Why Netflix Could Be A Top Prospect For Apple

Every quarter, Apple Inc. AAPL’s massive $256.8 billion cash hoard swells by a few billion dollars, and every quarter, analysts and experts give their opinions on what Apple should do with all that cash. This week, Citi analyst Jim Suva was the latest to give his two cents on Apple’s cash, suggesting a buyout of Netflix, Inc. NFLX would be the best choice.

Bumping The Apple Rumors

Up to this point, Apple has been content to simply watch its overseas cash hoard grow as it patiently waits for President Donald Trump’s proposed 10 percent repatriation tax holiday. If Trump follows through on his proposal, Apple may soon have access to more than $230 billion in cash. If Apple chooses to go the M&A route, Suva estimates there is a 40 percent chance Apple will use a large chunk of that cash to join forces with Netflix.

If Apple passes on a Netflix buyout, Suva believes a buyout of Walt Disney Co DIS would be the next most likely scenario. Citi estimates the chances of an Apple/Disney merger at 25 percent.

In addition, the firm named Hulu, Activision Blizzard, Inc. ATVI, Take Two Interactive Software Inc TTWO and Tesla Inc TSLA as possible Apple targets, though Suva says the chances of a deal involving any of this tier of potential targets is 10 percent or lower.

In April, RBC Capital analyst Amit Daryanani explored the possibility that Apple could buy Disney, but he concluded that “odds are low” that the acquisition would actually take place.

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