raise the “innovation” question.
Ultimately, I don’t think any of this will matter
At the end of the day, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is already a $400 billion giant that enjoys much better than average margins. While it isn’t appropriate to say that Apple is “dead” – on the contrary, the company will continue to generate piles of cash for years to come – I do think it is “dead” as a growth story. While the iPhone and the iPad were truly innovative devices, it’s nearly impossible to be “innovative on demand,” and even more difficult to stave off the hordes of “me, too” competitors willing to accept much lower margins.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s an interesting income play at this point, but for those looking to see large capital gains on shares of Apple may be sorely disappointed. Apple’s had a wonderful run, but every company eventually matures, as Apple shareholders are learning.
The article Apple Has More Launches This Year, But Will They Matter? originally appeared on Fool.com.
Ashraf Eassa has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple.
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