Amazon Has Badly Underperformed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 Since Jeff Bezos Stepped Down as CEO. Could Apple Do the Same Starting Sept. 1 When Tim Cook Steps Down?

Amazon's stock has underperformed the broader market since Jeff Bezos stepped down as CEO in mid-2021, gaining roughly 50% compared to the S&P 500's 90% and Nasdaq-100's 100%+ gains. As Tim Cook steps down from Apple on September 1, investors should consider whether Apple could face similar underperformance. The key difference is Apple's more conservative AI strategy focused on product enhancement rather than massive infrastructure spending like Amazon. While Apple's approach is currently favored by investors, the outcome will depend on how well this AI bet plays out as the company transitions leadership.