Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Shares Down 3.2% – What’s Next?

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) traded down 3.2% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $262.89 and last traded at $264.18. 71,882,892 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 38% from the average session volume of 51,949,723 shares. The stock had previously closed at $272.95.

Key Stories Impacting Apple

Here are the key news stories impacting Apple this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Tim Cook teased a “big week” of product launches (new iPhone, iPad, MacBook updates), which typically boosts optimism for unit upgrades and Services/Accessory revenue. Tim Cook Teases Apple Launch
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and commentators highlight new AI-enabled smart devices and “AI companions” as potential catalysts for Wearables and Services growth — a structural upside to Apple’s revenue mix. These New AI Smart Devices Could Boost Apple Stock
• Positive Sentiment: Apple TV and Netflix will co-broadcast the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix and share content, expanding Apple’s content reach and supporting Services engagement. Apple and Netflix team up to air Formula 1
• Positive Sentiment: Reports say Apple is in advanced talks to launch Apple Pay / a digital wallet in India, which could materially expand Payments & Services revenue over time. Apple in talks with banks to start payment service in India
• Positive Sentiment: Strategists note a “Rolex effect” for resilient consumer brands — Apple’s strong loyalty may insulate it from some AI disruption, supporting its premium pricing power. How to Fight AI? The ‘Rolex Effect’
• Neutral Sentiment: Apple asked a judge to dismiss a proposed class-action accusing it of exaggerating Siri AI progress; the defense move may limit legal uncertainty but litigation remains unresolved. Apple seeks dismissal of fraud lawsuit
• Neutral Sentiment: Shareholders voted down a proposal for a China manufacturing risk report — governance outcome with limited immediate financial impact but relevant for long-term supply-chain oversight. Shareholders reject China report proposal
• Neutral Sentiment: Increased investor attention and analyst write-ups (Zacks, Seeking Alpha comparisons vs. Adobe) show AAPL is in focus as the AI narrative evolves; useful for sentiment tracking but not an immediate fundamental change. Investors Heavily Search Apple
• Negative Sentiment: Macro and sector pressure: reports flag rising hedging/put activity, Magnificent Seven net selling and a Nasdaq stress gauge near 2022 levels — these market forces are weighing on AAPL despite company-specific positives. Nasdaq stress gauge hits 2022 levels
• Negative Sentiment: AI talent movement: OpenAI’s hires of researchers who previously led Apple model work highlight competitive pressure for AI talent and could be perceived as a long-term headwind for Apple’s AI roadmap. OpenAI hires former Apple-linked AI researcher
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst/market skepticism: pieces warning about Magnificent Seven selling and downgrade commentary on Apple’s negotiating/innovation dynamics add bearish analyst pressure that can amplify intraday selling. Magnificent Seven warning

Analysts Set New Price Targets

AAPL has been the subject of several research reports. Monness Crespi & Hardt lifted their price target on shares of Apple from $300.00 to $315.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. KGI Securities upgraded shares of Apple to an “outperform” rating and set a $306.00 price objective for the company in a report on Friday, January 30th. TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating and set a $325.00 target price on shares of Apple in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Maxim Group raised shares of Apple from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $300.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Barclays reiterated an “underweight” rating and set a $239.00 price target (up from $230.00) on shares of Apple in a research note on Friday, January 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $293.41.

Apple Stock Down 3.2%

The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $264.85 and a 200 day moving average price of $258.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 0.97. The company has a market capitalization of $3.88 trillion, a P/E ratio of 33.40, a PEG ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 1.09.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The iPhone maker reported $2.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.67 by $0.17. The business had revenue of $143.76 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $138.25 billion. Apple had a net margin of 27.04% and a return on equity of 159.94%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 15.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.40 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Apple Inc. will post 7.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Apple Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 12th. Investors of record on Monday, February 9th were issued a $0.26 dividend. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 9th. Apple’s payout ratio is 13.15%.

Institutional Trading of Apple

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of AAPL. Isthmus Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Apple by 6.4% in the 3rd quarter. Isthmus Partners LLC now owns 97,177 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 5,808 shares during the last quarter. Sellwood Investment Partners LLC grew its position in Apple by 110.9% in the third quarter. Sellwood Investment Partners LLC now owns 135 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. ROSS JOHNSON & Associates LLC grew its position in Apple by 1,800.0% in the first quarter. ROSS JOHNSON & Associates LLC now owns 190 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 180 shares in the last quarter. Nexus Investment Management ULC increased its stake in Apple by 333.3% during the second quarter. Nexus Investment Management ULC now owns 260 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock worth $53,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, LSV Asset Management purchased a new stake in Apple during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $65,000. 67.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Apple

Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) is a multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. The company designs, develops and sells consumer electronics, software and services. Over its history Apple has evolved from personal computers to a broad portfolio that spans mobile devices, wearables, home entertainment and digital services.

Apple’s principal hardware products include the iPhone smartphone, iPad tablet, Mac personal computers, Apple Watch wearable devices and a range of accessories such as AirPods and HomePod.