Apple Stock Targets Raised by Major Banks Amid Strong iPhone Sales and AI Potential

Strong sales and AI confidence prompt Citi to raise Apple stock target, retains Buy rating By Investing.com

On Friday, Citi has increased its price target for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares to $255.00, up from the previous $210.00, while reiterating a Buy rating for the technology giant. The adjustment follows Apple's recent financial results, which surpassed expectations with a forecast of $94 billion in sales and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.59 for the September quarter. Additionally, iPhone sales showed a year-over-year increase of 2.5%, which is higher than the 1% growth anticipated by Wall Street. The optimism from Citi stems from positive reactions to the early versions of iOS 18 and the Apple Intelligence features introduced earlier this week. The firm believes that Apple's focus on artificial intelligence (AI) will significantly contribute to an appealing iPhone upgrade cycle. Despite these advances, Citi predicts only a slight increase in iPhone 16 sales, estimating around 85 million units for the calendar year 2024, which represents a 1% decrease year-over-year. Citi anticipates a more substantial impact with the major update planned for iPhone 17 the following year. The forecast for 2025 suggests approximately 92 million units could be sold, marking a 6% increase year-over-year. The firm notes that it may take time for consumers to recognize the value of an AI-powered smartphone and for developers to create applications that leverage the new technology. In light of these projections, Citi has raised its EPS estimates for fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026 by 3%, 4%, and 3%, respectively. The new price target of $255 is based on a consistent 30x price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio on the company's expected EPS for fiscal year 2026. In other recent news, Apple Inc. has been making significant strides despite facing a few challenges. The company's third-quarter results for the fiscal year 2024 showed a notable recovery in iPhone sales, particularly in the Americas and Europe. DA Davidson responded by raising its price target on Apple's shares to $260 from the previous $230, maintaining a Buy rating. The firm's analysis points to the continued appeal of Apple's products and the company's ability to innovate as key drivers for its positive outlook. However, Apple's sales in China fell by a steeper-than-expected 6.5%, a significant development given that China represents a fifth of Apple's total revenue. Despite this setback, Apple reported a 4.9% increase in revenue for the fiscal third quarter, reaching $85.78 billion and surpassing the average analyst estimate. The company's earnings per share also exceeded Wall Street consensus at $1.40. Apple is currently facing a lawsuit filed by federal and state antitrust regulators accusing the company of maintaining an illegal monopoly in the smartphone market. Apple has requested a U.S. judge to dismiss the case. Following Citi's optimistic outlook on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), investors may find additional context in the real-time data and analysis provided by InvestingPro. With a substantial market capitalization of $3.35 trillion, Apple stands as a behemoth in the tech industry. The company's P/E ratio, a measure of its current share price relative to its per-share earnings, is currently at a high 33.7, indicating investors' willingness to pay a premium for its shares, possibly due to their confidence in Apple's consistent performance and growth prospects. Despite a slight revenue decline of 0.9% over the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, Apple maintains a robust gross profit margin of 45.59%, showcasing its ability to retain a significant portion of its sales as profit. Moreover, the company's EBITDA has grown by 4.72% during the same period, reflecting its operational efficiency and profitability. According to InvestingPro Tips, Apple has not only raised its dividend for 12 consecutive years but also operates with a moderate level of debt, which can be reassuring for investors concerned with financial stability. For those considering Apple's stock, it's worth noting that the company's shares have shown a strong return over the past three months, with a 26.37% increase, and analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period. With 17 additional InvestingPro Tips available, including insights into Apple's dividend sustainability and valuation multiples, investors can explore further at https://www.investing.com/pro/AAPL for a comprehensive understanding of the company's financial health and market position.

JPMorgan maintains stock target on Apple, cites AI upgrade cycle By Investing.com

On Friday, JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) reaffirmed its confidence in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares by maintaining an Overweight rating and a $265.00 price target on the tech giant's shares. The firm highlighted Apple's strong performance amidst a challenging macroeconomic environment, with the company surpassing consensus expectations across most product categories. Apple's recent quarter was described as "non-eventful" in a positive sense, with the company beating estimates and demonstrating solid execution. This performance is particularly noteworthy given the mixed results reported by other hardware companies. The analyst pointed out that Apple's guidance for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2024, ending in September, projects a year-over-year growth of 5%, which is above the consensus expectations of 4%. This outlook includes the anticipated impact of the new iPhone 16, which is expected to ship only a few days within the quarter. The company is gearing up for what is referred to as the AI upgrade cycle, which will commence with the launch of the iPhone 16 and the release of AI features in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. Apple plans to introduce Apple Intelligence features gradually to English-speaking regions throughout the remainder of the year, with international rollouts planned within the same product cycle. The report notes improvements in iPhone sales, which showed a 1% year-over-year decline, an improvement compared to the 10% drop in the second fiscal quarter of 2024. Services revenue also beat expectations with a 14% year-over-year increase. The decline in sales in Greater China was lower than in previous quarters, suggesting a recovery in consumer demand. In conclusion, JPMorgan's analyst sees the AI-led upgrade cycle as a potentially broader opportunity for Apple than the previous 5G cycle, considering it extends across all devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The firm maintains its December 2025 price target of $265 and reiterates its Overweight rating, reflecting continued optimism for Apple's stock performance. In other recent news, Apple Inc. has been the focus of multiple analyst updates, following the company's strong performance in the third fiscal quarter of 2024. JPMorgan reaffirmed its confidence in Apple by maintaining an Overweight rating and a $265.00 price target. The firm highlighted the company's robust performance, surpassing consensus expectations across most product categories, and projecting year-over-year growth of 5% for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2024. Citi increased its price target for Apple to $255.00, up from the previous $210.00, while retaining a Buy rating. The adjustment followed Apple's recent financial results, which surpassed expectations with a forecast of $94 billion in sales and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.59 for the September quarter. Additionally, DA Davidson raised its price target on Apple's shares to $260 from the previous $230, reflecting the firm's response to Apple's third-quarter results. Apple's focus on artificial intelligence (AI) with the launch of the iPhone 16 and the release of AI features in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia has been a significant point of interest. However, despite these positive developments, Apple's sales in China fell by a steeper-than-expected 6.5%, which is notable as China represents a fifth of Apple's total revenue. These are recent developments, and the company continues to navigate through regulatory challenges, including probes in the European Union under the Digital Markets Act and accusations from the U.S. Department of Justice of monopolizing the smartphone market. As Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) continues to navigate the complex macroeconomic landscape, real-time data from InvestingPro provides additional context for investors considering JPMorgan's confident stance. Apple's market capitalization stands at a robust $3.35 trillion, underscoring its significant presence in the market. The company's Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio is at 33.7, indicating a premium valuation that investors are willing to pay for its earnings, possibly reflecting its consistent performance and market position. Notably, Apple has demonstrated a strong commitment to returning value to shareholders, having raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years, with a current dividend yield of 0.46%. This is complemented by a positive return on assets of 29.99% over the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, reflecting efficient asset utilization. Moreover, the company's stock has seen a significant 26.37% price total return over the last three months, suggesting robust investor confidence in its short-term prospects. InvestingPro Tips for Apple reveal that analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, indicating potential optimism regarding the company's financial outlook. Moreover, Apple is recognized as a prominent player in the Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals industry, which may further solidify investor confidence. For those seeking more in-depth analysis, InvestingPro offers additional tips on Apple, available at Investing.com/pro/AAPL.

Apple shares target nudged by Rosenblatt on iPhone sales strength By Investing.com

Rosenblatt Securities has adjusted its price target for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:AAPL) shares marginally to $261 from $260 while reaffirming a Buy rating on the stock. The firm's analyst cited robust growth in the iPhone's installed base, which reached new all-time highs globally. The iPhone has maintained its position as the top-selling smartphone in several major markets, including the United States, urban China, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Japan. Customer satisfaction rates are reported to be remarkably high at 98%, according to 541 Research. In the Chinese market, Apple experienced a slight decline in year-over-year sales by 6.5%, or less than 3% when adjusted for constant currency. Despite this, the installed base in China has hit record levels, with significant growth in the number of customers upgrading to new models. The iPhone 15 is reportedly outselling its predecessor, the iPhone 14, at the same point after launch. Moreover, iPhones hold the top three positions in sales among smartphone models in urban China. Apple's CEO Tim Cook has been reserved on details regarding the licensing of Apple's artificial intelligence by the Chinese government, only stating that the company is "constructively engaged" in the process. Looking forward, Apple anticipates that sales growth for the September quarter will align with the 5% increase observed in the June quarter, with the services sector expected to continue its double-digit growth. Rosenblatt's analyst projects a 5.9% year-over-year consolidated sales growth for Apple, with iPhone sales expected to rise by 3% and accelerate further, potentially reaching mid-teens growth by fiscal year 2026. This forecast is driven by the assumption that the 5G transition, which began with the iPhone 12 and resulted in a 39% peak growth, signifies a platform change with comparable dynamics. The revised price target of $261 assumes that Apple's stock will trade at 30 times the projected earnings for fiscal year 2026, closely mirroring current multiples. Apple has seen a resurgence in iPhone sales, particularly in the Americas and Europe, surpassing Wall Street expectations for the fiscal third quarter. This growth trend has been attributed to the company's strategic focus on artificial intelligence (AI) to drive customer interest. As Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) continues to navigate the competitive smartphone market and global financial landscape, the latest data from InvestingPro provides a detailed snapshot of the company's financial health and market position. With a robust market capitalization of $3.35 trillion and a P/E ratio of 33.7, Apple stands as a formidable player in the technology sector. The company's commitment to shareholder returns is evident, having raised its dividend for 12 consecutive years, a sign of financial stability and confidence in future earnings. InvestingPro Tips reveal that Apple is trading at a high earnings multiple, which indicates a strong market belief in the company's future growth potential despite the current high valuation. Additionally, 11 analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, suggesting that the market anticipates continued financial success for the company. For investors looking for more insights, there are over 16 additional InvestingPro Tips available, providing a deeper analysis of Apple's market position and future outlook. With a slight revenue decline of 0.9% over the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, Apple's financials reflect the challenges faced in markets like China. However, the company has managed to maintain a high gross profit margin of 45.59%, demonstrating its ability to retain profitability even in a tough sales environment. The positive three-month price total return of 26.37% reflects investor optimism and the stock's resilience. These metrics, coupled with a fair value estimate of $230 by analysts, suggest a potential upside for investors considering Apple's shares.