The Company’s Products & Services

The company’s products and services include IPhone, iPad, Mac, IPod, Apple TV, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications, the iOS and OS X operating system, iCloud, and a variety of accessory, service and support offerings.

The company sells and delivers digital content and applications worldwide through the iTunes store, app store, iBooks store, and Mac App store.

SWOT AnalysisSWOT definedRole in analyzing a companyThe future products of Apple

Strengths-Strong Marketing and advertising capabilities-Strong and extensive distribution channels in the US-Vertical integration-Brand reputation and awareness

-Customer loyalty-Strong financial performance-Leading innovator in mobile device technology-Retail sores

Weaknesses-High Price-Lack of product breadth and offerings at different price points-Weak direct distribution channels in China and India-Decreasing market share

-Patent infringements-Further changes in management-Dependence on iPhone and iPad sales-Incompatibility with other OS-Defects on new products-Long-term gross margin decline

Opportunities-Acquisition of valuable companies-Obtaining patents through acquisitions-Damages from patent infringements-Mobile payments-Strong growth of mobile advertising market

Threats-Competition for other computers companies-Lawsuit over patent infringement-Rapid technological change-2013 taxes increase- Rising pay levels for Foxconn workers

-Increasing demand for cloud based services-Wearable gadgets-High demand of iPad mini and IPhone -iTV launch-Emergence of the new provider of application processors-Growth of tablet and smartphones markets

-Breached IP rights-Price pressure from Samsung over key components-Strong dollar-Android OS growth-Competitors moves in online music market

Strategic Marketing Plan

According to Tim Cook, the current CEO, Steve Jobs’ original structured marketing strategy for Apple had four (4) sections:Offer a limited number of products.Focus on high end consumers.Prioritize profits over market share.Create a halo effect that makes people starve for new Apple products.

Apple Inc. Major Direct Stakeholders

Holder Shares ReportedLEVINSON ARTHUR 1,138,886 AUG 8, 2014COOK TIMOTHY 950,767 SEP 22, 2014FEDERIGHI CRAIG 237,048 NOV 24, 2014GORE ALBERT JR 62,523 FEB 1, 2014MANSFIELD ROBERT L 49,543 JUN 21, 2013

Top Institutional HoldersHolder Shares ReportedVanguard Group, Inc. (The) 327,063,967 SEP 30, 2014State Street Corporation 242,255,909 SEP 30, 2014FMR, LLC 173,987,606 SEP 30, 2014BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A.

158,746,999 SEP 30, 2014

Bank of New York Mellon Corporation

89,007,388 SEP 30, 2014

Northern Trust Corporation 83,437,298 SEP 30, 2014Invesco Ltd. 70,230,794 SEP 30, 2014BlackRock Fund Advisors 67,124,320 SEP 30, 2014Wellington Management Company, LLP

60,062,760 SEP 30, 2014

JP Morgan Chase & Company 58,519,182 SEP 30, 2014** % of Shares Held by Institutional & Mutual Fund Owners: 62% **

Top Mutual Fund HoldersHolder Shares ReportedVanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund

98,049,200 SEP 30, 2014

Vanguard 500 Index Fund 62,164,243 SEP 30, 2014SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust 61,425,804 SEP 30, 2014Vanguard Institutional Index Fund-Institutional Index Fund

60,664,513 SEP 30, 2014

Powershares Exhg Traded Fd Tr-Powershares QQQ Tr, Series 1

56,575,140 SEP 30, 2014

Fidelity Contrafund Inc 31,448,349 SEP 30, 2014Vanguard Growth Index Fund 29,450,196 SEP 30, 2014College Retirement Equities Fund-Stock Account

26,491,114 JUN 30, 2014

Spartan 500 Index Fund 26,216,310 SEP 30, 2014Fidelity Growth Company Fund 21,537,648 SEP 30, 2014** % of Shares Held by Institutional & Mutual Fund Owners: 62% **

Financial ReportsConsolidated Statement of Operations

(2010, 2011, & 2012)Consolidated Balance Statement (2001 & 2012)Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity

(2009, 2010, 2011, & 2012)Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(2010, 2011, & 2012)

Consolidated Balance Statement cont’d

Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity cont’d

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows cont’d

Apple’s Contribution to the Tech World

MacintoshOS X (Operations System X)

iPodiPhone

App Storepad

Apple TV

Apple’s Long-term Impact

Apple does two things over and over again that almost no other company does, and they add up to a decent chunk of what leaves so many of us mystified by the company’s design prowess. Apple Design Sideways and Design for the Future.Apples Long-term impact is mainly to inspire other companies to be more innovative than the next.

Apple’s Latest Products

Apple’s Future Products

References Muller, C. (2010). Apple’s approach towards innovation and creativity. Retrieved from

http://www.grin.com/en/e-book/167838/apple-s-approach-towards-innovation-and-creativity

Scherer, F. M. (1984). Innovation and Growth: Schumpeterian Perspectives, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Tidd, J., Bessant, J. and Pavitt, J. (2001). Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market and Organisational Change, John Wiley. http://finance.yahoo.com/q/mh?s=AAPL%2C+&ql=1

Nielson, S. (2014, February 6). Must know: An investor's essential guide to Apple. Retrieved December 6, 2014, from http://marketrealist.com/2014/02/ecosystem/

Magee, D. (2011, July 21). Apple's Competitive Advantage: Multiple Products That Integrate as One. Retrieved December 6, 2014, from http://www.ibtimes.com/apples-competitive-advantage-multiple-products-integrate-one-300605

Jubak, J. (2014, September 9). Can You See Apple's Long-Term Competitive Advantage in Its New Product. Retrieved December 6, 2014, from http://www.moneyshow.com/articles.asp?aid=Jubak_blog-40921

Apple Inc. (Annual Report). http://investor.apple.com/secfiling.cfm?filingid=1193125-12-444068&cik=#D411355D10K_HTM_TX411355_4