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The week's question
In March 2025, in the thread "Re: OT, out", Umm asked the members: "Do you think it is because America is made up of magical soil that makes businesses based in America magically profitable?" This week it is put to everyone again. The button below opens the small thread re-asking it - read what others have said so far, then give your own answer as an ordinary reply.
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Stocks A to Z / Stocks B / Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)
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Author: Mark ☼  😊 😞
Number: of 22351 
Subject: Re: Apple Capital Returns
Date: 02/03/26 3:34 PM
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<<Apple Cash Return Surpasses $1 Trillion>>

Not for nuthin’, but I do wish they had gotten into the EV business ...


Why? They would have an increased capex of tens of billions and overall gross margin would have dropped like a rock. The auto business is just not a particularly good business. And even if segments of it becomes a good business, that only lasts for a relatively soft time because all the competitors flock to those segments and commoditize it. I've been an Apple shareholder for decades and I don't think this would have been a good idea for the business.

It would have been nice to have a level headed new entrant with design sensibilities, brand recognition, and US ownership take a shot at it. They would have had the cash to make it happen, and an eager customer base ready to pounce.

As I've discussed many times over the years, I would have absolutely LOVED an Apple car. If it worked as well as my iPhones did, it would have been a joy to own. However, I strongly suspect that in order to make it a joy, it would have to be priced significantly above my price range for a car, for any car. So in the end, I wouldn't have enjoyed it at all, other than perhaps a short-term rental to salivate over it for a few days. And because the price range would be so high, volume would be relatively low, and it would never become mass market enough to produce large profits. Again, not a good idea for the business.

I spent $1400 on my last iPhone and was rather uncomfortable spending that much on a mere phone. But at least I could put it in my pocket, put a protector around it, and have an excellent warranty. But heck, I would never leave it out on the street or in a parking lot somewhere!
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This community has written 21,861 posts about Berkshire Hathaway. The article-length ones it recommended most:
BRK: Why Not XOM? · 62 recs · 2024
Second quarter comments · 60 recs · 2023
Berkshire's Profit Contributors · 58 recs · 2023
Summary of 2Q 2026 · 55 recs · 2026
3Q Summary · 53 recs · 2024
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