re: Google Surpasses Apple as World's Most Valuable Company

I would say that is a characterization of the current CEO, not so much of the company itself. We all know that Apple has been capable of launching innovative products, that were well polished and ready for prime time (unlike most of its competitors). But what I see now is that Google is being assigned a 30+ P/E, while Apple is assigned a 10+. And that's because Google is seen as a growth stock, whereas Apple is now seen as a value stock. All smartphone producers are facing challenges right now. And it's not as if Apple is massively losing share, or losing its smartphone profitability lead to Google, Microsoft, Samsung or HTC. And Apple was the only PC maker to show growth last year, I believe. But they have too many eggs in the iPhone basket, IMO.

I've been a consumer of Apple products since the 80's. I've been a shareholder since the early 2000's. So I'm a fan of the company, but I don't get married to a stock... any stock. And where Apple once had a warrior like CEO, who would challenge people to "think different", now the CEO is more of a (talented) bean counter. Think different would be buying a studio/content producer if you can't make a straight deal for content. That would be a game changer for the AppleTV and Apple itself. And they have the cash to do that. But Cook doesn't have the cajones to "think different." Other than making some mamby pamby deals with the sad likes of Ginni Rometty, launching a watch that needs a phone to do a lot and turning the sagging iPad into a jumbo product, Cook hasn't done much (on his own) on the product front. He is indeed a repackager, not an innovator.

Course, this car idea might be his chance to "think different." But I know more about the automotive industry than Tim Cook. So before he burns through billions trying to launch a self driving, electric (overpriced) car, that only comes in space grey, I'll have already sold my last share.