Without the boost of artificial intelligence, will Apple become a "boring" value stock?

Apple, which has not yet caught up with the AI boom, is about to shed its label as a tech growth stock?

Despite Apple's strong financial position, with a robust cash flow and balance sheet, the lack of growth momentum is evident. The recent performance in the AI field has not met market expectations, prompting people to question: Is Apple still a tech growth stock?

Phil Blancato, CEO of Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management and Chief Market Strategist at Osaic, likened Apple to a value stock, such as Coca Cola, suggesting that in the future, Apple may be more suitable for investors seeking stable returns rather than high-speed growth. The company's stock valuation should also undergo adjustments, aligning with traditional value stocks like Walmart, rather than being matched with high-growth tech stocks like Microsoft and Nvidia in the past.

Although Apple's pace in the AI field is currently slow, it still possesses a huge cash reserve and innovative capabilities, indicating the possibility of future transformation. With over $170 billion in cash reserves and an expected net profit of over $100 billion this year, Apple has unparalleled resources to venture into new markets.

Microsoft's successful transformation also provides a potential development blueprint for Apple: Microsoft, from a traditional software company, achieved significant stock price and market value growth by embracing cloud computing and AI.

Faced with stagnant sales, slowing revenue growth, and increasing regulatory pressures, Apple needs to make clearer progress in AI and other emerging technology fields to rekindle market confidence in its growth potential.

Investors are closely watching whether Apple can showcase significant progress in the AI field at key moments such as future software developer conferences.