Intel stock extends gains after report of possible U.S. government stake
On Monday, UBS analysts, led by David Vogt, maintained a Neutral rating on Apple stock (NASDAQ:AAPL) with a steady price target of $236.00, placing it within the broader analyst target range of $175-$300. According to InvestingPro data, Apple's stock has experienced significant pressure, declining over 15% in the past week alone. The decision comes after a careful examination of App Store data provided by Sensor Tower, which showed a slowdown in growth during March 2025. Year-over-year growth in March was approximately 10% on a currency neutral basis, a decrease from the 18% growth observed in January 2025 and the 15% growth in February 2025. This slowdown comes despite Apple maintaining strong fundamentals, with a robust EBITDA of $137.35 billion and an impressive gross profit margin of 46.52%.
The analysts noted that the slowdown in March was particularly evident in the U.S. market, where reported growth was only 7%, compared to the higher growth rates of approximately 14% in January and around 12% in February. This deceleration occurred despite a strong comparison from the previous year, which had seen a 23% growth rate. UBS pointed out that the U.S. market is expected to face challenging comparisons through June 2025, with an average growth rate of around 19%, indicating that acceleration in growth is unlikely in the June quarter.
Despite the slowdown in March, the robust performance in January helped to maintain an overall reported growth rate of about 15% for the March quarter. This marks the seventh consecutive quarter where Apple has shown low-to-mid teens growth, and it is the third straight quarter where the company has achieved solid growth against challenging comparisons. With an overall Financial Health score of GOOD from InvestingPro, which analyzes over 100 financial metrics, Apple continues to demonstrate strong business fundamentals. Subscribers can access 12 additional exclusive ProTips and a comprehensive Pro Research Report for deeper insights into Apple's performance and outlook.
UBS's analysis suggests that while Apple's App Store continues to grow, the pace of that growth is moderating, especially in the U.S. market. The maintained Neutral rating and price target reflect the firm's view of Apple's stock performance in light of the recent App Store data trends. With the next earnings report due on April 24, 2025, InvestingPro subscribers can access detailed valuation metrics and real-time analysis to make informed investment decisions.
In other recent news, Apple Inc. reported a 13% year-over-year increase in App Store revenue for the first quarter of 2025, although this was slightly below the previous quarter's 15% increase. Despite a decrease in App Store downloads by 0.6% quarter-over-quarter, there was still a 3.8% year-over-year rise, albeit lower than the 5.8% increase seen in the fourth quarter of 2024. JPMorgan maintained its Overweight rating on Apple, with a price target of $270, indicating a positive outlook on the company's stock. The firm highlighted that Apple's Services revenue growth aligns with expectations, with estimates predicting an 11% to 12% increase year-over-year.
Additionally, Apple is contesting a directive from the British government to create a "back door" to its encrypted cloud storage systems. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal confirmed Apple's challenge, rejecting the UK government's request for confidentiality regarding the case's basic details. This legal action underscores the ongoing global debate over data privacy and government access to encrypted information. Meanwhile, the Japanese chipmaker Rapidus is in discussions with Apple and Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) to mass-produce advanced semiconductors by 2027, aiming to compete with TSMC. Rapidus has started partial operations of a prototype chip line in Hokkaido, with full operation expected soon.
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