Wedbush Optimistic About Apple's AI Strategy and iPhone 17 Sales
Price Target Increase: Wedbush raised Apple's stock price target from $320 to $350, citing strong iPhone 17 sales and an anticipated entry into the AI market in 2026 as key factors for the upgrade.
AI Strategy Development: Analysts believe Apple is beginning to outline a comprehensive AI strategy, with expectations for a significant partnership announcement with Google Gemini in early 2026, which could be transformative for both companies.
Leadership Changes: John Giannandrea, Apple's senior vice president for Machine Learning and AI Strategy, will step down, with AI researcher Amar Subramanya taking over, indicating a shift in Apple's approach to AI development.
Stock Potential: Analysts suggest that Apple's stock currently does not reflect any "AI premium," making it an attractive investment opportunity as the company prepares for significant advancements in AI technology.
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- New Product Lineup: Apple is set to launch at least five new iPhone models between the second half of 2026 and early 2027, including its first foldable smartphone, with production targets raised from 7-8 million to 10 million units, potentially generating around $25 billion in revenue and solidifying its leadership in the smartphone market.
- Revenue Growth Potential: In the fiscal Q2 of 2026, iPhone revenue rose 22% year-over-year to $57 billion, accounting for over half of total sales, and the introduction of the foldable iPhone is expected to elevate price tiers in the high-end market, attracting more upgrade consumers.
- Service Revenue Boost: Apple's services revenue grew 16% to $31 billion in the same quarter, indicating strong momentum in its high-margin services business, and the launch of the foldable iPhone could further drive user spending on services, enhancing long-term profitability.
- Market Risk Considerations: While the new product cycle may have positive implications, the foldable iPhone carries execution risks as a first-generation product in a new form factor, necessitating Apple to ensure production quality and market acceptance to avoid impacting overall performance.
- Market Leadership: MercadoLibre dominates the Latin American e-commerce sector, with a 49% year-over-year revenue increase and a 42% rise in gross merchandise volume in Q1 2026, highlighting its substantial growth potential in an underpenetrated market.
- User Base Expansion: As of Q1 2026, MercadoLibre boasts 126 million active users, leveraging this data to enhance its AI assistant, which boosts customer purchase confidence and strengthens its competitive position in the market.
- Fintech Business Growth: The company has grown its fintech user base to 83 million, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31%, while its credit portfolio has surged at a CAGR of 94%, showcasing its robust performance in the digital banking sector.
- Profit Pressure and Future Outlook: Despite a drop in operating income from $763 million to $611 million and a margin decline from 12.9% to 6.9% in Q1, management views current investments as essential for future growth, although the market remains cautious about short-term performance.
- Massive Market Opportunity: MercadoLibre leads the e-commerce sector in Latin America, with a 49% year-over-year revenue increase and a 42% rise in gross merchandise volume in Q1, indicating strong market demand and growth potential.
- User Base Expansion: As of Q1 2026, MercadoLibre boasts 126 million active users, leveraging data-driven insights to enhance customer experience, with an AI assistant improving purchase confidence.
- Fintech Business Growth: The company has reached 83 million users in its fintech sector, growing at a 31% CAGR, while its credit portfolio has surged at a 94% CAGR, showcasing its robust performance in digital banking.
- Attractive Stock Valuation: Despite MercadoLibre's stock price dropping to $1,764.31 with a P/E ratio of 45, near a 10-year low, it is still considered a good investment given its future growth potential.
- Market Performance Review: The S&P 500 has climbed 78% over the past three years, with the 'Magnificent Seven' tech stocks playing a crucial role in this bull market, demonstrating strong market leadership and investor confidence.
- AI Industry Beneficiaries: Alphabet, Nvidia, and Amazon, as pioneers in the AI sector, achieved quarterly growth rates of 23%, 14.7%, and 14.4% respectively, indicating that their strong performances in cloud services and AI chips are driving revenue growth.
- Challenges for Microsoft and Meta: While Microsoft's stock has gradually recovered, concerns about AI replacing software have impacted its performance; meanwhile, Meta's significant investments in AI applications have not yet translated into shareholder confidence, resulting in a stock price decline.
- Investment Recommendations: In evaluating the 'Magnificent Seven', Alphabet and Nvidia are considered the best investment choices, with the former excelling in cloud services and the latter viewed as a 'cheap' investment opportunity due to its leadership in the AI chip market.
- Performance Recovery: After a sluggish first quarter, the Magnificent Seven stocks showed strong performance in the second quarter, particularly Alphabet and Nvidia, which saw stock price increases driven by robust demand for their cloud services and AI chips, reflecting ongoing market confidence in AI.
- Revenue Growth: Nvidia reported record revenue exceeding $215 billion in the latest fiscal year, while Amazon's AWS reached an annual revenue run rate of $150 billion, indicating that AI-related businesses are generating substantial earnings for these companies.
- Investment Opportunities: While Meta is investing in AI applications, its profitability has yet to materialize, leading to diminished investor interest in its stock; in contrast, Alphabet and Nvidia are viewed as better investment choices due to their reasonable valuations and strong market performance.
- Market Outlook: With the continuous evolution of AI technology, the long-term growth potential of the Magnificent Seven stocks remains robust, and investors should focus on these companies' profitability and market positions to make informed investment decisions in the future.
- New Model Launch Plans: Apple is set to introduce at least five new iPhone models between late 2026 and early 2027, including its first foldable smartphone, rumored to be priced around $2,500, with production targets raised from 7-8 million to 10 million units, reflecting strong confidence in market demand.
- Revenue Driver: In Q2 of fiscal 2026, iPhone revenue rose 22% year-over-year to approximately $57 billion, accounting for over half of the company's total sales, indicating that the iPhone remains Apple's core revenue source, and the introduction of the foldable model will further solidify this position.
- Market Competition Strategy: By launching multiple models across different price tiers, Apple aims to capture market share from both high-end and low-end segments, a strategy that not only attracts more consumers but also enhances the overall brand image and strengthens market competitiveness.
- Future Growth Potential: Although the revenue from the foldable phone will primarily materialize in fiscal 2027, this active product cycle indicates Apple's aggressive efforts to expand its installed base of active devices, driving growth in high-margin services, with services revenue increasing 16% to $31 billion in the same quarter, showcasing strong market demand.










