Apple stock in focus: Evercore raises price target to $330 Apfelpatient

Apple's stock is once again in the spotlight for analysts. Investment firm Evercore has raised its price target again, primarily citing the continued strong demand for the iPhone 17 family. Despite a challenging market environment and declining share prices in recent weeks, expectations for Apple remain high.

Apple has been navigating a complex landscape of high expectations, strong product cycles, and macroeconomic uncertainties for years. This makes price target adjustments particularly significant. They reveal how analysts assess the current situation and which factors are considered crucial for future development. In this particular case, the iPhone is clearly the focus, complemented by services, regional demand variations, and cost considerations.

Evercore raises price target again

Analysts at Evercore have raised their price target for Apple several times in 2025. In September alone, the target was increased twice, first from $250 to $290. The main reason was strong demand for the iPhone 17, and later for the iPhone Air.

At the end of October, the next price target was raised to $300, again supported by solid sales figures for the new iPhone models. In December 2025, Evercore further increased its target price to $325. At that time, the expectation that a revamped Siri feature could further boost sales in 2026 played a key role.

Evercore has now set a price target of $330. In a note to investors, the analysts again point to the robust demand for iPhones. Other analysts are also more optimistic. JP Morgan recently raised its price target for Apple to $305.

Stock reaction after quarterly results

In the past, Apple's stock often reacted with price declines after the release of quarterly earnings, regardless of how good the results were. This pattern was recently broken. Following the latest earnings announcement, the stock rose.

A key reason for this was that the September quarter results were less affected by tariffs than previously feared. Furthermore, Apple managed to offset lower iPhone revenues with significantly stronger service sales. Although iPhone sales were weaker this quarter, several records were achieved, reinforcing the overall positive impression.

Outlook for the December quarter

For the December quarter, traditionally dominated by the holiday season, Evercore expects Apple to deliver its best results in history. The revenue estimate for this quarter has been raised to $140.5 billion. By comparison, the current average market expectation is $137.3 billion.

Analysts expect strong demand during the holiday season to make a significant contribution to this result. This puts the December quarter in focus as a potential turning point after a rather mixed year.

Regional demand and product mix

Evercore expects continued strong demand in the US, India, and China for the remainder of the year. However, analysts predict a slight decline in demand in Europe.

It is also noticeable that demand has recently focused heavily on the more expensive models. High-end devices like the iPhone 17 Pro Max were particularly in demand. This pattern is consistent with previous years. At the same time, analysts point out that the product mix has been shifting increasingly towards the more affordable non-Pro versions each year since the introduction of the Pro models.

Rising RAM costs as a risk factor

Another point in the analysis concerns the cost development of RAM. Evercore anticipates that RAM prices will rise in 2026, possibly significantly. However, Apple is expected to be largely unaffected initially. Due to existing long-term supply contracts, analysts believe the company is largely protected against these cost increases until the end of the quarter in March 2026.

Current performance of Apple stock

After a difficult December, Apple faces a tough year in 2026. The stock opened at $271.01 at the start of the year. Since December 1st, the price has fallen by approximately 6.5 percent. However, a slight recovery has recently emerged, with the stock rising by about $0.50 overnight.

Apple remains solidly positioned despite risks

Evercore's renewed price target increase shows that Apple is still considered strongly positioned despite short-term share price weakness. Demand for the iPhone 17, the growing services business, and an optimistic outlook for the December quarter support this assessment. At the same time, risks such as weak regional demand and rising costs remain. Overall, the picture is emerging in which Apple will continue to be heavily driven by the iPhone in 2026, but will increasingly rely on multiple pillars. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Wongphoto / DepositPhotos.com)

Disclaimer: No recommendation for investments

This article does not constitute financial or investment advice. The information contained herein is for journalistic and informational purposes only. Please conduct your own research or consult a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.