I was on Hold for Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) (TSX: AAPL:CA ) last time because tariff uncertainty and an iPhone-heavy mix left product margins and the multiple exposed, with little discount to history.I'm a full-time analyst and portfolio manager of a technology fund with 5 years of experience. I graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and École Centrale de Lyon (France). I'm currently licensed by the Brazilian Securities Commission (CVM) as both a portfolio man ...

And with our indexes under pressure today, I do want to bring in our next guest, have a more macro conversation about where we might be heading for the rest of the year. Joining us now, Dale Smothers. Uh Dale, president and CEO of RDS Wealth Management.Dale, thanks as always for being with us. You know, I'd love to just get your thoughts on the market action we're seeing and and where we could potentially head by the year end. >> Yeah, good to be with you, Marley.I I think that this price action we've seen ...

Tell me about this project. It's a first step, right. But you've been able to get an insight into Samsung and Google's mixed reality capabilities.That's right. Yeah. So Samsung has been working on this for quite a while, directly compete with Apple's Envision Pro headset.You know, it works very similarly you put it on there are two different main areas ways to sort of engage with the device. One is sort of a pass through experience where you kind of see your home screen apps in front of you using gestures t ...

Core Insights - The iPhone 17 is positioned as a potential catalyst for an iPhone upgrade supercycle, despite its controversial design [1] Group 1: Analyst Background - The analyst, Uttam, specializes in growth-oriented investment analysis, focusing on technology sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and cloud software [1] - Uttam has experience leading teams at major technology firms, including Apple and Google, prior to his current research role [1] - He co-authors The Pragmatic Optimist Newsletter, which is frequently cited by prominent publications like the Wall Street Journal and Forbes [1] Group 2: Research Focus - The research conducted by Uttam also encompasses other sectors, including MedTech, Defense Tech, and Renewable Energy [1]

Core Insights - The iPhone 17, despite its controversial design, may trigger a significant upgrade cycle for iPhones, indicating potential growth in the smartphone market [1] Group 1: Analyst Background - The analyst, Uttam, specializes in technology sector research, focusing on semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and cloud software [1] - Uttam has experience working in Silicon Valley with major technology firms like Apple and Google [1] - He co-authors a newsletter that is frequently cited by prominent publications such as the Wall Street Journal and Forbes [1] Group 2: Market Implications - The potential for an iPhone upgrade supercycle suggests increased consumer interest and spending in the technology sector, particularly in smartphones [1]

Group 1 - Proactive provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2][3] - The news team covers key finance and investing hubs including London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney, and Perth [2] - Proactive focuses on medium and small-cap markets while also covering blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [2][3] Group 2 - The team delivers news and insights across various sectors including biotech, pharma, mining, natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging technologies [3] - Proactive adopts technology to enhance workflows and improve content production [4][5] - All content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, ensuring adherence to best practices in content production and search engine optimization [5]

Core Argument - Apple Inc. is challenging the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), arguing that it imposes excessive burdens that conflict with its rights in the EU marketplace [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Challenge Details - Apple's lawyer claims the DMA imposes "onerous and intrusive burdens" that affect its operations in the EU [1]. - The company is contesting the law on three main fronts: interoperability obligations for rival hardware, the inclusion of its App Store under the DMA, and the investigation into iMessage [2][4][6]. - Apple argues that interoperability requirements could jeopardize user privacy, security, and intellectual property rights [4]. Group 2: Financial Implications - The App Store has faced a €500 million ($581 million) fine for alleged violations of the DMA, which Apple is challenging separately [5]. - Apple previously incurred a €1.8 billion penalty related to allowing developers to direct users to make purchases outside its store [8]. Group 3: Market Impact - The EU's actions against Big Tech have resulted in over €9.5 billion in fines against companies like Alphabet Inc. [9]. - Apple's control over the iPhone has allowed it to secure more than a third of European smartphone users, according to EU commission lawyer Paul-John Loewenthal [3].

Core Viewpoint - The U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has designated Apple and Google with strategic market status in their mobile platforms, allowing for targeted regulatory actions to enhance competition in the sector [1][4]. Group 1: Regulatory Findings - The CMA's investigations into Apple and Google began in January, with proposed interventions made in July, leading to the conclusion that both companies possess "substantial, entrenched market power" in their mobile platforms [2]. - The CMA consulted over 150 stakeholders and found that U.K. mobile device owners are unlikely to switch between Apple and Google's ecosystems once adopted, indicating a lack of competition [2][3]. - The CMA noted that new technologies, such as AI, are "unlikely to eliminate" the market power of Apple and Google over the five-year designation period [3]. Group 2: Implications of Designation - The designation of strategic market status does not imply wrongdoing by Apple or Google but allows the CMA to consider interventions to ensure effective competition and fair treatment for consumers and businesses [4]. - The CMA expressed concerns that the rules of Apple and Google's platforms may limit innovation and competition, affecting thousands of businesses that rely on these platforms to market and sell products [3]. Group 3: Company Responses - Apple has warned that the CMA's decision could lead to delays in users receiving new features, citing past experiences with Apple Intelligence [5]. - Google has expressed disagreement with the rationale behind the CMA's decision, indicating a pushback against the regulatory findings [5].

Group 1: Sharplink Gaming - Sharplink Gaming Inc. is a sports betting and affiliate marketing firm that has recently made significant investments in the cryptocurrency space, particularly Ethereum [4][5] - The company raised over $2.6 billion to invest in 700,000 ETH, positioning itself as one of the largest publicly traded Ethereum treasury firms [5] - Analysts have set a 12-month stock price forecast for Sharplink at $45, indicating a potential upside of 227.89% from the current price of $13.72 [4][7] Group 2: Townsquare Media - Townsquare Media Inc. operates over 300 radio stations and has pivoted towards digital solutions, which now account for 55% of its revenue [9][10] - The company has a 12-month stock price forecast of $17, representing a 165.42% upside from the current price of $6.41, with a high forecast of $21 [9][11] - Townsquare offers a substantial dividend yield of 12.55% and has a low P/E ratio of 3.14, making it an attractive investment opportunity [10][11] Group 3: Synchronoss Technologies - Synchronoss Technologies Inc. is a microcap firm focusing on cloud-based software solutions, with nearly 93% of its revenue coming from recurring SaaS [12][13] - Analysts project a 12-month stock price forecast of $13, indicating a potential upside of 152.18% from the current price of $5.16 [12][14] - The company is expected to continue growing its client base and aims for sustained profitability, making it a high-risk, high-reward investment [13][14]

Core Insights - Over the past decade, Apple (AAPL) has returned $847 billion to investors through dividends and buybacks, marking the highest returns in history for any company [1] - In 2025, Apple increased its quarterly dividend to $0.26 per share, a 4% increase, and authorized a new $100 billion stock repurchase program [3] Financial Performance - Apple has demonstrated strong financial stability, with a free cash flow margin of nearly 23.5% and an operating margin of 31.9% in the last twelve months [11] - The company has experienced a revenue growth rate of 6.0% in the last twelve months, with a three-year average growth rate of 1.8% [11] - Apple's stock is currently trading at a P/E multiple of 39.4, indicating a higher valuation compared to the S&P [11] Capital Returns - Dividends and share buybacks are direct capital returns to shareholders, reflecting management's confidence in the company's financial health and cash flow generation [4] - A comparison of capital returns shows that while companies like Meta (META) and Microsoft (MSFT) are growing rapidly, they have returned a smaller portion of their market cap to shareholders compared to Apple [5] Historical Performance - Apple has faced significant declines in the past, including an 81% drop during the Dot-Com bubble and a 61% drop during the Global Financial Crisis, indicating vulnerability to market downturns [8] - Despite these historical declines, Apple has shown resilience and the ability to recover from sharp market sell-offs [9]