Post-Steve Jobs, some analysts and shareholders are asking Apple Inc.to give back some of the earned profits of the company in the form of dividends. Apple is already the world's second most valuable company -- its shares are valued at $378 billion -- and it has $76.2 billion in cash and marketable securities by fiscal third quarter ended June 25, 2011.

Why are the shareholders asking for dividends given that Apple has not issued any for years? It is claimed that the death of Apple's founder and ex-chief Steve Jobs caused the stir.

Jobs saved Apple from near-bankruptcy and transformed it into one of the most successful technological companies. Apple could not even make a payroll when Jobs returned as chief executive in 1997. He doubled the company's cash investments in the past two years fueled by high sales of iPhone and iPad.

Jobs is known as a thrifty chief and keep the money for various "strategic opportunities". His absence made shareholders call for dividends or stock buyback. Jobs resisted giving bak to stockholders as he pushed Apple into new markets.

Cusca chief executive Kieth Goddard said that it would not hurt Apple's growth rate if they give a dividend.

We Will (Not) Give Out Dividends

In the past, Apple used the money to buy long-term supplies of certain critical components, such as memory chips and touch- screen panels. Finance director Peter Oppenheimer said that the company will use about $3.9 billion over the next two years on unspecified component prepayment and capital expenditures.

Apple's spokesperson Steve Dowling said that the company will maintain its longstanding position of having a good track record in managing cash and keeping it available for various potential strategic opportunities.

Apple rivals, Microsoft Corp. and Google Inc., are investing their money to buy different acquisitions that will grow their business. Apple avoided this and focused on increasing its sales of various i-gadgets.

Profit more than doubled to $7.31 billion in the third quarter, adding to Apple's coffers. The stock has climbed 15 percent this year, defying a stock-market slump and concerns about Apple's CEO succession. With a valuation of $342.8 billion, Apple is almost 60 percent bigger than the second most valuable technology company, Microsoft.

iPhone 4S High Sales Breaks Record

Despite with the initial disappointment when Apple launched the iPhone 4S and not the mythical iPhone 5, the sales are still skyrocketing. The demand on the new iPhone indicates that it is the fastest selling phone to date.

The huge demand is attributed on the new iOS 5 and Siri feature. The new handset will hit the international market (United States, Canada, Europe and Australia) on Oct. 14, 8 AM. Shipping dates were delayed because of the high demand of the product.

The high sales of the new iPhone will again bring huge returns to the company.