[bluthru]

I feel Apple would be better as a private company but it's too late at this point.

[rtpg]

Is there a way for a company like Apple to secretly buy back stock? I feel like at one point it would show up in the books...

[beeboop]

Not really, no. There are laws in place to force transparency in stuff like this, and rightfully so.

[oddevan]

Don't know about secretly (they could probably set up a stealth LLC and file it under "strategic investment"), but they've had a stock buyback program for a while.