CoreCard at risk of losing Apple card business, WSJ reports
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Aug 03 2025
0mins
Should l Buy AAPL?
CoreCard's Risk with Apple: CoreCard (CCRD) faces the potential loss of its credit card business with Apple, as Apple is in talks with JPMorgan (JPM) to replace Goldman Sachs (GS) as its card issuer, which could jeopardize CoreCard's partnership.
Euronet's Acquisition of CoreCard: Euronet (EEFT) has announced plans to acquire CoreCard for $248 million, or $30 per share, in an all-stock transaction.
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Analyst Views on AAPL
Wall Street analysts forecast AAPL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for AAPL is 299.69 USD with a low forecast of 230.00 USD and a high forecast of 350.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
32 Analyst Rating
19 Buy
11 Hold
2 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 275.910
Low
230.00
Averages
299.69
High
350.00
Current: 275.910
Low
230.00
Averages
299.69
High
350.00
About AAPL
Apple Inc. designs, manufactures and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables and accessories, and sells a variety of related services. Its product categories include iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Wearables, Home and Accessories. Its software platforms include iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS. Its services include advertising, AppleCare, cloud services, digital content and payment services. The Company operates various platforms, including the App Store, that allow customers to discover and download applications and digital content, such as books, music, video, games and podcasts. It also offers digital content through subscription-based services, including Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple News+, and Apple TV+. Its products include iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone SE, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Pro, iPad Pro, iPad Air, AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Color Influence: The newly launched 'cosmic orange' color, which phonetically resembles the Mandarin word for 'success', has led many Chinese consumers to showcase their orange devices on social media, further driving sales growth.
- Consumer Psychology: Many Chinese consumers have taken to the internet to post the phrase 'May all your wishes turn orange', reflecting how cultural factors can influence purchasing decisions and contribute to the iPhone 17's popularity.
- Design Changes Driving Demand: IDC Senior Research Director Nabila Popal noted that the external design changes of the iPhone 17, particularly the introduction of the orange color, significantly increased demand among early upgraders, thereby solidifying Apple's competitive position in the market.
See More
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- Artemis II Mission: NASA is set to launch the Artemis II mission next month, featuring a crew of three Americans and one Canadian who will embark on a 10-day lunar flyby to test hardware and systems for future moon landings.
- iPhones in Space: For the first time, astronauts will carry iPhones provided by Apple, marking a significant milestone as smartphones are utilized in a space mission, although they have been safely used in commercial space flights for about a decade, reflecting NASA's embrace of modern technology.
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- Portfolio Composition: QLD allocates 53% to technology stocks, with top holdings including Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, while SSO provides a broader sector mix with 35% in technology and 503 holdings, showcasing SSO's advantage in diversification.
- Investor Strategy Recommendations: Given that leveraged ETFs are suited for short-term investments, investors should be mindful of daily leverage resets affecting returns; QLD is ideal for those seeking high-risk, high-reward opportunities, while SSO may attract those looking for relatively stable leveraged investments.
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- Return and Risk Analysis: While MGK's growth of $1,892 over five years slightly surpasses SPY's $1,805, its maximum drawdown of -36.02% indicates significantly higher volatility, necessitating careful risk assessment by investors.
- Portfolio Composition: MGK's portfolio is heavily weighted with 55% in technology stocks, primarily holding Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, whereas SPY offers broader diversification with about 35% in tech, providing greater stability during market fluctuations.
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- Risk and Return Analysis: Over the past five years, VOO's maximum drawdown was -24.53%, while MGK's was -36.02%, indicating MGK's higher vulnerability to market fluctuations, despite MGK achieving higher total returns over one and five years.
- Portfolio Composition: MGK holds only 60 stocks with 55% allocated to technology, whereas VOO holds 504 stocks, providing broader diversification with 35% in tech, which enhances VOO's risk management capabilities.
- Market Performance Potential: MGK's top holdings, including Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, account for nearly 36% of its assets, while the same stocks represent about 21% of VOO, suggesting that MGK may yield higher returns when these stocks perform well but also carries greater risk.
See More
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- Risk and Return Analysis: Over the past five years, VOO experienced a maximum drawdown of -24.53%, compared to QQQ's -35.12%, indicating VOO's superior risk management during market downturns, appealing to stability-seeking investors.
- Portfolio Composition: QQQ's portfolio is heavily weighted with 53% in technology stocks, primarily holding companies like Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, whereas VOO includes 504 stocks with 35% in technology, providing broader sector diversity for investors seeking diversification.
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