Investor Carl Icahn Dumps Apple Shares Over China Concerns (2024)

Thursday April 28, 2016 12:04 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Billionaire Carl Icahn, who has been buying large amounts of Apple stock over the past three years, today told CBNC that he sold his stake in the company.

"We no longer have a position in Apple," Icahn told CNBC's "Power Lunch" on Thursday, noting Apple is a "great company" and CEO Tim Cook is "doing a great job."

Icahn, who sold his shares earlier this year, said that he did so based on worries over China's attitude towards Apple. Earlier this month, the Chinese State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television forced Apple to take down the iTunes Movies and iBooks stores, and Chinese officials believe that Apple is "too deeply established" in core industries in the country.

Apple sales also fell 26 percent in greater China in the second quarter of 2016.

"You worry a little bit -- and maybe more than a little -- about China's attitude," Icahn said, later adding that China's government could "come in and make it very difficult for Apple to sell there... you can do pretty much what you want there."
He added, though, that if China "was basically steadied," he would buy back into Apple.

Prior to exiting his position, Icahn held 0.8 percent of outstanding shares. He told CNBC that he made approximately $2 billion on Apple and that he continues to view the stock as "cheap."

Apple shares have been on the decline since Tuesday's earnings call, where the company announced its first ever drop in iPhone sales and its first year-over-year revenue drop in 13 years. Apple stock is down approximately 2 percent today.

Tag: Carl Icahn

[ 419 comments ]

Top Rated Comments

farewelwilliams

103 months ago

Finally, we'll no longer have to see his creepy smile.

Score: 78 Votes (Like | Disagree)

spiderman0616

103 months ago

Fixed the headline for you:

"Carl Icahn Pumps and Dumps AAPL And Makes $2 billion."

The Wall Street garbage I've read today is making me feel like the entire world has gone insane.

Score: 63 Votes (Like | Disagree)

captain cadet

103 months ago

Apple's bubble has burst sadly, the lack of innovation is showing - I got an iPhone 6S and there is no ground breaking technology in it as such - Pressure sensitive screen is nice but still I rather it be waterproof or bigger battery. 16 GB is stupidly small also...
I remember having a iPad 3 and it's probably my pinnacle Apple Product. It never Crashed, it was lighting fast (not as slow as its now), it looked good (still does I think) and I used it and loved it!
My Macbook Pro crashes randomly, It feels incomplete in some places in the os (looking at you app store, iTunes, external keyboard, mouse support), but then again I prefer it to my Windows 10 laptop (god that is just awful)
My iPhone works mostly but the batter is no where special on it, the camera could have been better and should have been more waterproofed (like they are more water proof than iPhone 6 but I mean Apple Watch quality). The Samsung Galaxy S6 edges out the iPhone I hate to say and I could have well ended up with a Samsung Galaxy S6.

Apple - "Forward Thinking" and "Think different" seems to fade away

Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Kaibelf

103 months ago

I can't say his stance is wrong. China is being unusually aggressive about trying to stop Western influence. The USSR tried that as well, and it ended up costing them dearly in the end. People will naturally flock to the "forbidden fruit" out there.

Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)

amirite

103 months ago

Anyone notice Icahn is an anagram of China? Illuminati confirmed.

Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)

longofest

103 months ago

I expected no less than a pump and dump scheme from him.

Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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