Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Microsoft Corporation’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) latest plans were discussed by Michael Robinson and Nicole Petallides in a recent talk with Stuart Varney and Liz MacDonald on Fox Business Network.
The Real Halftime report was started by Varney by asking Robinson who he called “Mr. Apple $1000” about Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) reported plan to make larger iPhones in China. He also asked Robinson whether he is still buying Apple stock.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was recently reported to be starting production of bigger iPhones in China next month. Quoting people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named, Bloomberg said that the bigger iPhones will feature a 4.7-inch screen and a 5.5-inch screen.
Robinson said that he likes this new development with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and expect to see it succeed. He explained:
“I just bought some more [Apple stock] last week, as a matter of fact. Yes, I am still accumulating Apple. I like the company. I think this is a smart move for them. The emerging markets, particularly China, they like a larger screen. 40% of the smartphones sold in China recently [had screen which are] 5 inches or larger so this larger iPhone really helps segment [Apple]. It [also] comes after the China Mobile deal so I think this is going to be very successful. They sold almost 44 million iPhones in the most recent quarter. That was up 17% from a year ago so I’m expecting another successful round with this iPhone release.”
Meanwhile, Nicole Petallides reported about Microsoft Corporation’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) scheme to give people money if they trade in their MacBook Air laptop for a Surface Pro. Varney noted that the software giant will give people as much as $650 if they do the trade. Nonetheless, there seems to be lukewarm reception for the deal.
Petallides explained:
“I’m not familiar with the Surface Pro 3 as much as you may be Stuart Varney…However, I can tell you what all the graduates wanted recently and I heard a lot of MacBook Air talk and not so much Surface Pro talk. That should, right there, give you some demand questions. Also, the other that’s worth noting is that you can get the Surface Pro for about $150. All you have to do is turn in your MacBook Air. There’s different versions of course that range from $900 to $1,200 and then you can get the Surface Pro and that ranges from $800 to $2,000. But here’s the catch, there’s always a catch, [the MacBook Air] has to be intact, not have a cracked screen, must power on or not have water damage… They will decide whether or not they want your MacBook Air or not.”
Varney said that the recent Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) deal “is not a great deal and investors don’t care for it very much [as] Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) stock is down.”
Watch the video below.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) investors includes the hedge fund Zweig Dimenna Partners managed by Joe Dimenna which reported by the end of March a stake that was valued at about $27.85 million for 51,881. Another investor is Michael Pausic’s Foxhaven Asset Management which had a 47,802-share stake in the company during the same period.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) shareholders includes Alex Sacerdote’s Whale Rock Capital Management which had 838,828 shares in the company by the end of the first quarter. That stake was valued at about $34.38 million. Another shareholder is Tom Gayner’s Markel Gayner Asset Management which reported 818,000 shares in the software giant by the end of the first quarter of 2014.
Disclosure: None
