Apple Continues To Blow Other Companies Away

The resurgence of Apple Inc. AAPL stock has been an amazing turn of events from last summer when the stock appeared to headed down the drain. It seemed everyone had written a eulogy for the company, saying Apple could only be considered a phone hardware company and nothing else. The stock is flirting with all-time highs now, and since the beginning of 2017 Apple is up a whopping 16 percent or so, making the biggest company in the world worth well over $600 billion.

But what I find fascinating is the competitive spirit of Apple, which produces some of most sleek and user-friendly devices around. But they are often not the first to do so, but when you are good at re-engineering other products and have a following like Apple, then they are going to eventually leave the competition in the dust.

Many look at Apple as simply a phone hardware company, and if you strictly go by their sales figures you would mostly be correct. This year marks the 10 year anniversary of the iPhone, an amazing device that the late Steve Jobs said would revolutionize society. Indeed, it has. But what about the first mover? That would be BlackBerry Ltd BBRY, formerly known as Research in Motion (RIMM). Before the iPhone came on the scene, everyone with a smartphone used a Blackberry. Apple was late with their phone, but it didn't really matter.

As the functionality changed and demand for services and apps increased, Apple saw an opening and eventually crushed Blackberry—which once was riding higher than Apple with a large market share. Today, Blackberry is barely holding on and is probably more of an acquisition candidate—but then, who wants to compete with Apple?

I have been a big Fitbit Inc FIT fan for years. I used mine wherever I go to count steps and other great features. Well, after six years I have retired my Fitbit in exchange for an Apple Watch, which I cannot get off my wrist! It is a tremendous device, a motivator and a great companion. It will do exactly what Fitbit does and more, so why do I need duplication? Fitbit stock is down some 90 percent from its highs and getting strangled by Apple. Again, late to the party with their watch—but Apple wins again. Further, they may very well set a trend for fashion, and if the previous earnings for Fossil are any indication it is happening right now. This stock is down about 70 percent from its highs.

What is next for Apple to conquer? It seems they eventually win wherever they step, the latest being original programming with movie and TV content. Netflix, Inc. NFLX, Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN, and Hulu have blazed a fast trail, and Apple is getting a late start. But as always, they will make an impact—while everyone is watching out.