Is Apple Stock's Shrinking Share Count Worth Paying Up For Near The Highs?

Apple (AAPL) stock has gained 41.2% over the past twelve months and trades near its 52-week high of $339.79. All the while, Apple keeps buying back its own shares, so each share you hold claims a bigger slice of the profit. That engine is real and well funded, but at 38.2 times trailing earnings it explains only a small part of what you are now paying for.