Analyst Ratings January 30, 2026

Wedbush Upholds Outperform on Apple After Robust iPhone Sales, Flags Unpriced AI Upside

Strong iPhone growth and upbeat guidance prompt rating reiteration even as valuation appears rich

By Derek Hwang AAPL
Wedbush Upholds Outperform on Apple After Robust iPhone Sales, Flags Unpriced AI Upside
AAPL

Wedbush reaffirmed an Outperform rating and a $350 price target for Apple following the company’s fiscal first-quarter 2026 results. The quarter featured notable iPhone strength, particularly in China, and guidance that outpaces Street expectations, while analysts highlight an uncounted AI premium and elevated valuation multiples.

Key Points

  • Wedbush reiterated an Outperform rating on Apple with a $350.00 price target following fiscal Q1 2026 results.
  • iPhone revenue rose 23% year-over-year, with China delivering a 38% YoY increase, contributing to Apple’s LTM revenue of $416.16 billion (6.43% growth).
  • Apple guided fiscal Q2 revenue growth of 13% to 16% and gross margin of 48.0% to 49.0%, above Street estimates; analysts forecast fiscal 2026 EPS of $8.20.

Wedbush has kept its Outperform rating on Apple with a $350.00 price target after the tech company released fiscal first-quarter 2026 results. The stock is trading at $258.28, a level that InvestingPro flags as overvalued despite Apple achieving a perfect Piotroski Score of 9, a signal of strong financial health.

Apple posted results that beat consensus on both revenue and earnings, powered by a substantial lift in iPhone sales. The smartphone division reported iPhone revenue up 23% year-over-year, with China delivering especially strong results - a 38% increase versus the prior year. Wedbush characterized the Chinese performance as "eye-popping" and described it as a "surprise tailwind" for the iPhone 17 upgrade cycle.

Over the last twelve months Apple generated $416.16 billion in revenue, representing 6.43% growth. For fiscal second-quarter 2026 the company provided guidance implying total revenue growth of 13% to 16% year-over-year, a range that exceeds the near-10% growth analysts had expected. That projection comes even as Apple continues to contend with supply constraints for the iPhone.

Apple’s gross margin outlook for the fiscal second quarter sits between 48.0% and 49.0%, above the Street estimate of 47.6%. The company’s most recent reported gross profit margin was 46.91%, and analysts are modeling fiscal 2026 earnings per share of $8.20.

On the product and technology front, Apple announced it selected Google’s Gemini models to collaborate on building a next generation of Apple foundation models, work that will feed into a new version of Siri expected later in the year. Additional details about Apple’s AI plans are anticipated at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

Wedbush continues to feature Apple on its Best Ideas List and on the IVES AI 30 List. The firm also noted that no specific "AI premium" has been incorporated into Apple’s current share price, estimating an uncounted AI-related value in the range of "$75-$100 per share." That comment accompanies valuation metrics showing a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.65 and a PEG ratio of 1.48, indicating the shares trade at relatively high multiples versus projected earnings growth.

InvestingPro provides further coverage on Apple, including 12 additional insights and a Pro Research Report as part of its broader universe of more than 1,400 U.S. equities receiving deep-dive analysis.

Apple’s fiscal first-quarter 2026 results exceeded analyst consensus with revenue of $143.76 billion and earnings per share of $2.84, topping FactSet estimates of $138.39 billion and $2.67 respectively. The quarter’s upside was driven by a 23% increase in iPhone sales and a 14% rise in Services revenue.

Following the earnings release, several Wall Street firms adjusted their views and targets. Goldman Sachs raised its price target on Apple to $330 and maintained a Buy rating. Bank of America Securities reiterated a Buy rating with a $325 target. Morgan Stanley kept an Overweight rating and set a $315 price target while warning that memory price inflation could pressure future gross margins.

Separately, Apple is reported to be shifting its product emphasis toward premium iPhone models in its 2026 lineup. That plan reportedly includes a foldable iPhone and two enhanced non-folding models, with the standard model’s shipment delayed into the first half of 2027. Those product timing and mix decisions reflect Apple’s strategic choices around its flagship hardware business.


Contextual takeaway: Apple’s recent quarter displayed strong demand dynamics, anchored by significant iPhone growth in China and services strength, and management provided guidance above Street expectations. Analysts are weighing those results against lofty valuation multiples and potential margin pressures, while some firms see unrecognized upside from AI initiatives.

Risks

  • Supply constraints for the iPhone could limit near-term revenue growth and affect consumer hardware availability - impacts are concentrated in technology hardware and consumer electronics sectors.
  • Memory price inflation cited by analysts could weigh on future gross margins, creating margin risk for Apple and influencing semiconductor and hardware component markets.
  • Apple’s valuation metrics - including a P/E of 34.65 and PEG of 1.48 - suggest elevated expectations that may not fully price in potential setbacks; valuation risk affects equity investors and the broader technology sector.

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