Ross Gerber Demands Tim Cook Resign: ‘He Hasn’t Done a Thing in Years’ on AI

Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL | AAPL Price Prediction) investor Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, dropped a bombshell on X Tuesday: “It’s time for Tim Apple to resign. He hasn’t done a thing really in years. Apple…

Published January 29, 2026, 11:34am ET · 2 min read

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Apple CEO Tim Cook, a white-haired man in glasses and a dark shirt, stands on a dark stage with his right hand raised in a wave. Behind him, a large, glowing neon blue outline of the Apple logo dominates the left side of the frame. The background is mostly black, with faint indications of an audience at the bottom.
Apple CEO Tim Cook greets the audience at a product launch event. This pivotal moment comes as analysts issue warnings about the company's future gross margins. © Justin Sullivan / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL | AAPL Price Prediction) investor Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, dropped a bombshell on X Tuesday: “It’s time for Tim Apple to resign. He hasn’t done a thing really in years. Apple completely missed the AI boat and now needs Google to survive.”

The timing is pointed. Apple reports Q1 FY2026 earnings today with analysts expecting $2.67 EPS and $138.5 billion in revenue. We discussed this in today’s Daily Profit newsletter, and the earnings picture tells a different story than Gerber’s frustration suggests.

Under Cook, Apple has beaten EPS estimates in eight consecutive quarters, averaging 4.2% above consensus. Q2 2025 crushed estimates by nearly 10%. Revenue grew 7.9% year-over-year with operating margins at 31.7% and profit margins at 26.9%. The company generates $416 billion in annual revenue with a 171% return on equity. These aren’t the numbers of a CEO who “hasn’t done a thing.”

But Gerber’s criticism isn’t baseless. Apple’s stock is down 5.7% year-to-date while Microsoft has made strides despite their own blown earnings last night. The Google partnership for Gemini-powered AI features, which Gerber mocks, underscores Apple’s late arrival to the AI race. Prediction markets show only 36% probability of Apple closing above $260 by month-end.

Apple hasn’t responded to Gerber’s comments. Analyst consensus remains 64% buy/strong buy with a $287 average target, though 42% rate it hold or sell. The tension is clear: exceptional profitability meets modest 7.9% revenue growth. That’s the real question for investors: Is Apple optimizing yesterday’s business or building tomorrow’s? Cook’s track record says he delivers results. Whether those results justify a $3.8 trillion valuation in an AI-first world is what earnings today will reveal.

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Jeremy Phillips

I've been writing about stocks and personal finance for 20+ years. I believe all great companies are tech companies in the long run, and I invest accordingly.

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