隔海看中国

Wall-Street analysts are seldom apologetic, at least not for their bad stock recommendations. However, that was exactly what one analyst did on the 3Q Apple earnings conference call – for asking a questions that is in everybody’s mind.

Analyst:
Okay, thanks. And then my last thing is just I would like to ask it as respectfully as possible. A New York newspaper today obviously called into question some issues around Steve and obviously his health and we get a lot of questions about it. And I’m really sorry to ask because it’s a very private matter, but would you mind addressing the situation and just making it so we can have your official statement? And I apologize in advance for having to ask the question.

Peter Oppenheimer, Apple Inc. – CFO
Steve loves Apple. He serves as the CEO at the pleasure of Apple’s board and has no plans to leave Apple. Steve’s health is a private matter.

Apple share was down 8% that day, which means north of $10B of shareholder value was wiped out. I don’t think all of that was due to concern about Steve’s health condition. But even 10% of that, we are talking about one billion dollars of shareholder money. Why should shareholder be paying for protecting Steve’s so called privacy?

Update 1:
In a NY Times article published two days after the earnings call, it was reported that Steve Jobs reassured several people that he is doing well and cancer-free.

Update 2:
Another NY Times article on Steve Job’s health.