Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Shares Up 2.9% – Still a Buy?

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s share price was up 2.9% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $255.48 and last traded at $253.79. Approximately 48,363,584 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 1% from the average daily volume of 47,985,555 shares. The stock had previously closed at $246.63.

Key Headlines Impacting Apple

Here are the key news stories impacting Apple this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Apple is testing a Siri upgrade that can handle multiple commands in one query, a meaningful product/AI improvement that could boost services usage and competitiveness vs. newer assistants. Apple tests Siri feature
• Positive Sentiment: Warren Buffett publicly said he “sold Apple too soon” and would consider buying more at the right price — a bullish endorsement from a marquee long-term investor that can lift sentiment. Buffett on Apple sale
• Positive Sentiment: Reports say iPhone demand remains strong in China even as competitors struggle, supporting revenue expectations for Apple’s largest product line. iPhone demand in China
• Positive Sentiment: Apple continues to staff up its AI efforts (hiring a Google shopping/assistant exec for AI marketing) and is positioning AI features around hardware and the App Store — moves that support a multi-year services/AI monetization story. Apple recruits Google exec
• Neutral Sentiment: Apple’s 50th anniversary coverage highlights long-term strength and cultural relevance but also frames the company at an inflection point as it adapts to the AI era — important context but not an immediate catalyst. Apple turns 50
• Negative Sentiment: Security researchers warn of a new social‑engineering macOS malware (Infinit Stealer) that’s hard to detect — a reputational and support-cost risk for Mac users and enterprise customers. Mac malware risk
• Negative Sentiment: Apple’s European operation was fined for breaching Russian sanctions and reports note a mistaken/early rollout of Apple Intelligence in China — regulatory missteps that raise execution and compliance questions. Subsidiary fined China rollout error
• Negative Sentiment: Commentary that Apple is “lagging in AI” vs. rivals keeps pressure on expectations for near-term AI-driven growth; investors will watch WWDC and Siri updates for proof of progress. Apple lagging in AI

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Apple in a report on Friday, January 30th. DA Davidson restated a “neutral” rating and set a $270.00 price objective on shares of Apple in a report on Friday, January 30th. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Apple in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Loop Capital reissued a “buy” rating and set a $325.00 target price (up from $315.00) on shares of Apple in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Finally, Phillip Securities upgraded Apple from a “moderate sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, February 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have assigned a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Apple has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $297.58.

Apple Trading Up 2.9%

The company’s fifty day moving average price is $260.06 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $263.04. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The firm has a market cap of $3.73 trillion, a P/E ratio of 32.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.10.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The iPhone maker reported $2.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.67 by $0.17. Apple had a net margin of 27.04% and a return on equity of 159.94%. The company had revenue of $143.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $138.25 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.40 earnings per share. Apple’s quarterly revenue was up 15.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Apple Inc. will post 7.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Apple Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 12th. Investors of record on Monday, February 9th were issued a $0.26 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 9th. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. Apple’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 13.15%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of AAPL. Isthmus Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Apple by 6.4% in the 3rd quarter. Isthmus Partners LLC now owns 97,177 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 5,808 shares during the last quarter. Sellwood Investment Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Apple by 110.9% during the third quarter. Sellwood Investment Partners LLC now owns 135 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. acquired a new position in Apple in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $41,000. ROSS JOHNSON & Associates LLC boosted its stake in Apple by 1,800.0% in the first quarter. ROSS JOHNSON & Associates LLC now owns 190 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 180 shares during the last quarter. Finally, LSV Asset Management bought a new position in Apple in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $65,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.73% of the company’s stock.

Apple Company Profile

Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) is a multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. The company designs, develops and sells consumer electronics, software and services. Over its history Apple has evolved from personal computers to a broad portfolio that spans mobile devices, wearables, home entertainment and digital services.

Apple’s principal hardware products include the iPhone smartphone, iPad tablet, Mac personal computers, Apple Watch wearable devices and a range of accessories such as AirPods and HomePod.