Apple Inc. (AAPL) is a multinational technology company headquartered in California, known globally for its innovative consumer electronics, software, and digital services, including the iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and a suite of platforms like the App Store and iCloud. Apple\u2019s market cap sits at\u00a0around $3.9 trillion, making it one of the most valuable companies in the world.<\/p>\n
Shares of the tech giant have lagged behind the broader market over the past year. The stock has\u00a0returned 13.8% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has\u00a0rallied around 16%. Over the past six months, AAPL has gained 22.3%, while the SPX is up 9.2%.<\/p>\n
Zooming in further, Apple stock has also underperformed the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF\u2019s (XLK)\u00a029.9% rise over the past 52 weeks.<\/p>\n Apple\u2019s share price has weakened in early 2026 amid a mix of profit-taking and sector rotation. Moreover, despite strong iPhone 17 sales, the stock fell due to fears of lower global smartphone demand later in 2026, rising component costs, and potential for significant executive turnover. Furthermore, intense competition in the AI space, along with macro risks, has dampened sentiment.<\/p>\n For the current fiscal year ending in September 2026, analysts expect AAPL\u2019s EPS to\u00a0grow 9.5% year-over-year to $8.17. The company\u2019s earnings surprise history is promising as it has topped the consensus estimates in each of the last four quarters.<\/p>\n Among the 42 analysts covering the stock,\u00a0the consensus rating is a \u201cModerate Buy.\u201d That\u2019s based on 21 \u201cStrong Buy\u201d ratings, three \u201cModerate Buys,\u201d 16 \u201cHolds,\u201d one \u201cModerate Sell,\u201d and one \u201cStrong Sell.\u201d<\/p>\n This configuration is slightly less bullish than two months ago, when there were 22 analysts suggesting a \u201cStrong Buy\u201d rating.<\/p>\n Recently, JPMorgan\u00a0raised Apple\u2019s price target to $315 from $305 and reaffirmed its \u201cOverweight\u201d rating, citing upside from strong iPhone 17 demand.<\/p>\n The mean price target of $289.21 represents a premium of 13.2% to current levels. The Street-high price target of $350 implies a potential upside of 37%.<\/p>\n On the date of publication, Subhasree Kar did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally\u00a0published on Barchart.com <\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
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