Steve Jobs speaks in San FranciscoJustin Sullivan
According to a recent customer survey, Apple Inc. fans aren't shaken by the prospects of CEO Steve Jobs' departure. But one flub could signal trouble, says an analyst.
Last month, Jobs handed over the day-to-day operations to Apple chief operating officer Tim Cook. Jobs is taking his third medical leave in seven years as he gets treatment in the aftermath of pancreatic cancer in 2004.
Unlike most companies, the fortunes of Apple seem tightly bound to its always-engaged co-founder and CEO, Jobs. Some folks say it's the No. 1 risk to Apple's success.
The familiarity of the departure and the promise of new products coming down the pipeline later this year seem to give consumers "higher comfort" with Jobs' absence, according to RBC analyst Mike Abramsky, whose firm, along with ChangeWave, surveyed Apple customers.
Of the 3,091 people questioned in the survey, 93 per cent said they would continue to buy Apple products. That is an improvement from the 18 per cent who said they were less inclined to buy Apple gear in 2008, the last time Jobs took a break.
So, the near-term outlook for Apple seems strong. Given that Cook has handled the top duties during all three of Jobs' departures, the replacement scheme doesn't seem all that mysterious.
While RBC's Abramsky recommends buying Apple if the stock dips on succession worries, he also offers five signposts to watch out for - factors that could show that Apple is veering off its prosperous path:
•Talent flight -- the departure of key staffers.
•Diminished innovation -- if products lose their luster.
•Power shift -- if Apple loses the upper hand in dealing with partners.
•Halo dims -- the fear that customers/tech watchers start thinking that Apple products aren't better than all else.
•Lack of focus -- Apple's drive and urgency fade.
Apple is down 6.6 per cent since it hit an all-time high of $364.90 a week ago, compared with a 2 per cent dip of the Nasdaq during the same time period.
The sluggish iPhone sales at Verizon, along with apprehension around possible delays of new products like the iPad 2 and iPhone 5 later this year, have taken some of the enthusiasm out of the stock.