With the year rapidly coming to an end, investors may be thinking about which stocks they want in their portfolios in 2014. In this segment, Two Fools Debate, Fool editor Jamal Carnette and contributor Sam Mattera discuss whether investors should own Apple (AAPL 0.18%) in 2014.
Sam expects another year of underperformance. He sees Google's (GOOGL -2.19%) Android encroaching on Apple's territory, while telecom giants in the US, including AT&T continue to move away from smartphone subsidies. More competition from Android-powered tablets and smartphones could lead to fewer Apple products being sold, while Apple's reliance on carrier subsidies could weigh on iPhone sales should they go away.
In contrast, Jamal is hopeful that Apple will outperform in the coming year. He expects that Apple's recent deal with China Mobile will lead to millions more iPhones being sold in China, a large market of increasing importance. At the same time, new, forthcoming Apple products like the long-rumored smart watch and smart TV could drum up investor interest -- much like the iPad did in 2010 -- and lead to earnings growth in 2014.
