Tag Archives: aapl

Universal Display Spikes On iPhone OLED Prospects

Universal Display ( OLED ) stock surged as much as 10.7% on Monday on a bullish report about the prospects for its OLED display technology and materials in smartphones, including next year’s rumored iPhone 8 from Apple ( AAPL ). Universal Display shares were up 9.5%, near 62, in afternoon trading on the stock market today . The stock hit a recent high of 63 on April 19, which is just below its all-time high of 63.58 from April 2011. Goldman Sachs analyst Brian Lee on Monday raised his rating on Universal Display to buy from neutral and upped his 12-month price target to 76 from 55. OLED is a “secular winner” as devices shift from LCD to OLED displays, which boast richer colors and low power usage, Lee said. “In the near term, we expect (Universal Display) to be a key beneficiary of Apple’s first-time adoption of OLED displays for iPhone starting in 2017,” he said. “Beyond Apple, we see OLED benefiting from a secular shift across the handset market with roughly 10% penetration today but a potential ‘LED 2.0’ hockey-stick adoption across multiple product cycles and categories in coming years.” In a “blue sky” scenario, OLED could reach 100% penetration of smartphones, 50% of tablets and 20% of TVs after 2020, he said. RELATED: Universal Display Facing ‘Frothy’ OLED Expectations

Apple Shakes Off Concerns About Becoming The Next BlackBerry

Apple ( AAPL ) stock rose Monday as investors digested a positive iPhone 7 production report, along with a cautionary article that suggested Apple was at risk of becoming the next BlackBerry ( BBRY ). Apple stock was up 1.6%, near 97, in afternoon trading on the stock market today . Taiwan’s Economic Daily News reported Monday that Apple has ordered contract manufacturers to produce 72 million to 78 million iPhone 7 handsets this year, a record figure for a new iPhone and above analyst estimates of 65 million units. The iPhone 7 is expected to be released in September, with a slimmer design, faster processor and improved camera as compared to earlier iPhones. This 10th-generation iPhone might even sport a waterproof design for the first time. Apple Falling Behind In AI Meanwhile, influential tech blogger and Web developer Marco Arment on Saturday posted an article that argued Apple is falling behind Amazon.com ( AMZN ), Facebook ( FB ) and Alphabet ( GOOGL )-owned Google in artificial intelligence (AI), digital assistants and voice interfaces. He said Apple could miss the next big shift in computing, just as onetime cellphone giant BlackBerry missed the move to smartphones from email-centric feature phones. “Amazon, Facebook, and Google — especially Google — have all invested heavily in Big Data Web services and AI for many years, prioritizing them highly, iterating and advancing them constantly, accumulating relevant data, developing effective algorithms and attracting, developing and retaining tons of specialized talent,” Arment wrote. Arment says Apple is not putting the same emphasis on Big Data and AI as its rivals. “Becoming a major Big Data AI services company doesn’t happen completely in secret and suddenly get released to the world, completed, in a keynote,” Arment said. “It’s a massive undertaking, spanning many years, many people and a lot of noticeable interaction with the world. It’s easier to conceal the development of an entire car than a major presence in AI and services.” Analysts Keep Buy Ratings On Apple Stock Investors on Monday were more focused on the Economic Daily News article and a trio of reassuring analyst reports. Pacific Crest Securities analyst Andy Hargreaves on Sunday reiterated his overweight rating on Apple stock with a price target of 123. “We believe concerns about a potential lack of innovation in the iPhone 7 underestimate the extraordinary growth in the user base over the past two years, which is likely to drive increased replacement volume and overall iPhone unit growth in fiscal 2017, almost regardless of the hardware,” Hargreaves said. BMO Capital Markets analyst Tim Long also is positive on Apple because of the potential for iPhone users to upgrade with the iPhone 7 cycle. “What we find most interesting is that we believe we are entering the iPhone 7 cycle with the highest percentage of phones in the installed base at least two years old, at about 26% (compared to 23% for iPhone 6),” Long said. “This translates to about 120 million phones. As a result, we believe the device will drive an improved replacement rate, even if it has lackluster features.” Also, the huge growth in used iPhone sales will increase the installed base of iPhone users and boost services revenue, Long said. He reiterated his outperform rating on Apple stock, with a price target of 117. Nomura analyst Jeffrey Kvaal maintained his buy rating on Apple with a price target of 120. He noted the success of Apple’s recent iPhone SE launch but cautioned that the lower-cost smartphone could cannibalize sales of iPhone 6S handsets. Apple chip suppliers Broadcom ( AVGO ), Skyworks Solutions ( SWKS ), Qorvo ( QRVO ) and NXP Semiconductors ( NXPI ) were up Monday intraday. Broadcom climbed 1.5%, Skyworks 2.4%, Qorvo 2.9% and NXP Semi 1.1%. RELATED: Apple Has Largest Cash Stockpile, Twice That Of Microsoft’s Apple Faces ‘Existential Threat’ From Messenger Bots .

Does iPhone 7 Production Ramp Mark True Turnaround In Apple Stock?

Apple ( AAPL ) is jumping in heavy volume in the stock market today as reports signal the consumer tech giant’s iPhone production is on the rise. Taiwan’s Economic Daily said Apple told its iPhone 7 suppliers to produce 72 million to 78 million units this year, many more than the 65 million units Wall Street has projected. That production target is also the highest in about two years. The iPhone 7 is due out in September and could give Apple the boost it needs after the company reported its first-ever quarterly decline in iPhone sales last month. Shares are up 1.8% in heavy volume, hitting their highest level in nearly a month. But the stock still has a lot of recovering to do after gapping down on its latest quarterly report, as it’s down about 27% from its 52-week high. Chip Suppliers Get A Boost Meanwhile, Apple chip suppliers Taiwan Semiconductor ( TSM ), Broadcom ( AVGO ), Qorvo ( QRVO ) and Skyworks Solutions ( SWKS ) are also getting a boost from the report. Taiwan Semiconductor gapped up 2.2% in quick turnover, but it’s hitting resistance at its 50-day line. Shares are trading 7% below their March high and a flat-base buy point of 26.72. Broadcom is climbing 1.6% in above-average volume, but it’s also hitting resistance at the 50-day line. The stock is 6% below its April peak and a potential buy point. Qorvo is rising 3% in big volume after having retaken its 50-day and 200-day moving averages in Friday’s session. The stock is nearing a cup-with-handle buy point of 52.05, but it’s trading 42% below its high reached last June. Skyworks is gapping up 2.9% in fast trade, but it’s still 40% below its June high.