The No.1 long-term driver of Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) stock has always been its ability to deliver innovative products with user-friendly interfaces. 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Steve Jobs, the deceased CEO of Apple, was known as its great visionary and innovator. When Jobs handed the reigns to former Chief Operations Officer Tim Cook in 2011, the biggest unknown was Cook’s ability to keep the innovation machine churning. Without innovative new product lines, Apple becomes the next me-too company, and its brand loses the luster of tech leadership. Long-term investors should keep♏ an eye on the innovation pipeline, as well as its . In the meantime, Apple stock prices will likely be driven by the following five factors:

iPhone Sales

iPhone sales are the largest revenue generator for the company. For 2019, sales of the iPhone accounted for more than half of Apple's revenue and were 18% higher than the same period in the previous year. Increasing penetration in current and new markets resulting in shar💃e gains, particularly in China and other emerging markets, and successful launches of the next generations of the iPhone will likely drive sales over the next 12-18 months. Increased competition from Android phones could hurt market share and revenue, as well as increasing market penetration of smartphones. 

iPad and Mac Sales

Tablet, laptop, and computer sales to both corporate and consumer users are an essential element of Apple’s revenues and stock prices. Sales of iPads and Mac computers combined totaled 18% of Apple's revenue in 2019. However, the iPad and Mac laptops and desktops have lost market share recently to devices from other companies, and saw declines in 2018. In 2019 growth improved for iPads. In October 2018, Apple announced new versions of some devices: the , the  and the  at🌱 higher price points than their previous versions. Look for increased competition in this category to continue to impact sales and margins.

Services

Services contributed nearly 18% of Apple's revenue in 2019, the same as iPad and Mac sales, and a 16% increase from 2018. 💙Some ind🦩ustry experts, including Cook himself, have talked about services being the new foundation for Apple moving forward. Others argue that for that to happen, though, Apple needs to increase its number of users and license its iOS to other companies.  

New Products

Among Apple's latest product launches is the HomePod, launched in It's a smart home hub and speaker set to compete with the likes of the Amazon Echo and Google Home. As of October 2018, it has struggled to gain market share from competitors. The , launched in April 2015, has managed to stay 🤡at the top of the wearables market as of October 2018. However, none of Apple's new products have reached the success of the iPhone.

Market Sentiment

This is the intangible with the stock. Investors expect Apple to beat estimates, so a beat alone will not drive the stock price higher. The beat has to be higher than the so-called 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:whisper number—the number of market participants expecജt Apple to post (usually higher than t🀅he estimate).

The Bottom Line

Apple’s incredible past success has brought with it brand recognition, desirable products, and a loyal consumer base willing to pay a prꩲemium. But it has also created a monster where the market expects, even demands, innovative products regularly, and presumes the company will consistently beat modeled revenues and earnings. Without the ability to keep the machine rolling with a strong pipeline of new and innovative product launches, the stock could fall, even with the huge cash position the company holds. Apple investors want growth, and when that growth is not delivered, the rotation from a momentum investor to a value investor, who does care about the cash, maybe quite painful.