Apple (APLA) is piling up boatloads of cash: just not here in the U.S.A.
Those boatloads are increasing becoming docked in Apple's foreign subsidiaries and cannot be repatriated without incurring additional hefty U.S. taxes.
A whopping $54 billion of Apple's $82 billion cash and investments is in offshore accounts. {the $$ numbers used here were accurate when this was composed}
It isn't coming here: The giant 35% U.S. corporate tax has created an artificial divide between U.S. and foreign holdings, a divide which cannot be easily bridged.
Moreover, the off-shore component of cash is growing almost exponentially, courtesy of milder overseas tax treatment as well as burgeoning foreign markets.
In contrast, Apple's U.S.A. cash / investments are increasing much more slowly.
The foreign contribution to Apple's cash and investments is growing at far faster pace than the U.S.A.
Increasingly, Apple's cash lies overseas out of easy reach, a trend that will pose a considerable challenge for the company in instituting a significant dividend, buyback, or U.S. acquisition.
For the foreseeable future, Apple's foreign wealth will keep getting larger:
Ultimately, Apple may become more of an overseas business with a U.S. division hindered from a lack of ready cash.
Does Apple have TOO MUCH cash ? ... Explain / Discuss
What risk(s) or downside(s) is /are there to Apple's having approx. $ 100 Billion in domestic + mostly in foreign cash reserve?
How might Apple computer utilize this huge cash reserve to maximize the benefit to its shareholders ..... keep in mind...it CANNOT give it to them as dividends
Who are the owners of Apple computer and therefore, the owners of all of that cash ... ignore give-away programs and charitable contributions