Apple: A Heavenly Stock, but a Devil of a Company

It doesn't take a genius to see where this is heading. Within 24 months, its mobile IOS will likely be a standard in each vehicle. I mean just think about it, it's called "mobile IOS." This is precisely the reason that the company has finally adopted social media giant Facebook(FB) into its operating system while having also spoken positively about Twitter. Apple understands that the automobile or "the smartcar" is the next huge market once smartphones are saturated.

So while it battles the likes of Google, Nokia(NOK) and Samsung in the courts and in the stores as the constant fight for device supremacy continues, Apple has already answered the question that market leaders struggle with each day -- what's next? Its rivals are chasing a ghost that has already moved on -- essentially proving how shrewd the company is and how it has become the puppet master of its competition.

Bottom Line

There has never been a company that operates with the "Star Trek mentality" in the way that Apple has. Its corporate mission continues to be "to boldly go where no man has gone before." Not content with just getting there, the company also takes pride in looking in its rearview mirror to see what road kill it has left behind.

It has taken on Research In Motion's best shot and won, leaving RIM on life support. It continuously brushes off threats from the likes of Google and Amazon(AMZN) . It stands tall above everyone else as the leader of the tech sector and shows no meaningful signs of slowing down.

The reason for this is that aside from its apparent investments in Kevlar, the company has loads of cash to spend on R&D and future projects. However to me, the more likely reason is that as much as Apple understands that it is being hunted, it also enjoys a good hunt. Unfortunately for its rivals, not only is Apple a good shot, but its targets don't discover they are in the crosshairs until they find themselves on the roof of Apple's car.

This article is commentary by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.