Analysts mostly positive on Apple stock into earnings

© Reuters

By Senad Karaahmetovic

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is due to report earnings this Thursday after market close. The current Street consensus is looking for an EPS of $1.94 on sales of $121.88 billion.

Apple shares have managed to recover in recent weeks after falling to $124.17 - the lowest level since June 2021 - in the first trading week of this year.

Here are fresh comments from some Apple analysts ahead of this week's earnings report:

Credit Suisse analysts: "We see potential upside to our estimates which are below the Street ($121.8 billion and $1.94, albeit have come down over the past few weeks), respectively given: 1) weakening of the USD throughout the quarter which benefits revenue from a translation perspective and could benefit margins given Apple raised pricing in many countries as an offset to the strong dollar; and, 2) F1Q22 is a relatively easy comp as quarterly results were constrained by >$6B of backlog including iPhone, Mac and iPad."

Wells Fargo analysts: "With shares +12% YTD (vs. S&P at +6%) and signs of increasing consumer demand weakness, we're near-term cautious on Apple into the company's upcoming (2/2) F1Q23 earnings. We move C2023 rev. & EBIT estimates to ~5% / ~8% below Street."

Jefferies analysts: "We expect Dec results to be in-line or slightly ahead and Mar Q goalpost guidance to imply trends nicely higher than consensus. We expect Dec iPhone units behind Street expectations, but ASP well ahead driven by mix. Forward guidance will be much more of a focus than Dec results given manufacturing disruptions in the Dec Q. We reiterate our Buy rating and $195 PT."

Apple stock is down 0.7% in pre-open Monday after gaining 5.85% last week.