tkell31

ac1234 said:

More money WASTED by Cook - the buybacks have done nothing for shareholders or Apple - use that money to give us far larger dividends - not the pathetic 2% a year as it is now.

That's the point: at current stock prices, most of the buybacks last year were made at higher prices. However, Apple expects that to change, based on more information that you have available to yourself. Also, you can't say buybacks haven't helped the stock price because without them it likely would be even lower.

You are really giving Cook and co a lot of credit.  How many YEARS did it take before they realized they need to build a phone with a bigger screen?  And do you really think they know what the Chinese govt will do?  They've propped up the stock price, but falling revenue will offset buybacks.  Ac is right.  A larger dividend would put in a better floor then buybacks.