Stocks of Apple Suppliers More Profitable than Stock of Apple Itself
Inexpensive stocks of Apple suppliers, particularly Taiwanese companies that supply components to Apple, are believed to be more profitable than the stock of Apple itself. As perceived, these Taiwan stocks will move faster than stocks of Apple especially if the launch of the iPhone 6 becomes fruitful.
"From foreign investors' point of view, Apple is a very big stock, and that limits the upside potential for earnings growth and share prices. Relatively speaking, Apple component makers are smaller and their growth potential is bigger. They are more likely to get a re-rating on their stock prices if Apple's new products are successful," John Chiu, chief investment officer of Fuh Hwa Securities Investment Trust in Taiwan told Reuters.
Fuh Hwa Securities Investment Trust has $4.3 billion funding under management.
"It might be weeks before Apple's new iPhone 6 and its smart watch are launched, but some of the supply chain stocks are already at frothy levels," Chiu noted.
Camera component supplier, Largan Precision, for example, is showing potential of doubling its revenue for 2014; Largan's shares surged by 57 per cent in April following a 20 per cent rise in Apple's share price. Its share price hit a record at $80 this week - an impressive level never achieved by other Taiwan stocks in the market.
Other Taiwanese Apple suppliers that are showing surge in its revenue are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) that makes A8chips and Hon Hai Precision that assembles iPhones.
According to Edward Chao, fund manager of Jih Sun Securities Investment Trust in Taipei, inventors are shifting their money to Taiwan's Apple component makers to play safe.
"Investors are waiting to see if the new products Apple is set to launch are really as good as expected. If so, Apple's share momentum will ride high later this year. Until then, regional investors are shifting their money to Taiwan's Apple component makers from Samsung Electronics and other South Korea stocks as Samsung would suffer most if Apple's new products are a big hit," Chao explained.
On Friday, Taiwan's index hit its highest close after almost seven years.
"There is no sign the market is pulling back. The only thing to worry about is overbooking if iPhone 6 fails to meet expectations," Ryan Shen, a fund manager at Capital Securities Investment Trust said.
Meanwhile, 64 per cent of analysts surveyed by Fortune had increased their price targets of Apple at above $100 per share.
Notable new price targets came from Rob Cihra of Evercore - to $115 from $100 (up 15%), - Walter Piecyk, BTIG - to $112 from $86 (up 30%), - William Power, Baird - to $102 from $95 (up 7%), according to Fortune.
