Here's a link to the latest link: apologies if it's been posted before and I've missed it.
Here's the chart from Yahoo showing B&O's share price over the past few years. Whilst there have been rights issues and readjustments, the shares have declined from almost 800DKR (with a very large dividend) to around 80DKR (with no dividend.)
On a similar (longer shown) timescale, Apple shares have gone from $15 to around $260 (with no dividend (ever)). (Scales are logarithmic.)
People get criticised for buying Apple over Microsoft based products on the basis that Apple charge double for the same thing. I find that not to be quite the case (as I type on a Toshiba/ Windows laptop, on its third keyboard, failing screen, expensive and nuisance Norton anti virus software that, if costed-in at the outset, would make this PC far more expensive than a MacBook!)
To follow Apple's pattern of recovery, B&O needs a device costing no more than double the competition, but of outstanding quality and design and within the price reach of a much larger number of customers. At the moment it's difficult to see the design or quality 'edge' that justifies prices so far ahead of the alternatives. Apple somehow still combines an exclusive/ quality image whilst selling millions and having queues at all its stores. If only B&O could find a way to do the same.
B&O isn't likely to produce the equivalent of an iPhone (judging by previous joint ventures with Samsung!)
Do Beoworlders have any ideas for the product that could propel B&O back to profitable success?
Graham
