Apple(US:AAPL) Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-10-20 14:07Core Viewpoint - Multiple Wall Street investment firms have given positive evaluations of Apple, with strong sales data for the iPhone 17 series leading to a 1.9% increase in the company's stock price during pre-market trading [1] Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Loop Capital analyst Ananda Baruah upgraded Apple's rating from "Neutral" to "Buy" and raised the target price from $226 to $315, citing strong sales of the iPhone 17 series and significant upside potential for the iPhone business [1] - Evercore ISI included Apple in its "Tactical Outperform List," also highlighting strong iPhone sales data, while maintaining an "Outperform" rating with a target price of $290 [1] Group 2: Sales Performance - Counterpoint Research reported that the sales of the iPhone 17 series in the first 10 days post-launch were 14% higher than those of the iPhone 16 series, with the base model being the "core driver" of this growth, showing a nearly 33% increase in sell-out data compared to the iPhone 16 series [2] - In China, the iPhone 17 base model has been particularly favored by consumers, with reports indicating that the iPhone Air sold out "within minutes" after receiving market approval [2] Group 3: Market Dynamics and Future Outlook - Analysts noted that U.S. carriers are attempting to convert high device subsidies into higher monthly service fee revenues through financing contracts, which enhances customer lifetime value [3] - The iPhone Air, despite mixed performance data in the U.S. market, has overall outperformed the iPhone 16 Plus [3] - Apple is set to release its latest quarterly earnings report after the market closes on October 30, with consensus estimates predicting earnings per share of $1.76 and revenue of $101.71 billion [3]