We love Apple as a company and as an innovator…and also as an EM powerhouse. Say what you want about Apples ASP price point being too high, but it’s still a global aspirational brand that developing nation consumers want to own.
The opponents of Apple (AAPL, quote) in EM say that they are going to miss the majority of EM (EEM, quote) consumers. I say that’s fine and ill still take the growth.
Right now in the middle of an iPhone refresh cycle, I believe China can be a swing factor in whether the company cranks shipment numbers even higher than consensus and how long it sustains this cycles’ enormous growth spurt. China (FXI, quote) appears to have bene about 25% of last quarters iPhone unit sales. Here are industry data points that indicate Apple may have had the largest smartphone sales in China in the three months ending January 2015, in “urban China”(the message here is that where there is more affluence in china and Apple products can be supported and ARE being consumed).
Other data from Kantar says Apple outflanked Xiaomi as the largest smartphone make in china for the three months ending February 2015 with a 27.6% market share. This is up from 17.9% one year earlier. It’s not just China, Apple sales across BRIC countries were +97% last quarter y/y according to the company.
To learn how Tim is Trading Apple Log into your account and select menu item “Trade Ideas”
To Subscribe, to the Emerging Trade Ideas Click Here