Should you buy Apple products or invest in its stocks?

Most people who buy electronics usually don't regret it. On the contrary, most people have strong feelings of nostalgia for their older computers, game consoles, audio players, or phones, including personal memories.

To analyze what is convenient over time, whether to spend money on a product or invest in the stocks of the company that produces it, we will analyze Apple products (NASDAQ: AAPL), as it is the company with the highest market capitalization in the US market and because its products have been innovative, from the time when they were led by Steve Jobs to the present day.

Apple Store

Next, we will present seven of the most popular Apple products of the last four decades, along with their current value if they had been investments in stocks. A big thank you to everymac.com for the original prices and release dates.

When the iPad was launched on April 3, 2010, the entry-level model cost $499, and the stock cost $9.32. That means that the value of the stock today would be $7,800. That's around a 1,580% gain.

iPhone 1. Released on June 29, 2007

The first iPhone was released on June 29, 2007. Again, it cost $499, and the stock cost $4.36. Today, the stocks would represent $16,855. To put it another way, that's around a 3,370% gain.

The launch of the MacBook was on May 16, 2006, and its cost was $1,099, and the stock cost $2.13. If, instead, that money was used to buy Apple stocks, it would have a value of $75,986 right now. That's around a 6,900% profit.

The first Mac Mini was launched on January 22, 2005, at the base price of $499, and the stock cost $1.37. If Apple stocks were bought at that time, it would represent $53,641 today, in other words, a gain of 10,750%.

The entry-level model of the iPod (which was released on October 23, 2001) cost $399, and the stock cost $0.31. That amount of Apple stocks at the release of the iPod would now be worth $189,551. That's around a 47,500% gain.

The release date of the iMac was on August 15, 1998, and its cost was $1,299, and the stock cost $0.31. Nowadays, those stocks could be sold for more than half a million dollars ($617,109 to be exact). That's a 47,500% gain.

First Macintosh. Launched on January 24, 1984

Finally, the first Macintosh. When it was released on January 24, 1984, the base model cost $2,495, and the stock cost $0.11. The value of those stocks today is worth several million dollars, $3,340,351. A 133,882% gain.

As a reflection, it is necessary to evaluate the things that are acquired because there may always be a wiser or more profitable alternative.

An option is to buy technological items and their equivalent in money in stocks of the company that produces them, a way to have coverage in cases of appreciation of the stock in the future (Hedging), even more advanced strategies, for example, buying CALL options with expiration dates greater than nine months (LEAPS).

All stock price calculations are according to the publication date, and the stock prices include stock splits.

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