Morgan Stanley maintains Apple stock Overweight with $235 target

Published 02/05/2025, 09:04
© Reuters.

On Friday, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reaffirmed its confidence in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), maintaining an Overweight rating and a $235.00 price target for the tech giant’s shares. With a current market capitalization of $3.2 trillion and an analyst consensus recommendation of 1.96 (Buy), Apple continues to attract strong institutional support. According to InvestingPro data, 7 analysts have recently revised their earnings expectations upward for the upcoming period. The decision follows Apple’s recent financial disclosures, which presented March quarter results and June quarter guidance aligning with market projections. The firm’s analysts highlighted several positive aspects from Apple’s management commentary that surpassed expectations. These include a year-over-year double-digit growth in iPhone upgraders, steady year-over-year revenue from China when adjusted for currency changes, and the success of Apple’s smartphones in Urban China, where they ranked as the top two selling models.

Additionally, Apple’s management indicated that there was no demand or channel pull-forward in the March quarter, and the same is anticipated for the June quarter guidance. Moreover, Apple’s exposure to only $900 million in tariff costs for the June quarter, despite its significant operations in China, suggests that the company’s efforts to diversify production to Southeast Asia are proving effective. The company’s financial strength is evident in its impressive revenue of $395.76 billion over the last twelve months, with a healthy gross profit margin of 46.52%.

However, the management also noted certain uncertainties. They did not provide detailed segment-level forecasts for the June quarter, which is unusual for the Services segment that typically receives such guidance. Furthermore, there was no commitment on the extent to which product manufacturing would shift to India or Vietnam in the September quarter and beyond, leaving the impact of tariff costs somewhat uncertain. Management also refrained from discussing pricing strategies or other tools to mitigate tariff impacts and did not update the timeline for introducing the new Siri feature.

Apple’s recent financial performance and the strategic insights offered by its management reflect the company’s ongoing efforts to navigate the complex global manufacturing landscape and maintain its market leadership amid economic and geopolitical challenges. With a steady price target and a positive stock rating, Morgan Stanley signals its belief in Apple’s potential for continued success. InvestingPro analysis indicates that Apple is currently trading above its Fair Value, with a P/E ratio of 33.68x and an overall Financial Health score of "GOOD." For deeper insights into Apple’s valuation and growth prospects, including 13 additional ProTips and comprehensive metrics, explore the full Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro.

In other recent news, Apple Inc. reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, showcasing a strong performance with earnings per share (EPS) of $1.65, surpassing the forecast of $1.61. The company also reported a total revenue of $95.36 billion, exceeding expectations by over $1 billion. Despite these positive results, Apple’s guidance for the June quarter anticipates revenue growth in the low to mid-single digits, slightly below market estimates, partly due to a $900 million impact from tariffs. Citi analysts have adjusted their outlook on Apple, maintaining a Buy rating but reducing the stock price target from $245.00 to $240.00. They cited the company’s solid fundamentals and satisfactory results amid challenging conditions. Additionally, Apple announced a 4% dividend increase and authorized an additional $100 billion share repurchase program. The company continues to focus on innovation, with recent product launches including the iPhone 16e and new MacBook Air, alongside significant investment plans in the U.S. These developments underscore Apple’s strategic focus on long-term growth and operational efficiency.

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