BofA Reiterates Buy on Apple Ahead of Fiscal Q1 Earnings

Core Viewpoint - Apple is expected to report strong fiscal Q1 2026 earnings, with a Buy rating and a price target of $325 from BofA Securities, driven by robust iPhone demand and growth in services revenue [1] Group 1: Earnings Expectations - BofA forecasts fiscal Q1 revenue of $140 billion and EPS of $2.69, exceeding Street estimates of $138 billion and $2.67, indicating a 13% year-over-year revenue growth compared to the company's guidance of 10%–12% [4] - Gross margin is projected at 47.5%, with further expansion anticipated in fiscal Q2 due to a higher services mix [4] Group 2: Demand and Growth Drivers - Continued strong demand for iPhones and double-digit growth in services revenue are expected to drive near-term estimates higher [2] - Upcoming catalysts include the launch of a foldable iPhone in the fall and an enhanced Siri powered by Gemini AI, which could lead to increased upgrade rates [2] Group 3: Market Performance and Investor Sentiment - Apple shares have underperformed early in 2026 due to concerns over rising memory costs, but iPhone demand appears resilient, with potential revisions to production plans [3] - Despite weaker App Store trends in China, services revenue is anticipated to maintain double-digit year-over-year growth [3] - BofA notes that Apple remains underweight in investor portfolios, a situation expected to change during the year [4]