[tavilach]

I could use some cash . Would it be a bad time to invest in AAPL? It seems like Apple is going to keep doing better and better, but I always thought that the best time to invest is before the company starts doing really well. And that time has already passed.

[Big Mac]

AAPL will likely languish in the $30-$40 range for awhile. The stock is driven by highly successful products, like the iMac and the iPod. Unfortunately, it is true that the iPod run-up is probably behind us for the most part. I have not looked at the chart since the split, so I'm not too sure where the support and resistance levels are. To be sure, the time to buy is when you see substantive momentum either way. I know that advice is not very helpful, but at least you got your money's worth.

[RonnieoftheRose]

At the moment, after the split, AAPL could have stayed around the $45 mark but the rise in oil prices hit the Nasdaq quite hard wiping 100 points off it. Most tech stocks came down with the Nasdaq. So right now without any news from Apple, AAPL will hover around the $42 mark. It could go up to the $45-50 range with the release of Tiger and new Macs. Analyists are predicting $55-60 by the end of the September but that depends on the shape of the economy and if Apple's competitors don't represent a challenge to the iPod and iTunes dominance. I don't think there's much to make unless you're very very well off and have the kind of spare money to buy lots of shares. If you don't then I would advise you not to gamble your savings and keep working hard at your job while saving your money the best you can.

[macaddict0001]

your choice.
but in my opinion wait until the stock plummets then buy.

[itai195]

I don't personally think AAPL is a good value right now. I also think it's risky given that analysts haven't typically loved Apple in the past, so I wouldn't be surprised if they bolt at the slightest sign of 'bad news.' After they bolt, then it's a good time to buy

[Big Mac]

That's true ital195 - the stock is pretty highly valued at this point, and it's probable that the stock will be hit hard by any hint of weakness. On the other hand, if the iPod holds up and Apple can show growth on other fronts, we could see new highs.

[Scotttheking]

Stock is not a short term investment.
If you want money now, get a job, or put some cash into a savings account.

[Big Mac]

Equities can be and should be a short term investment if the conditions are right. The old "buy and hold" model is one of the factors that caused people to lose their shirts during the dot-com collapse. I am definitely not advocating day trading (unless one acquires that skill), but if you can take your profit from a run-up, that is A Good Thing™. Of course, you're probably discouraging the OP from losing vital money in the market, which is a good thing to suggest. Don't invest unless you can afford to lose what you're putting up.

[E's Lil Theorem]

If you decide to buy, I'd say wait until a few days before Apple announces their quarter earnings. Most analysts are predicting very good quarter numbers for AAPL. After the good news, I think you may see a boost of about $5-6 from the current $42 to about $48.