What is Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s Secret Hedge Fund Buying?

With all of that cash on its balance sheet, investors have to be hoping for a dividend increase from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) next year, especially since the company chose to forgo a special outlay as we approach the fiscal cliff.

As Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster has said before, it’s easy to expect a dividend hike from Apple, assuming that it doesn’t complete any major acquisitions in the near term. With a payout ratio of close to 20%, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is slightly less generous than key competitors like Microsoft and Cisco, who pay out 32% and 29% of their cash as dividends.

Judging by Apple’s relatively balanced portfolio, it will be in an excellent position to boost dividends next year if it so chooses; let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments section below. For more Apple coverage, continue reading here:

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