Apple’s Comeback: Why Investors Are Quietly Winning Big in 2024

Summary

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Earn Your Leisure: Apple’s Comeback – Why Investors Are Quietly Winning Big in 2024

Podcast: Earn Your Leisure
Hosts: Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings
Episode Date: December 7, 2025

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Overview

In this episode, the Earn Your Leisure Stock Club team breaks down Apple’s impressive comeback in 2024, analyzing why investors are quietly winning big despite market volatility and negative headlines. The hosts discuss Apple’s stock performance, its evolving business and AI strategies, the shifting role of tech stocks as a safe haven, and broader lessons on big tech resilience, all with candid insights, some humor, and actionable takeaways for savvy investors.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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Apple Defies the Doubters

[03:36–04:08]

• Apple just hit a 52-week high ($283), even as the broader market declined.
  • “The rumors of its decline have been greatly overrated. Today when the market was down, Apple hit a 52 week high. Yeah, it is back on track. $283.” — Stock Club Member 3 [03:36]
• Apple is “quietly having a stellar year again and is quietly moving up the mountain.”

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Faith in Leadership: Tim Cook & AI

[04:11–05:20]

• Discussion about Apple’s leadership:
  • “For the record, I never took it out of two tech... I just said Tim Cook should be replaced.” — Stock Club Member 1 [04:11]
  • “They said you were doing Apple wrong. But I never left him.” — Stock Club Member 2 [04:21]
• Acknowledge recent leadership shifts, including Apple’s Head of AI stepping down.
  • “Two things can be true at the same time. If you listen, I can make you money. ...But do they still need to fix their AI strategy? For sure.” — Stock Club Member 1 [04:24 & 04:44]
• Apple’s projected return over the next four years is estimated at 25–33%, making it comparable to a bond alternative for investors.
  • “Microsoft, Apple and Google are going to act like a safety haven, like a bond, because no one wants our American debt anymore.” — Stock Club Member 1 [04:44]

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Apple’s Global Approach and Product Wins

[05:20–06:03]

• The team admires Apple’s patient strategy—less about flashy product drops, more focus on regional growth (notably India and China).
  • “Let’s trust the regional approach that they said they were going to take... They now pass their number one back in China. The iPhone 17 beat all the sale projections.” — Stock Club Member 2 [05:20]
• Apple’s success in China, marked by the iPhone 17’s sales, is highlighted as a “quiet” success not spotted by many analysts.

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Apple & AI: What’s Next?

[06:03–06:20], [11:23–12:02]

• AI strategy remains an unresolved issue:
  • “The AI strategy should be interesting, right?... the head of AI stepped down. But if we watch how Google rolled out their approach to AI, I feel like something similar is happening here.” — Stock Club Member 2 [06:03]
• There’s intrigue around Apple’s potential deal with Intel, suggesting a new tech stack or AI product is coming.
  • “The Intel play tells me that, alright, there’s something coming from this, right. The government’s been involved one and now you have Apple in talks. There’s something here that we have to do a deep dive into.” — Stock Club Member 2 [11:56]
• The speculative tone hints at potential big moves in Apple AI, possibly following Google’s playbook.

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Tech Stocks as the New Bonds

[04:44]

• Broad consensus that the biggest tech firms (Apple, Microsoft, Google) are becoming safe havens much like bonds once were—major institutional capital is expected to flow to these giants for lower risk and decent yield.
  • “The big money is going to flow to places where it can get a return and not have to worry about a 25 or 60 decline. And in markets like this, I think they’re going to do a hell of a lot better.” — Stock Club Member 1 [04:44]

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Community Commentary and Stock Club Offers

[12:50–15:38]

• Stock Club remains bullish: “Apple has been a staple in stock club for the inception eight years.” — Stock Club Member 3 [12:50]
• Shout-outs to the Stock Club community, special membership offers, and educational opportunities are discussed (including access to real estate, trading, and future events at Nvidia campus).
• Playful banter about missing a “stock ticker” and the importance of patience in trading.

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Notable Quotes

• “The rumors of its decline have been greatly overrated. Today when the market was down, Apple hit a 52 week high.” — Stock Club Member 3 [03:36]
• “Microsoft, Apple and Google are going to act like a safety haven, like a bond, because no one wants our American debt anymore… 25–33% [return] would effectively replace the bond market.” — Stock Club Member 1 [04:44]
• “Let’s trust the regional approach that they said they were going to take... They now pass their number one back in China. The iPhone 17 beat all the sale projections.” — Stock Club Member 2 [05:20]
• “If you listen, I can make you money.” — Stock Club Member 1 [04:24]
• “I never said take Apple out [of the portfolio]... Stock Club, yes or no?” — Stock Club Member 1 [12:02]
• “Apple has been a staple in stock club for the inception eight years.” — Stock Club Member 3 [12:50]

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:36] – Apple’s 52-week high, defying the “decline” narrative
• [04:44] – Apple, Microsoft, Google as “the new bonds” and institutional safety havens
• [05:20] – Apple’s global/regional plan, wins in China and India, iPhone 17 sales outpacing projections
• [06:03] – Apple’s AI strategy and leadership shake-up
• [11:56] – Intel partnership speculation, government involvement, future product hints
• [12:50] – Stock Club’s long-term commitment to Apple as a portfolio staple

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Recap & Takeaways

• Apple’s narrative remains strong: Despite media speculation and market volatility, the company’s fundamentals and product performance—in particular the iPhone 17’s global resurgence—support continued investor optimism.
• Tech giants as financial “safe havens”: As global capital seeks stability and yield, Apple, Microsoft, and Google are the new go-to's for large-scale investors in a changing macro environment.
• AI is the next frontier: Apple’s path in AI remains somewhat opaque, but moves around leadership and possible partnerships with Intel could signal big announcements to come.
• Patience and strategic thinking win: The hosts reinforce that long-term positioning in solid tech stocks like Apple is paying off in 2024.
• Community matters: The show continues to emphasize the power of group learning, Stock Club resources, and the advantage of sticking with proven strategies and educating yourself.

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This episode is a must-listen for investors seeking context on Apple’s resilience, shifting market paradigms in 2024, and how to position themselves for future tech-driven returns.

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Transcript

[Matt Rogers]

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[Matt Rogers]

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[Stock Club Member 1]

Nice.

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[Stock Club Member 2]

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[Matt Rogers]

We.

[Stock Club Member 3]

Have to talk about Apple. The rumors of its decline have been greatly overrated. Today when the market was down, Apple hit a 52 week high. Yeah, it is back on track. $283.

So Apple quietly is having a, having a stellar year again and is quietly moving up the mountain.

[Stock Club Member 1]

Risk off.

[Stock Club Member 2]

Risk is off.

[Stock Club Member 1]

And for the record, I never took it out of two tech Red Panda. Yes or no? See or no? Never never took it out. I just said Tim Cook should be replaced.

[Stock Club Member 2]

They said you were doing Apple wrong. But I never left him.

[Stock Club Member 1]

I, I never left. And then they reported that he's going to leave. And today Apple's head of AI steps down. So two things can be true at the same time. If you listen, I can make you money. So but the bigger theme for right now, I put this in telegram for Stock club before we started.

Risk is off. And Microsoft, Apple and Google are going to act like a safety haven, like a bond, because no one wants our American debt anymore. So the projected return for Apple over the next four years is supposed to be 25 to 33%. That would effectively replace the bond market. So the big money is going to flow to places where it can get a return and not have to worry about a 25 or 60 decline. And in markets like this, I think they're going to do a hell of a lot better. But do they still need to fix their AI strategy? For sure.

[Stock Club Member 2]

I, I think when we had this conversation it was kind of one of those things they remember. I was like Yeah, I think we're looking at this, maybe they're looking at this a little bit differently than how we were seeing it in the sense of like everybody's rushing out to see what the product is, what the product is. And their thing was kind of let's sit back and see what happens and let's trust the regional approach that they, they said that they were going to take with going into India trying to get China sales for the first time. They now pass their number one back in China. The iPhone 17 beat all the sale projections and this seems to be an uptick for 20, 26. And then quietly nobody was like talking about this. They, they're in talks to, to you know, use intel, which, which what we saw.

10. And so that AI strategy should be interesting, right? Like you said, the, the head of AI stepped down. But if we watch how Google rolled out their approach to AI, I feel like something similar is happening here. Right where it was like it was gpu, gpu, gpu. We were like, what's going.

[Matt Rogers]

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[Stock Club Member 2]

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[Stock Club Member 3]

Hello.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast smart talks with IBM. I recently sat down with IBM's chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna, and I asked him, how can companies use AI to its full, fullest potential to create smarter business? My one advice to them, pick areas you can scale. Don't pick the shiny little toys on the side. For example, if anybody has more than 10% of what they had for customer service 10 years ago, they're already five years behind. If anybody is not using AI to make their developers who write software 30% more productive today with the goal of being 70% more productive.

[Stock Club Member 2]

Yeah.

[Stock Club Member 1]

Wow.

[Matt Rogers]

So we are not asking our clients to be the first experiment on it. We say you can leverage what we did. We are happy to bring out all our learnings, including what needs to change in the process. Because the biggest change is not technology. It's getting people to accept that there's a different way to do things. To listen to the full conversation, visit IBM.com smart talks.

[Stock Club Member 2]

What are you going to do when they. Oh, here comes tpu. Oh, okay. This is, this is different. Like how, how we are going to maneuver in this environment now. I feel like Apple has been positioned themselves. Still haven't acquired anything. Yeah, right. IPhone is still the product that it is. Right. They, they have expanded in the, in the regions that they once dominated. They're back dominating, which is why we're seeing this. Right. But I, the intel play tells me that, all right, there's something coming from this. Right. You, the government.

The government's been involved one and now you have Apple in talks. There's something here that we have to do a deep dive into.

[Stock Club Member 1]

It's like an arrangement marriage that Trump put together to get return back on it. To be very clear. And I'm not talking to the normies, I'm talking to the exceptional. I never said take Apple stock club, yes or no.

[Stock Club Member 3]

And yeah, I don't know what happened to the stock ticker. We were. I just.

[Stock Club Member 1]

Next week.

[Stock Club Member 3]

Yeah, let's just. I see the comments disappointment.

I'm not sure what happened to the stock ticker.

[Stock Club Member 1]

They're disappointed that we don't have it this week. Sir. Listen, when you chef well to have the masterpiece like you guys had on.

[Stock Club Member 2]

Thursday, it takes time because if it.

[Stock Club Member 1]

Looked ugly then it would be like, oh, that's what y' all came up with.

[Stock Club Member 2]

So patience, patience, patience.

[Stock Club Member 3]

But what I do know, like I said, two tech, two index, Apple has been a staple in stock club for the inception eight years. And with that being said, shout out to everybody. I took advantage of that Market Monday's Black Friday sale, that bundle pack that we put together, it is officially sold out. You will be getting your information about Nvidia in the next week or so. But yeah, everybody that took advantage of that, that's lifetime access to stock club. Lifetime access to EY University 2026 Invest Fest VIP ticket, in person mastermind in Washington D.C. capitol Hill tour in Capitol Hill, like in the Capitol Hill. Meet with high level politicians, the queen of AI, myself, Ian Troy, in person Mastermind. And then the exclusive trip to Nvidia campus. Talk with Nvidia executives going over the latest product, deliverings a few other surprises. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Stock Club Member 2]

A few other surprises.

[Stock Club Member 3]

So that's major. So like I said, we'll be getting the information to you guys soon as far as that Nvidia situation and the in person mastermind. But kudos to everybody that took advantage of that. You're one step closer to, you know, hitting that, hitting that mark. Now, Cyber Monday for anybody that was not able to take advantage of that Black Friday deal, maybe the price point was a little too steep for your pockets. You know, difficult times. Right now we are doing a Cyber Monday deal. Five year access to EY University. Five year access to Stock Club. 50% off of the price. That was the Black Friday deal. So the Black Friday was for a certain demographic of people. But if you were not able to take advantage of the Black Friday deal, you can take advantage of the Cyber Monday offer. Five year access to stock club. Five year access to EYL University. Market MondaysDeal.com Market Mondays with a S. Market Mondays Deal.com 48 hours only. This will end by blackout on Wednesday. 48 hours only. First serve stock club. You get the prices, you get the weekly calls, you get the targets. EY University, amongst other things, you get choice options class where he actually goes over his portfolio, talks about different trades. We got the app, we got the community, we got the real estate, home buyers. Blueprint Volume 1, Volume 2, Monthly Financial Planning calls, regional groups, a lot going on. Let's just say that market mondaysdale.com if you want to take advantage of it. 48 hours only stock club EY University bundled two together.

[Stock Club Member 1]

Yes. And for those you accent. I'm not individually doing nothing now or Christmas or Rosh Hashanah.

[Stock Club Member 3]

So no, no, this is Matcha.

[Stock Club Member 2]

We're not excluding anyone.

[Stock Club Member 3]

This is matcha. Ladies and gentlemen, earners, what's up.

[Stock Club Member 2]

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[Matt Rogers]

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[Stock Club Member 2]

No fees, no interest.

[Matt Rogers]

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[Matt Rogers]

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[Stock Club Member 2]

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[Matt Rogers]

This is an I Heart Podcast. Guaranteed human.