Apple(US:AAPL) Benzinga·2026-02-11 09:53Core Viewpoint - Despite the global memory chip shortage, Apple Inc. is expected to see stock price increases driven by the upcoming launch of Apple Intelligence, according to Bernstein analyst Mark Newman [1][2]. Group 1: Memory Chip Costs and Impact - Rising memory costs are projected to reduce Apple's margins by 1.5 percentage points by the end of the year, but this should not overshadow the potential of the Apple Intelligence launch [1]. - Component costs for the next iPhone are expected to rise by approximately 15% this year, leading to a 12% increase in the overall average selling price [2]. Group 2: Analyst Insights and Price Target - Mark Newman has raised his price target for Apple stock from $325 to $340, emphasizing that the significant narrative will be the launch of Apple Intelligence/Siri 2.0 later this year [2]. - Goldman Sachs analyst Giuni Lee noted that the global memory chip shortage is tightening, which could lead to earnings and margins reaching cycle highs for companies in this sector [2]. Group 3: Production Priorities and Performance Metrics - Apple is prioritizing the production and shipment of high-end iPhone models for 2026, delaying the standard version due to memory chain constraints [3]. - According to Benzinga's Edge Rankings, Apple is in the 94th percentile for quality and the 69th percentile for momentum, indicating a mixed performance compared to peers [3]. Group 4: Stock Performance - Over the past year, Apple stock has increased by 17.65%, although it fell by 0.34% to close at $273.68 on Tuesday [4].