Apple (AAPL) Could be an “A.I. Winner”

Schwab Network
3 Apr 202405:21

TLDRApple's stock experiences a positive shift, rising 1% amidst various challenges including antitrust issues and market concerns. The company's year-to-date performance has been remarkable without Apple's significant contribution. Recent reports indicate a 13% increase in App Store revenue for March, suggesting a potential for sustained growth. Additionally, Apple's AI research suggests it could be a strong competitor in the field once it addresses on-device functionality, hinting at a possible iPhone supercycle. Despite mixed analyst opinions and price targets, Apple's diverse revenue growth across all categories remains a key talking point, reflecting its transition from a growth to a value stock.

Takeaways

  • 📈 Apple's stock price increased by 8/10 of 1% during the session, showing a positive movement.
  • 🔍 Analysts have been closely following Apple's stock, given its significance in the tech market.
  • 🚀 Despite the overall market performance, Apple's year-to-date performance has been remarkable, with a 2% increase year-over-year.
  • 📱 The iPhone 15 sales in the US, China, and Europe have raised concerns due to various issues, including antitrust and forensic navigation.
  • 💹 Apple's app store revenue increased by 13% in March, which is a positive sign for the company's financial health.
  • 📊 Q1 revenue growth was reported across all categories for Apple, with a total increase of about 13%.
  • 🔮 A recent research paper from Apple suggests the company could be an AI winner once it resolves on-device AI challenges.
  • 📱 The new language model from Apple, the reference resolution, shows potential to compete with open AI models like GPT-4.
  • 📈 The discussion highlights a potential 30% upside from current prices for Apple's stock, with some analysts setting high price targets.
  • 🔄 The market rotation could lead to investment moving from cash or high-performing stocks to underperforming ones like Apple, which might be on the cusp of a turnaround.
  • 📱 The iPhone's market dynamics have changed, transitioning from a growth product to a staple, reflecting a shift in consumer behavior.

Q & A

  • How has Apple's stock performance been recently?

    -Apple's stock has made a nice move off the lows, and it's up by a healthy 8/10 of 1%.

  • What is the significance of Apple's stock performance in the context of the tech market?

    -Apple has been one of the biggest stocks for several years, and its performance is closely watched by tech analysts. Its market impact is significant, and the discussion around its stock reflects broader market sentiment.

  • What is the current year-to-date performance of Apple's stock?

    -Apple's stock was down about 11.5% year-to-date before the recent gains.

  • What positive news about Apple has recently come to light?

    -Apple's app store revenue increased by 13% in March, and the company recorded revenue growth across all categories, including services, which elevated its overall growth to about 13% for the quarter ended March 31st.

  • What challenges does Apple face in terms of antitrust issues and international concerns?

    -Apple is dealing with antitrust concerns, navigating European regulations, and managing its position in China, as well as addressing domestic concerns in the US, particularly related to iPhone sales.

  • What is the potential impact of Apple's AI research on its future products?

    -Apple's AI research suggests that it could be a winner once it solves the issue of on-device AI capabilities. The company's newest language model, the reference resolution as language modeling, shows potential to compete with large models like GPT-4, which could enable an iPhone supercycle.

  • What are some analyst projections for Apple's stock?

    -Analyst projections for Apple's stock vary, with some like Wedbush and Dan Ives giving a high target of $250, which implies a substantial upside from current prices.

  • What is the general sentiment regarding Apple's iPhone sales?

    -There is a sentiment that Apple's iPhone sales face challenges due to changing cycles and overall stagnant sales growth. The iPhone has transitioned from a discretionary product to a more necessity-based purchase for consumers.

  • How does the subscription model contribute to Apple's revenue?

    -The subscription model through Apple contributes significantly to its revenue, with a variety of services that users subscribe to, although the exact costs may not be closely tracked by consumers.

  • What could be the potential catalysts or headwinds for Apple's stock in the market?

    -Potential catalysts for Apple's stock could include a rotation out of current winners in the market or a shift in interest towards underperforming names like Apple that may have a turnaround potential. Headwinds could be related to ongoing antitrust issues, international market challenges, and domestic concerns in the US.

  • How does the discussion around Apple's stock reflect broader market trends?

    -The discussion around Apple's stock is a microcosm of broader market trends, as it reflects the interplay of company-specific news, analyst projections, and macroeconomic factors that influence the tech market and investor sentiment.

Outlines

00:00

📈 Apple's Market Performance and Analyst Coverage

This paragraph discusses Apple's recent stock performance, highlighting its recovery from lower points to a significant increase. It mentions the extensive coverage by tech analysts, as Apple has been a major stock for years. The discussion also covers the overall market performance, particularly the S&P 500 and NASDAQ, noting their year-to-date changes without Apple's contribution. The news flow on Apple is deemed positive despite past negative press, including antitrust issues and concerns in various markets. A key point is Apple's app store revenue growth in March, which eased concerns about the company's growth. The summary also touches on Apple's revenue growth across all categories and the potential for a supercycle driven by AI advancements, although this is considered a long-term goal.

05:00

📱 Shifts in iPhone Sales and Apple's Service Revenue

This paragraph delves into the changing dynamics of iPhone sales and the importance of Apple's service revenue. It contrasts the consumer behavior towards iPhones now compared to a few years ago, emphasizing the transition from a discretionary product to a necessity. The discussion also highlights the variety of subscriptions offered by Apple, although the speaker admits to being unsure about the exact cost. The paragraph suggests a broader shift in the market perception of Apple, moving from a growth-oriented stock to one that is more stable and focused on service revenue.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Apple

Apple Inc. is a multinational technology company that designs, manufactures, and sells consumer electronics, software, and online services. In the context of the video, Apple is the primary subject of discussion, with its stock performance, revenue growth, and AI initiatives being the focal points.

💡Stock Performance

Stock performance refers to the change in the market price of a stock over a certain period of time and is often used by investors to measure the profitability of their investments. In the video, the stock performance of Apple is analyzed, highlighting its increase in value and its year-to-date gains.

💡Revenue Growth

Revenue growth is the increase in the total revenue a company generates over a specific time period, typically compared to the previous year. It is a key indicator of a company's financial health and growth potential. In the video, Apple's revenue growth is discussed, with a specific focus on the increase in app store revenue and overall company growth.

💡AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation. In the context of the video, AI is discussed as a potential growth area for Apple, with the company's efforts in AI research and development being a key point of interest.

💡Antitrust

Antitrust laws are designed to promote competition and prevent the formation of monopolies, which can lead to price-fixing, restricted trade, and other practices that harm consumers. In the video, antitrust issues are mentioned as one of the challenges Apple is facing, alongside other concerns such as navigating regulations in different regions.

💡iPhone 15

The iPhone 15 is the speculated name for Apple's future smartphone model, following the release pattern of previous iPhone versions. In the context of the video, the iPhone 15 is mentioned as a product that may influence Apple's domestic sales and market performance in the US.

💡App Store

The App Store is a digital distribution platform developed by Apple for iOS devices, allowing users to browse and download applications. It is a significant source of revenue for the company. In the video, the App Store's revenue growth is emphasized as a positive aspect of Apple's financial performance.

💡Language Model

A language model is a type of artificial intelligence used in natural language processing that predicts the next word or sequence of words in a sentence. In the context of the video, Apple's newest language model is mentioned as part of their AI research, showcasing the company's efforts in advancing AI technology.

💡Supercycle

A supercycle refers to a long-term upward trend or cycle in a particular market or industry, often driven by significant technological advancements or changes in consumer behavior. In the video, the term is used to describe a potential future period of strong growth for Apple, particularly in the context of iPhone sales.

💡Mega Bull

A mega bull is a term used to describe a person or entity with an extremely optimistic outlook on the market or a specific stock, often predicting significant price increases. In the video, this term is used to describe an analyst who has set a high price target for Apple's stock.

💡Underperformer

An underperformer is a stock or asset that has produced lower returns than expected or compared to a benchmark or other similar investments. In the video, Apple is referred to as an underperformer, suggesting that its stock performance has not met the expectations of some investors or analysts.

Highlights

Apple's stock price increased by 8/10 of 1%, showing a healthy recovery from its earlier low.

The tech industry is closely following Apple's performance, with numerous analysts providing updates on the stock.

Apple has been the largest stock for several years, although it may have temporarily lost that position to Microsoft.

The overall market performance, specifically the S&P 500 and NASDAQ, has been impressive without significant contributions from Apple.

Apple's year-over-year performance has improved, with the stock up by 2% despite previous losses.

Apple has managed to erase most of its year-over-year gains, which were down by 11.5% year to date.

Recent news about Apple has been predominantly negative, including antitrust issues and challenges in various markets.

Apple's app store revenue increased by 13% in March, which is a positive sign for the company's financial health.

Apple recorded revenue growth across all categories, including services, with a 13% increase for the quarter ending March 31st.

The company's growth forecast may become more challenging in the upcoming June quarter.

Apple's AI research suggests that it could be a major player in the field once it solves the issue of on-device AI capabilities.

Apple's new language model, reference resolution, shows potential to compete with other leading AI models like GPT-4.

The research indicates that Apple's AI model could enable an iPhone supercycle, which would be a significant achievement.

Despite the long-term potential, the current situation is still an 'await and see' scenario for Apple's AI framework.

Analysts have varied opinions on Apple's stock price, with some setting high targets like Wedbush's 250 and others like Dan Ives aiming for 50.

Apple's iPhone sales are facing challenges, and the company has acknowledged the need for a transition from a growth product to a staple.

The iPhone's market dynamics have changed, and the growth rate is not expected to be as high as in previous years.

Apple's subscription services are becoming increasingly important to the company's revenue stream.