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Apple not doomed, say analysts, as almost all rate the stock a buy

While the market seemed largely unmoved by Apple’s announcement yesterday of a record year (and guidance suggesting that more records will be set), that’s because analysts had already predicted the numbers.

But roundups of analyst notes by Fortune and Business Insider show that almost all are rating the stock a buy. None of them rate AAPL a sell, and only two consider it neutral … 

Most pointed to Q1 guidance that was on a par with the more optimistic predictions, and better than most. Analysts were also reassured that the company was maintaining strong growth in China despite the difficult economy there, and despite a big hit taken in overseas earnings due to the strong dollar.

Other reasons for optimism were increased average selling prices, likely sales growth driven by the new iPhone Upgrade Programencouraging numbers for Android switchers and the increasing value of the Apple ecosystem as a whole.

The two exceptions were Deutsche Bank and Mizuho, which both rated the stock a hold. Deutsche Bank argued that gross margins will come under pressure into the new financial year, and there are limited catalysts for future growth as yet, while Mizuho said that it would be hard for Apple to beat its own records for the next couple of quarters.

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Comments

  1. viciosodiego - 8 years ago

    Why should investors take advise from analysts?
    Apple always proves them wrong every time.

  2. Cory © (@Nardes) - 8 years ago

    ProTip: if at any given point (at least for the foreseeable future) if there’s an article about Apple being “doomed” or “failing” it’s 100% wrong, and purely click bait.

  3. b9bot - 8 years ago

    DUH! Why is it everyone except the Anal-ist knew this already. Apple has had record quarters for the last 10 years and still the Anal-sts every quarter try and make some kind of negative nancy news about there earnings weren’t strong enough or there next forecast wasn’t strong enough and drive Apple’s stock down. Google can just make there numbers barely and there stock price goes up $60 a share. Tired of these idiots in the market that can’t get over the 90’s and think Apple is in some kind of decline all the time when the company now is 1000 times stronger than back then.

  4. Fabrizio Badini - 8 years ago

    I second Mizuho. Let’s see if Tim Cook match the guidance Apple gave. I think next call in january will be a surprise…

    • tincan2012 - 8 years ago

      Lame BS comment. Do you have anything to back up your comment apart from tea leaves, wishful thinking, a dream you had? …. That’s what I thought.
      When will be free of useless troll comments?

      • 89p13 - 8 years ago

        Agree with ALL your comments – Especially the “Troll” Comment!

        Folks – Do Not Feed The Trolls.

  5. rogifan - 8 years ago

    It’s not doomed yet Wall Street chooses to value it like a utility. Google and Microsoft have P/Es above 30, Apple struggles to get above 13.

  6. macnificentseven48 - 8 years ago

    So what if Apple’s stock is recommended and price targets raised? It was also that way in 2012-2013 and Apple’s stock crashed and burned. Samsung hit Apple with a ton of bricks and Wall Street declared Apple dead and ready to be buried. They all said, “I told you so. Apple is on the rocks.” Every big investor dumped their Apple stock faster than a hot potato. I bought more Apple stock right before Apple started to rise again. I think it’s possible Apple could disappoint but not that strongly. Tim Cook hasn’t said what’s in Apple’s pipeline recently but he didn’t disappoint when he said they had something in late 2013. I’m going to try to remain optimistic about the company, but I’ve completely given up on the stock value. If it doesn’t go anywhere after a pretty decent quarter, then it’s never going to move.

    I thought Wall Street said it was important for Apple to get into the enterprise. Apple has, but even a $25 billion corporate business isn’t good enough. Nothing seems to work out for Apple shareholders no matter what Apple tries. Every quarter Apple has to try to reinvent the business because investors say the company has no future. I don’t see how Apple is different from any other company in that respect. Usually the next quarter is never a given because anything can happen. However, just try to judge all companies equally. Twitter crashed and burned but nobody was yelling it was doomed before earnings like they do with Apple. I’ve seen plenty of stocks crash without a lot of forewarnings by the analysts. But with Apple they keep repeating the same rhetoric even if they’re proven wrong. Each time they say it’s just a fluke Apple made their numbers and that’s just ridiculous.

  7. flaviosuave - 8 years ago

    $AAPL Earnings Call, 2032 AD:

    Tim Cook: “We now own over 3/4 of the world’s cash.”

    Analysts: “Where is the room for growth? Apple is DOOMED!!!”

Author

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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