Apple's growth has come largely from financial engineering and multiple expansion, while sales are stagnant and its net cash is gone. The market pays high multiples for predictable earnings, treating Apple and Costco almost as bond alternatives, but the re-rating has gone too far. Apple's ecosystem is weaker than people think: a free high-end Android or a device 10x more exciting from Samsung or a rival could pull many users away. Waiting for a sub-10x ex-cash multiple again makes sense. x.com