Interesting take, but AAPL doesn’t have a dividend; MSFT does (about $0.56 per share). Apple’s had a heck of a price run, but how does lower revenue, lower profits, lower profit margin, lower market share, less cash in the bank, same debt (zero), less total assets, and no dividend equal a higher market cap?
IMHO, it’s exuberance and hope at this point - classic signs of a bubble. I tend to go by the numbers, though, rather than trends or pure potential play. Yes, my stock market investments haven’t had a breakout hit, but they’ve never really suffered, either.
I like my RBS and XOM, nice consistent performers with fat dividends and consistent performance. Low volatility with nice quarterly payouts is what I look for with the bulk of my stock investments...
I play very safe as well. But dividends is not the total picture in terms of the value of your investment. You can look at nice quarterly regular checks or you can look at how much your investment has appreciated.
Over the last decade, it seems a player would be better off asset-wise had they gone with Apple over MSFT with the same investment.
But then, this is, for me, a high risk game at my age. I’d probably sell it all today and look for something safer. :)