Jan 12 (Reuters) - Global smartphone shipments rose 2% year-on-year in 2025, lifted ​by stronger demand and economic (?) ‌momentum in emerging markets, Counterpoint Research said on ‌Monday. Apple (AAPL) led the market with a 20% share, the largest among the top five brands, supported by solid demand in ⁠emerging and ‌mid-sized markets and strong sales of the iPhone 17 series, said ‍Counterpoint analyst Varun Mishra. Manufacturers pulled shipments forward early in the year to get ahead ​of tariffs, but t ...

Key Takeaways QCOM posted $6.96B handset revenues last quarter, up 14% year over year, accounting for 63% of sales.QCOM faces pressure from MediaTek, weaker smartphone demand, trade tensions, and rivals' in-house chips.Qualcomm is betting on premium Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chips to drive flagship smartphone growth.Qualcomm Incorporated ((QCOM) generated about $6.96 billion in handset revenues in the latest quarter, with a year-over-year increase of 14% and an estimated $27.8 billion in fiscal 2025, contributing ...

Core Insights - A series of executive departures at Apple has been reported, with many employees moving to competitors like OpenAI and Meta, particularly in engineering and design roles [2][4] - These transitions occur as Apple faces increased competition in the smartphone market and adapts to the AI era, while CEO Tim Cook has successfully navigated challenges such as tariffs and has seen the company's stock reach record levels [3][5] - Under Cook's leadership since 2011, Apple's market capitalization has surged from $350 billion to $4 trillion, and it is projected to surpass Samsung as the world's top smartphone seller by 2029, driven by the popularity of the iPhone 17 series [6] Executive Changes - Recent executive transitions include the planned retirements of the general counsel and the vice president for environment, policy, and social initiatives, as well as the departure of two design leads to Meta and the retirement of the machine learning chief [4][5] - The chief operating officer and chief financial officer roles have also seen changes, with preparations reportedly underway for a future CEO transition, although this is said to be unrelated to current performance [5] Market Position - Apple is adjusting to the competitive landscape as rivals challenge its market share, particularly in the smartphone segment, while also focusing on new device development to leverage AI technology [3]

Market Performance - The S&P 500 gained nearly 4% for the week, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average added more than 3%, extending their winning streak to seven months [1] - The Nasdaq Composite ended the week higher by more than 4%, but fell roughly 2% in November, ending its seven-month winning streak due to earlier selling triggered by valuation concerns about artificial intelligence [1] Company Highlights - Apple shares reached three consecutive all-time highs, driven by positive demand for the iPhone 17 series, with expectations to capture 19.4% of the global smartphone market by 2025, surpassing Samsung's expected 18.7% [1] - Broadcom achieved all-time record closes during the week, benefiting from its association with Alphabet's AI dominance and the rollout of Google's latest AI model, with shares advancing more than 18% [1] - Nvidia shares hit a nearly three-month low as some tech companies seek alternatives to its chips, but it remains dominant in the AI chip market, with a slight decline of 1% for the week [1] Retail Sector Insights - Dick's Sporting Goods reported strong quarterly results, positively impacting Nike, which saw its stock jump nearly 3% as management indicated an improving relationship with Dick's and strong performance from Nike's running line [1] Investment Activities - The company executed two trades, purchasing more shares of Palo Alto Networks after a post-earnings decline, viewing it as an opportunity due to its strong quarterly performance and strategic acquisitions [1] - Procter & Gamble shares were added to the portfolio, with expectations that they will benefit from a potential rotation out of Big Tech into more economically resilient companies [1]

Core Insights - Apple's smartphone shipments are projected to surpass Samsung's in 2025, marking the first time in over a decade that Apple will lead the global smartphone market [1][2] - Global smartphone shipments are expected to increase by 3.3% year over year in 2025, largely driven by Apple's performance [1] - Apple's market share is anticipated to reach 19.4% in 2025, while Samsung's share is expected to decline to 18.7% [2] Apple Analysis - iPhone shipments are forecasted to grow by 10% year over year in 2025, fueled by strong demand for the iPhone 17 series [1][3] - The replacement cycle for smartphones is at a critical point, with many consumers who bought devices during the COVID-19 pandemic now looking to upgrade [3] - A significant number of second-hand iPhones, approximately 358 million, were sold between 2023 and Q2 2025, indicating a robust base of potential upgraders [3][5] Samsung Analysis - Samsung's shipments are projected to increase by 4.6% year over year, but the company will slip to second place in market share for the first time since 2011 [2][5] - Samsung's strategy to focus on the A series is expected to enhance its presence in emerging markets, while premium offerings will help maintain market share in mature markets [6] - The company is likely to face competition from Chinese manufacturers, who are expected to expand into higher-priced segments to improve profitability [6][7] Chinese Manufacturers - Chinese smartphone manufacturers are anticipated to rely more on overseas markets for growth and are diversifying their product offerings [6][7] - Their shipment rankings are expected to remain stable through 2029, supported by revenue diversification strategies [7]

Core Insights - Apple is projected to surpass Samsung as the world's leading smartphone seller and maintain this position through 2029 [1][2] - The growth in Apple's smartphone shipments is attributed to the popularity of the iPhone 17 series, which saw a 9% year-over-year increase in shipments during Q3 [2][6] Market Dynamics - Samsung has held the title of top smartphone seller since 2012, but Apple's recent gains indicate a shift in market dynamics [2] - The replacement cycle for smartphones is reaching a critical point, with consumers who bought devices during the COVID-19 boom now looking to upgrade [3] Future Growth Drivers - The sale of 358 million second-hand iPhones between 2023 and Q2 2025 is expected to lead to increased upgrades to new iPhones in the coming years [3] - Upcoming product launches, including a second model in the affordable "e" series in early 2026 and a foldable iPhone by the end of 2026, are anticipated to further boost Apple's market position [4] Consumer Preferences - An increasing preference for the iOS ecosystem and compatibility between devices will help Apple maintain its lead over other smartphone manufacturers through the end of the decade [5] - The introduction of the iPhone 16e, priced at $599, is expected to attract more customers to Apple [5]

Core Insights - Apple's smartphone shipments are projected to surpass Samsung's in 2025, marking the first time in over a decade that Apple will lead the global smartphone market [1][2] - Global smartphone shipments are expected to increase by 3.3% year over year in 2025, primarily driven by Apple's growth [1] - iPhone shipments are anticipated to rise by 10% year over year in 2025, fueled by demand for the iPhone 17 series [1][5] Apple - Apple's market share is projected to reach 19.4% in 2025, making it the leading smartphone manufacturer for the first time since 2011 [2] - The demand for iPhones is expected to be bolstered by consumers upgrading from smartphones purchased during the COVID-19 boom, with many entering their upgrade phase [6] - A significant number of second-hand iPhones, approximately 358 million, were sold between 2023 and Q2 2025, indicating a strong base of potential upgrades [6] Samsung - Samsung's shipments are expected to grow by 4.6% year over year, resulting in a market share of 18.7%, which will place it in second position for the first time in over a decade [5] - Samsung's strategic focus on the A series is anticipated to enhance its presence in emerging markets, while premium offerings are expected to help maintain market share in mature markets [7] Chinese Manufacturers - Chinese smartphone manufacturers are expected to increasingly rely on overseas markets for growth and will move into higher-priced segments to enhance profitability [10] - This diversification strategy is projected to stabilize their shipment rankings through 2029 [10]

Core Insights - Apple is projected to ship more smartphones than Samsung in 2025, marking the first time in 14 years that this has occurred [1][2] Shipment Projections - Apple is expected to ship approximately 243 million iPhone units in 2025, compared to Samsung's 235 million shipments [2] - This will result in Apple holding a 19.4% share of the global smartphone market, while Samsung's share will be 18.7% [2] Sales Performance - The iPhone 17 series, launched in September, has experienced a strong market reception, with sales in the U.S. during the first four weeks post-launch being 12% higher than the iPhone 16 series [3] - In China, sales of the iPhone 17 series during the same period were 18% higher than its predecessor [3] Market Dynamics - The increase in Apple's shipment outlook is attributed to a shift in the replacement cycle, as consumers who bought smartphones during the COVID-19 boom are now looking to upgrade [4] - Samsung faces challenges in the low-to-mid tier smartphone market from Chinese competitors, which may hinder its ability to regain the top position [5]

Core Insights - Apple Inc is set to overtake Samsung Electronics and become the world's largest smartphone maker for the first time in over a decade, driven by the successful launch of the iPhone 17 series and a surge in consumer upgrades [1][4] Group 1: iPhone 17 Series Performance - The iPhone 17 models, launched in September, have achieved significant sales growth in both the United States and China, with double-digit year-over-year growth reported in both regions [2] - The iPhone 17 series, which includes four models, has attracted many consumers to upgrade their smartphones, particularly the iPhone Air, which is marketed as the world's thinnest iPhone [3] - The positive market reception for the iPhone 17 series is attributed to the replacement cycle reaching an inflection point, alongside rising sales of secondhand iPhones [5][6] Group 2: Market Dynamics - iPhone shipments are projected to increase by 10% in 2025, while Samsung's shipments are expected to grow by only 4.6%, indicating a significant shift in market leadership [4] - The global smartphone market is anticipated to grow by 3.3% in 2025, with Apple expected to capture a market share of 19.4%, marking its first return to the No. 1 position since 2011 [4] Group 3: Future Outlook - Analysts forecast that Apple will maintain its position as the top phone seller through 2029, with upcoming products like a foldable iPhone and a budget-friendly iPhone 17e expected to sustain growth [7] - Apple reported that sales are growing faster than anticipated, with the holiday quarter projected to approach a record $140 billion in revenue [8]

Core Insights - Alphabet's stock reached a record high, moving the company closer to a $4 trillion valuation, with a market capitalization of $3.82 trillion after a 5% stock gain [2][3] Group 1: Market Performance - The stock gained 5%, positioning Alphabet to potentially become the fourth company to achieve a $4 trillion valuation, following Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple [2] - Nvidia was the first to reach a $4 trillion market cap in July, followed by Microsoft later that month, while Apple achieved this milestone in October [4][5] Group 2: Business Drivers - Alphabet's growth this year has been fueled by its cloud business, investments from Berkshire Hathaway, and positive early reviews of its Gemini 3 AI model [3] - The Google segment is expected to continue performing well due to strong cash flow, in-house chips, and an AI-enhanced search business [3] Group 3: Strategic Developments - Google introduced the Gemini 3 AI model on November 18, deploying it directly into Google Search and its enterprise cloud stack, marking a strategic response to competitive pressures in AI [5][6] - CEO Sundar Pichai noted that the current AI investment cycle has both rational and irrational elements, drawing parallels to the early internet investment boom [7]