Steve Jobs is officially back at work, according to Apple PR. Even though he had a conveniently reported on a Friday night after the markets had closed. Last week, Jobs was spotted back on Apple’s campus and was even quoted in a press release! Today, Apple is hammering home the message that Jobs is back on the job, telling multiple news organizations from ABC News to Bloomberg to the New York Times to Reuters the exact same canned quote (sometimes attributed to spokesman Steve Dowling, sometimes not).
Steve is back to work, Jobs is at Apple a few days a week and working at home the remaining days. We are very glad to have him back.
Hopefully, he is working from home more than from the office until he is fully recovered. But what is all of this messaging about? When Jobs took his medical leave of absence in January, he said he would return by June 30. This is Apple’s way of telling investors that he kept to that deadline despite the seriousness of his operation. The official story is that he is back, even if only part-time. But honestly, if he took another six months, would anyone blame him?
Apple’s stock has always been tied closely to Steve Jobs, but if the past six months have taught investors anything it is that the company’s fortunes are tied even closer to its products. And Apple’s products are on fire right now. Over the past six months, the stock is up 82 percent.
I don’t think its very good for a company do be dependent so much on her CEO.
I think Apple just proved in the last 6 months that they aren’t.
I think they could have done better than the iPhone 3G S if Steve was there for the last 6 months. They may have even changed up the iPhone design a bit.
I don’t think Steve would have wanted them to do something major during his absence. After all, he probably knew he was coming back and that Apple could wait to do something more spectacular. However, if he, in his head, knew he wasn’t going to come back, he would want Apple to do the absolute best it could.
This is why I knew he was coming back!!!
In a related news, Steve Jobs used his restroom at exactly 09 hrs 00 min 23 sec, it took another 45 seconds for the peeing activity. Surprisingly, it was more yellow than usual green.
Best of All, even the Apple CEO has replaceable battery (liver) but none of the latest apple products could have that. If battery is dead, your apple appliance is dead too.
I don’t think Steve would have wanted them to do something major during his absence. After all, he probably knew he was coming back and that Apple could wait to do something more spectacular. However, if he, in his head, knew he wasn’t going to come back, he would want Apple to do the absolute best it could.
This is why I knew he was coming back!!!
Now, where have I read that before?
I didn’t double post this. Something weird happened. If you try and double post something it tells you that you can’t.
the chart is flawed, come on Eirk, you can do better than that.
first off, you included only 6 months. if you see 1 year chart, you will have a better picture.
the chart is total unrelated to the steve’s return.
Looking at the stock chart I cannot help but think: “No pressure Steve.”
This is great news as it’s well known that once you’re back at work you can never die.
Apple shareholders: look forward to exponential growth in perpetuity.
All Hail Steve Jobs… He is the best… Steve Jobs > Bill Gates.
With things like this, coming back to stress too soon can be deadly. I think Apple would survive if he took 3 more months totally off.
Its a marketing gimmick IMO. There is no way that apple or jobs are stupid enough to be back working if he is not fully recovered.
As the article points out, Steve will be working from home a large portion of the week. I think his return is mostly about making it public exactly what was going on with his health. Also, just the concept of him being “back” is a very good thing; even if it means him working from home.
OMFG these past six months I’ve felt like a sheep without his shepard… Finally I can live my life to its fullest.
Honestly it’s too hard to say, how much Apple depends on jobs now. As Apple seems to be on auto-pilot mode, following the well laid out path.
hmm smart move from apple
. Very clever
Where are the vowels in you last name?:)
Oh you are soo smart. The whole market index improved in the last monts. How about this?
And Apple still reaps the fruits of the year before, when Steve was still at the top.
Smart move by Apple to keep the Investors happy.
If I were an Apple shareholder I’d get out now while it’s high. Don’t get me wrong, I hope Steve makes a full recovery, but having a company that can swing on the health of a person recovering from cancer and a failed liver would make me scared.
The stock price has gone up about 80% since Steve left. Apple executed nearly perfectly in that time. (I would like to see them be more pro-active about the App Store developer issues.)
And BTW, most long-time Apple shareholders don’t consider $140 “high.” Apple has so much more room to grow their share price. I have been holding since 2003, and have no plans whatsoever to sell any stock any time soon, even if Steve Jobs drops dead.
Lights come on. Curtains open. For those of you who say ‘the company should do without him’ I say to you, Steve Jobs is a legend and should be there until he doesn’t want to be there. You and I like it better when Steve is present. ( I thought he’d make his reappearance during the WWDC and should have. ) He is a showman and we like that. So Steve, follow me on twitter. The spotlight is on.
Apple has long product development pipeline. The stuff out there right now has been planned more than 12 month ago while Steve was around. It will be a huge loss without Steve going forward.
But I would still long Apple stock for the foreseeable future.
“Sell on the rumour, buy on the news” – Steve Jobs’ absence was already priced into the stock when he took leave (along with many other things)
The chart in your article is meaningless.
Now that explains it… my iPhone was acting crazy last 6 months.