Apple(US:AAPL) Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-08-09 11:40Core Viewpoint - Apple has returned a staggering $704 billion to shareholders through stock buybacks over the past decade, highlighting its unmatched profitability and cash reserves, while critics argue for a shift towards strategic acquisitions in technology, particularly in the AI sector [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Buyback Program - Apple's total stock buyback amount reached an impressive $704 billion, surpassing the market capitalization of most companies in the S&P 500 index and even exceeding the market values of well-known firms like Eli Lilly, Visa, Mastercard, and Netflix [2]. - The buyback program has effectively reduced the number of outstanding shares to approximately 14.84 billion, enhancing earnings per share and serving as a core method for maintaining shareholder value over the years [2]. Group 2: Calls for AI Acquisitions - Despite the financial success of the buyback program, there is growing skepticism about Apple's future growth prospects, with critics emphasizing that buybacks alone are insufficient [3]. - Analysts, including Jim Cramer and Daniel Ives from Wedbush Securities, advocate for Apple to utilize its cash flow for a significant acquisition in the AI space, specifically mentioning Perplexity AI as a strategic target [3]. - The urgency for such an acquisition is heightened by the impending antitrust ruling against Google, which could impact Apple's default search partnership with Google on its Safari browser [3].