Earnings only increase in Apple's case which is why it didn't work for IBM. Also, there are different unique capabilities Apple's products have that are just different than everything and this is part of the Apple ecosystem and specially designed App Store for iPods iPhones and airs. With regard to core their core is maxed out since there really aren't any new outlets except for china and the daming intellectual piracy from Asians like Samsung who don't respect patents and blatantly ripped off the technology without an ecosystem to support the technological advance. As I write this on my black iPhone 5 this device has changed the way I live even if I am still watching dvr'd KC football on a Samsung that company has built a dumb knockoff and so has everyone else. Journals, outstanding float is just something to check. When they report what percent is complete then divide that number by dollars spent and you'll have your share count. I stand corrected on the $150 billion buy back with it really being Ichan's fantasy but at $44 billion when they announce the completion of the buy ask they'll report an average price so you divide whatever that number turns out to be into the buy back amount and just know that that's the share count reduction. Until they actually retire stock the difference for Apple is that demand will never wane for those of us who rely on the features unique to iPhones specifically and ride a continual sales epoch of iTunes sales along with the unique apps for every Apple product that really differentiates it something as a hardware advancement akin to what Windows competitive advantage might have been at least to telecom markets.
No BS stating you're up $90 over spot. If you're going to make a call then do so, but without the handicap. This place is already stocked up on hindsight champions. I don't deny that you bought where you did, but it's moot unless stated at inception of the trade.