Key Points
- Apple insider Ben Borders sold 1,280 shares at an average price of $345.40, generating $442,112. The sale covered tax withholding on vested equity awards and reduced his holdings by 3.23%.
- Apple recently reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results, with revenue rising 16.4% year over year to $109.42 billion and EPS of $2.02 versus the $1.89 consensus estimate.
- Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and a $340.62 price target, although valuation, potential iPhone demand softness and regulatory pressure present risks.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL - Get Free Report) insider Ben Borders sold 1,280 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $345.40, for a total transaction of $442,112.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 38,288 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,224,675.20. This trade represents a 3.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards.
Apple Trading Down 0.2%
Shares of NASDAQ:AAPL opened at $342.94 on Tuesday. The business's 50-day moving average is $326.53 and its 200 day moving average is $307.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.93. Apple Inc. has a 1 year low of $243.42 and a 1 year high of $348.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.00 trillion, a P/E ratio of 39.33, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 1.07.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The iPhone maker reported $2.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.89 by $0.13. Apple had a net margin of 27.62% and a return on equity of 135.46%. The business had revenue of $109.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $109.04 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.57 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 16.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Apple Inc. will post 8.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Apple Announces Dividend
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 13th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 10th were issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 10th. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Apple's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 12.39%.
More Apple News
Here are the key news stories impacting Apple this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Strong iPhone Duo demand: Preorders for Apple’s $1,999 foldable iPhone reportedly sold out quickly, with delivery estimates extending into January 2027. The robust response supports near-term revenue expectations and strengthens the case for Apple’s foldable-device strategy. Apple’s iPhone Duo Demand Soars as Deliveries Stretch Into January 2027
- Positive Sentiment: New product event announced: Apple will host its “Pro and Tell” event on October 28. Analysts expect new Macs and potentially the company’s first touchscreen MacBook, which could provide a catalyst for Mac growth and investor sentiment. Apple announces product launch event for Oct. 28
- Positive Sentiment: Analyst support remains favorable: Bank of America reiterated a Buy rating with a $370 price target, while JPMorgan maintained its Overweight rating and $360 target, citing healthy demand trends and longer-term AI potential. Apple Maintained at Buy With Unchanged $370 Price Target
- Neutral Sentiment: Insider transactions: CFO Kevan Parekh and insider Ben Borders sold shares to cover tax withholding related to vested equity awards. The sales modestly reduced their holdings but do not appear to represent discretionary bearish bets.
- Negative Sentiment: Demand concerns and valuation risk: A KeyBanc survey indicated weaker consumer intentions to upgrade iPhones over the next year, despite better early iPhone 18 interest. With AAPL trading near its 52-week high at a premium earnings multiple, disappointment in future iPhone growth could pressure the stock. Apple Stock Escaped the AI Downturn
- Negative Sentiment: Regulatory pressure: UK regulators are reportedly preparing to push Apple to allow alternative default payment services on iPhones, potentially weakening Apple Pay’s ecosystem advantages and services revenue.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of AAPL. Avenir Tech Ltd acquired a new position in Apple during the second quarter worth $29,000. Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Apple in the 2nd quarter worth about $30,000. Ironwood Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Apple in the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. acquired a new stake in Apple in the 4th quarter valued at about $41,000. Finally, Ascentis Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Apple by 822.7% during the 2nd quarter. Ascentis Wealth Management LLC now owns 292,493 shares of the iPhone maker's stock valued at $85,000 after acquiring an additional 260,792 shares in the last quarter. 67.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several research firms have commented on AAPL. KGI Securities cut shares of Apple from an "outperform" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $315.00 price target for the company. in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Needham & Company LLC reissued a "hold" rating on shares of Apple in a research report on Thursday, October 1st. Daiwa Securities Group upped their target price on Apple from $325.00 to $335.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. KeyCorp restated an "underweight" rating on shares of Apple in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $303.00 price target on shares of Apple in a research report on Thursday, September 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-five have assigned a Buy rating, fifteen have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Apple has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $340.62.
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Apple Company Profile
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Apple Inc designs, develops and sells consumer electronics, software and digital services. Its best-known products include the iPhone smartphone, Mac personal computers, iPad tablets, Apple Watch, AirPods and other accessories. The company also develops operating systems and applications that support its hardware ecosystem.
Apple's services business includes the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, iCloud, Apple Pay and other subscription, payment and digital-content offerings.
Further Reading
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