What's Driving Apple's $2 Trillion Valuation?

The seemless interoperability of Apple products supports its increasingly content-focused strategy.

Since 50% of Apple customers own only one of its devices, product-and-service growth could continue to propel sales for the foreseeable future. JL

The Hustle reports:

Computing tasks are moving from the Mac to the iPhone to the Apple Watch -- while all of Apple’s products work seamlessly together. Each of its new products is designed to handle tasks once managed by sibling devices -- and in “an increasingly personal way.” Of Apple customers, 50% own only one product (iPhone). Expect millions of users to add additional items like the AirPods, Watch, subscription or a face wearable in the years to come. The biggest risk to the Cupertino giant is a lack of focus.

On July 1, one of the world’s top Apple analysts, Neil Cybart, wrote an article titled “Apple is pulling away from the competition.” Since then, Apple has gained $500B+ in market cap and -- on the road to becoming the world’s first $2T company -- smoked its Big Tech frenemies.  Apple has built its advantage for years Each of its new products is designed to handle tasks once managed by sibling devices -- and in “an increasingly personal way,” Cybart told us yesterday. Computing tasks are moving from the Mac to the iPhone to the Apple Watch -- while all of Apple’s products work seamlessly together (except the charger cables). In comparison, Apple’s top tech competitors are all over the place: Samsung is aimlessly launching products just to be “first” (i.e., foldable screens) Amazon bet big on the Echo instead of wearables Microsoft’s Surface has failed to break through with consumers

iPhone sales are slowing but other products are picking up the slack Apple has built a sticky ecosystem around its flagship product with services and non-iPhone revenues accelerating in recent quarters. Cybart estimates that of Apple customers, 50% own only one product (iPhone). Once these people go deeper into the ecosystem, watch out.  Expect millions of users to add additional items like the AirPods, Watch, subscription or -- as Cybart predicts -- a face wearable in the years to come.  The biggest risk to Apple?  To be sure, Apple has significant supply chain and business exposure to China (~17% -- or $40B+ of its 2019 revenue) as well as antitrust concerns (e.g., Epic Games). However, Cybart tells us the biggest risk to the Cupertino giant is a lack of focus. Customers are embracing Apple’s current strategy, he says -- but “if you see Apple stretch itself into areas where it doesn’t have the same user experience, that could start the gradual unwind of its ecosystem gains.”