Analysts up targets as Apple valuation surpasses Hewlett-Packard

[AppleInsider]

Several Wall Street analysts increased their price targets on shares of Apple Inc. Thursday, following a late-night surge in the gadget makers stock that saw its valuation surpass that of industry heavyweight Hewlett-Packard.

Shares of Apple rose over 7 percent Wednesday in after hours trading on the Nasdaq stock market after the company said third quarter profits rose some 73 percent to $818 million.

The late night surge boosted the iPhone maker's market cap -- or perceived public value -- to over $127 billion, leapfrogging long-time rival HP, which is valued at approximately $124 billion.

After surpassing Dell's valuation earlier in the year, Apple is now treading on the heels of several other high-tech firms, include Intel ($141 billion) and IBM ($175 billion).

On average, analysts on Wall Street believe Apple shares are poised to gain even further ground in the coming months, with several using research notes on Thursday to increase their 12-month price targets on shares of the Cupertino-based firm.

"We believe bears remain too pessimistic in underestimating Apple's profit potential and ability to generate strong cash flow," said AmTech analyst Shaw Wu, who upped his target to $185 from $165. "Moreover, bears have also underestimated bulls' ability to form more realistic expectations and focused too much on overzealous and sometimes outright irrational estimates."

Over at Pacific Crest, analyst Andy Hargreaves made a similar move in bumping his old $130 target to $175. "Back-to-school sales, expanded distribution and a likely refresh of the iMac product lineup should drive Mac sales growth above 30 percent in fiscal [Q4]," he told clients. "We believe that Apple can continue to drive strong growth in high-margin service and accessory sales, which should benefit gross margin, despite the likely negative impact of rising component costs."

Also commenting on an impending overhaul to the iMac line (as well as full-screen iPods) was Goldman Sachs analyst David Bailey, who increased his Apple price target to $165. "iPhone hype notwithstanding, with the heart of Apple’s product cycle about to begin, we want to stay with the stock," he wrote in a note to clients. "In the September quarter, Apple will finish up a refresh of its entire Mac line-up, rounding it out with a redesigned iMac."

Other firms increasing their price target on Apple shares Thursday included JMP Securities ($160), Caris & Co. ($165), UBS ($175), Credit Suisse ($185), Deutsche Bank ($200), and PiperJaffray ($211).

Shares of Apple retreated only slightly from Wednesday evening's run-up and were trading up 6.75 percent, or $9.27, to $146.53 early Thursday afternoon.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[CREB]

Surpassing HP's valuation is not a surprise as anyone who is facile in the inner workings of HP knows they are living on borrowed time; is governed by a CEO who only knows how to increase the bottom line through head count cuts (and very little else); a company who's innovation and core values went down the drain with Bill and Dave.

Apple deserves what they have earned, and will be a hallmark for tech in the decades to come...long after HP is only remembered as a garage somewhere in Silicon Valley.

[ncee]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Several Wall Street analysts increased their price targets on shares of Apple Inc. Thursday, following a late-night surge in the gadget makers stock that saw its valuation surpass that of industry heavyweight Hewlett-Packard.

Shares of Apple rose over 7 percent Wednesday in after hours trading on the Nasdaq stock market after the company said third quarter profits rose some 73 percent to $818 million.

The late night surge boosted the iPhone maker's market cap -- or perceived public value -- to over $127 billion, leapfrogging long-time rival HP, which is valued at approximately $124 billion.

After surpassing Dell's valuation earlier in the year, Apple is now treading on the heels of several other high-tech firms, include Intel ($141 billion) and IBM ($175 billion).

On average, analysts on Wall Street believe Apple shares are poised to gain even further ground in the coming months, with several using research notes on Thursday to increase their 12-month price targets on shares of the Cupertino-based firm.

"We believe bears remain too pessimistic in underestimating Apple's profit potential and ability to generate strong cash flow," said AmTech analyst Shaw Wu, who upped his target to $185 from $165. "Moreover, bears have also underestimated bulls' ability to form more realistic expectations and focused too much on overzealous and sometimes outright irrational estimates."

Over at Pacific Crest, analyst Andy Hargreaves made a similar move in bumping his old $130 target to $175. "Back-to-school sales, expanded distribution and a likely refresh of the iMac product lineup should drive Mac sales growth above 30 percent in fiscal [Q4]," he told clients. "We believe that Apple can continue to drive strong growth in high-margin service and accessory sales, which should benefit gross margin, despite the likely negative impact of rising component costs."

Also commenting on an impending overhaul to the iMac line (as well as full-screen iPods) was Goldman Sachs analyst David Bailey, who increased his Apple price target to $165. "iPhone hype notwithstanding, with the heart of Apple’s product cycle about to begin, we want to stay with the stock," he wrote in a note to clients. "In the September quarter, Apple will finish up a refresh of its entire Mac line-up, rounding it out with a redesigned iMac."

Other firms increasing their price target on Apple shares Thursday included JMP Securities ($160) and Deutsche Bank ($200).

Shares of Apple retreated only slightly from Wednesday evening's run-up and were trading up 6.75 percent, or $9.27, to $146.53 early Thursday afternoon.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

This is all good stuff.

I believe when folks look at the base of OLD iPod's out there, how many will purchase the new and improved when it comes out, then the New iPhones, New OS, and ALL of the other new stuff coming from Apple, this stock is just starting it's climb.


Skip

[cygnusrk727]

And now the #1 PC weenie in the world is admiting he likes Macs....And recommends them to other people.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2162397,00.asp

Apple is a rocket blasting off.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by cygnusrk727

And now the #1 PC weenie in the world is admiting he likes Macs....And recommends them to other people.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2162397,00.asp

Apple is a rocket blasting off.

Holy cow. Never thought I'd see that old crank changing his mind... then again, he never really tried it before, so it makes sense.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by CREB

Surpassing HP's valuation is not a surprise as anyone who is facile in the inner workings of HP knows they are living on borrowed time; is governed by a CEO who only knows how to increase the bottom line through head count cuts (and very little else); a company who's innovation and core values went down the drain with Bill and Dave.

Apple deserves what they have earned, and will be a hallmark for tech in the decades to come...long after HP is only remembered as a garage somewhere in Silicon Valley.

Hp is doing well, they've surpassed Dell as the world's number 1 PC supplier, they are making very good profits. They did have a bad patch, but then, so did Apple.

[TBaggins]

Originally Posted by cygnusrk727

And now the #1 PC weenie in the world is admiting he likes Macs....And recommends them to other people.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2162397,00.asp

OMG... Dvorak is such a tool.

All you need to know about the guy is summed in one passage in that article:

Oh horrors. Dvorak is using a Mac. Hey, I figured since I'm known for ragging on the Mac all the time, I may as well speak from some experience, right?

So let's get this straight... Dvorak has been bashing the Mac for, what is it now, decades?, and only now he's finally gotten around to actually knowing what the f*** he's talking about?

Holy sh**, that's retarded even by his standards.

In any case, it doesn't mean a thing. Dvorak is, first and foremost, a media WHORE, and he says things only to get hits. He bashed the Mac when he thought bashing it was popular, and now that its become obvious that Apple is pretty much unstoppable, he, like the little whore he is, jumps right on the bandwagon.

Don't worry... if Apple experiences any bumps in the road at all, Dvorak will immediately jump off the bandwagon and bash again. Whatever it takes to get those hits. Because he's a W-H-O-R-E. End o' story.

.

[Obelix]

Originally Posted by TBaggins

OMG... Dvorak is such a tool.

All you need to know about the guy is summed in one passage in that article:

Oh horrors. Dvorak is using a Mac. Hey, I figured since I'm known for ragging on the Mac all the time, I may as well speak from some experience, right?

So let's get this straight... Dvorak has been bashing the Mac for, what is it now, decades?, and only now he's finally gotten around to actually knowing what the f*** he's talking about?

Holy sh**, that's retarded even by his standards.

In any case, it doesn't mean a thing. Dvorak is, first and foremost, a media WHORE, and he says things only to get hits. He bashed the Mac when he thought it was popular, and now that its become obvious that Apple is pretty much unstoppable, he, like the little whore he is, jumps right on the bandwagon.

Don't worry... if Apple experiences any bumps in the road at all, Dvorak will immediately jump off the bandwagon and bash again. Whatever it takes to get those hits. Because he's a W-H-O-R-E. End o' story.

.

Dvorak used to write for MacUser. So yes, he is a media whore, actually not believing what he is writing.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by TBaggins

OMG... Dvorak is such a tool.

All you need to know about the guy is summed in one passage in that article:

Oh horrors. Dvorak is using a Mac. Hey, I figured since I'm known for ragging on the Mac all the time, I may as well speak from some experience, right?

So let's get this straight... Dvorak has been bashing the Mac for, what is it now, decades?, and only now he's finally gotten around to actually knowing what the f*** he's talking about?

Holy sh**, that's retarded even by his standards.

In any case, it doesn't mean a thing. Dvorak is, first and foremost, a media WHORE, and he says things only to get hits. He bashed the Mac when he thought it was popular, and now that its become obvious that Apple is pretty much unstoppable, he, like the little whore he is, jumps right on the bandwagon.

Don't worry... if Apple experiences any bumps in the road at all, Dvorak will immediately jump off the bandwagon and bash again. Whatever it takes to get those hits. Because he's a W-H-O-R-E. End o' story.

.

Dvorak started his career using Apple products, including Macs. I'm sure he's used them as time went on, so that he could comment. We may not like him these days, but he's not stupid.

But, like most all of those who undergo a conversion, he found bashing his former platform to be useful, and satisfying. How else could he explain moving to Windows, if it weren't better?

Notice that he made it quite clear that he isn't moving to a Mac himself.

I know Windows users who recommend Macs to people they don't want to bother helping, or who want something that PC's don't offer them, ease of use, and attractiveness. More people are putting their computers in the public areas of their homes these days.

[melgross]

Oops, double post.

[TBaggins]

Originally Posted by Obelix

Dvorak used to write for MacUser.

How long ago was that? From his comments in the PC Magazine article today, he seems quite unfamiliar with OS X.

And remember, this is the same guy who said, when he first saw the Apple mouse, "There's no evidence that people want to use these things."

In other words, he's kind of an idiot.

.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by TBaggins

How long ago was that? From his comments in the PC Magazine article today, he seems quite unfamiliar with OS X.

And remember, this is the same guy who said, when he first saw the Apple mouse, "There's no evidence that people want to use these things."

In other words, he's kind of an idiot.

.

Actually, almost everybody thought the same thing about the mouse at the time, including, as I remember, most Apple II users.

[TBaggins]

Originally Posted by melgross

Dvorak started his career using Apple products, including Macs. I'm sure he's used them as time went on, so that he could comment.

He uses them occasionally... he just doesn't understand them.

And, reading the PC Magazine article, it seems clear from his comments that he's not really up on OS X. He writes as if he hasn't touched a Mac in years.

.

[TBaggins]

Originally Posted by melgross

Actually, almost everybody thought the same thing about the mouse at the time, including, as I remember, most Apple II users.

That wasn't my experience at all. Most everyone I knew at the time went, "Cool. This is MUCH easier."

And I was an Apple II user in high school.

.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by TBaggins

He uses them occasionally... he just doesn't understand them.

And, reading the PC Magazine article, it seems clear from his comments that he's not really up on OS X. He writes as if he hasn't touched a Mac in years.

.

He understands them. Don't underestimate him.

You might as well say that people who constantly bash the PC don't understand it either.

He's pretty savvy. But his public persona has him as being brash. That's fine. There's nothing wrong with self promotion. He's not a journalist, as he would tell you himself.

People on forums are much too quick to call people names when they don't like them.

I've argued with him over the years. I'm not exactly shy myself. Sometimes he's right, and sometimes wrong. But, he bends when he has to.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by TBaggins

That wasn't my experience at all. Most everyone I knew at the time went, "Cool. This is MUCH easier."

And I was an Apple II user in high school.

.

Then you didn't read the computer mags, or know very many people who used them. I remember very differently. The Apple press were about the only ones who didn't come out and dismiss it. But, they were financially bound to help Apple (as they are now), as their futures were tied up with them.

[TBaggins]

Originally Posted by melgross

He understands them. Don't underestimate him.

You might as well say that people who constantly bash the PC don't understand it either.

He's pretty savvy. But his public persona has him as being brash. That's fine. There's nothing wrong with self promotion. He's not a journalist, as he would tell you himself.

People on forums are much too quick to call people names when they don't like them.

I've argued with him over the years. I'm not exactly shy myself. Sometimes he's right, and sometimes wrong. But, he bends when he has to.

Sorry Mel, you may have some respect for the guy, but many don't.

I think Dvorak himself is the best spokesperson as to how he's such a whore, as he himself admits in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAWDYaWAVQQ


Pretty ugly stuff.

.

[TBaggins]

Originally Posted by melgross

Then you didn't read the computer mags, or know very many people who used them. I remember very differently. The Apple press were about the only ones who didn't come out and dismiss it. But, they were financially bound to help Apple (as they are now), as their futures were tied up with them.

The print computer mags have never really mattered to me, or to many people, for that matter. Why should they? It's a vehicle for advertising, essentially. So is AI, but at least here you get same day information (for free) and honest opinions directly from other users... not so with print, unless you count the token couple of 'letters to the editor'.

Your point is taken, though. The nicest thing you can say about Dvorak re: the Apple mouse is that he was just as wrong as some other people regarding that. But he still wasn't right.

.

[MacTel]

I would agree that a new iMac would come out sooner than later, but a new full screen iPod most likely wouldn't come out until October at the latest.

The school promotions have to end and the flash supply has to normalize before Apple will up the Shuffle, Nano, and Video iPods. We'll see the Nano get video capability as many competing products of the same size or smaller have video playback.

I'd like to see the 3G Shuffle with an LCD screen too. Though I doubt the 3G Shuffle will come out any earlier than spring of 2008.

[cygnusrk727]

Originally Posted by melgross

He understands them. Don't underestimate him.

You might as well say that people who constantly bash the PC don't understand it either.

He's pretty savvy. But his public persona has him as being brash. That's fine. There's nothing wrong with self promotion. He's not a journalist, as he would tell you himself.

People on forums are much too quick to call people names when they don't like them.

I've argued with him over the years. I'm not exactly shy myself. Sometimes he's right, and sometimes wrong. But, he bends when he has to.

For the record, I don't hate the man or have any ill will towards him. Nor did I mean to get this thread off track.

I just wanted to point out with Apple's financial rise there is a cultural shift going on as well. When the proudest Mac Basher around grumbles about having to admit he likes Macs. That is a sign of the times. That is another sign of Apple's true resurgence.

(now Apple bring on the friggin new iMacs already.)

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by cygnusrk727

For the record, I don't hate the man or have any ill will towards him. Nor did I mean to get this thread off track.

I just wanted to point out with Apple's financial rise there is a cultural shift going on as well. When the proudest Mac Basher around grumbles about having to admit he likes Macs. That is a sign of the times. That is another sign of Apple's true resurgence.

(now Apple bring on the friggin new iMacs already.)

Hear, hear!

[Flounder]

Originally Posted by TBaggins

How long ago was that? From his comments in the PC Magazine article today, he seems quite unfamiliar with OS X.

Early 90's I believe. I think he left around the advent of Windows '95, but I don't recall exactly. My dad got Mac User back then.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by TBaggins

Sorry Mel, you may have some respect for the guy, but many don't.

I think Dvorak himself is the best spokesperson as to how he's such a whore, as he himself admits in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAWDYaWAVQQ


Pretty ugly stuff.

.

I know. I saw the video.

But, you see, while some think that it was a slip of the tongue, I don't.

It generated more controversy, and consequently, more publicity for him, and his employer.

Well done.

He has a plan, and is very successful in carrying it out. You MUST respect that, even if you don't agree with him.

After all, far too many Mac fanbois write irresponsible things to those who are imagined to knock anything Apple.

Even death threats! This is all too common.

But, if he said fanboi things about the Mac, the same people here that now disrespect him, would be praising him to the limit.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by TBaggins

The print computer mags have never really mattered to me, or to many people, for that matter. Why should they? It's a vehicle for advertising, essentially. So is AI, but at least here you get same day information (for free) and honest opinions directly from other users... not so with print, unless you count the token couple of 'letters to the editor'.

Your point is taken, though. The nicest thing you can say about Dvorak re: the Apple mouse is that he was just as wrong as some other people regarding that. But he still wasn't right.

.

Everything is a vehicle for advertising, INCLUDING AI, as you said.

The computer press is as good as the individual publication. You want to dismiss something you aren't happy with?

It doesn't work that way.

I agree that he was wrong about the mouse. So what? He's a pundit. They are paid to make extreme points. Otherwise no one would pay attention.

[Bageljoey]

Originally Posted by melgross

Actually, almost everybody thought the same thing about the mouse at the time, including, as I remember, most Apple II users.

Yeah. I was on an Apple IIc. I thought the mouse was absurd and the whole interface was too "cutsey." I had no use for the Mac until I saw how easy it was for people at school to change the font size and make a 3 page paper 5 pages!! That was when my Mac envy started.

[TBaggins]

Originally Posted by melgross

I know. I saw the video.

But, you see, while some think that it was a slip of the tongue, I don't.

It generated more controversy, and consequently, more publicity for him, and his employer.

Well done.

He has a plan, and is very successful in carrying it out. You MUST respect that, even if you don't agree with him.

After all, far too many Mac fanbois write irresponsible things to those who are imagined to knock anything Apple.

Even death threats! This is all too common.

But, if he said fanboi things about the Mac, the same people here that now disrespect him, would be praising him to the limit.

Mel, whether or not it was a slip or planned doesn't really matter. Neither does what 'fanbois' do or don't do.

Because no matter how you slice it, Dvorak is still a whore.

And frankly, I'm amazed that someone of your intellect and character would waste time defending him. Trust me Mel, Duh-hor-hack is beneath you.

.

[TBaggins]

Originally Posted by melgross

Everything is a vehicle for advertising, INCLUDING AI, as you said.

The computer press is as good as the individual publication. You want to dismiss something you aren't happy with?

It doesn't work that way.

It does for me.

I agree that he was wrong about the mouse. So what? He's a pundit. They are paid to make extreme points. Otherwise no one would pay attention.

I hold pundits to a higher standard, I guess. They have to have some idea of what they're talking about, and not say things only to get a reaction. Otherwise, they're pretty much worthless.

And if they are usually wrong and saying things only to get a reaction, I might as well watch 'Maury' instead... it'd be the same thing.

.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by TBaggins

It does for me.


I hold pundits to a higher standard, I guess. They have to have some idea of what they're talking about, and not say things only to get a reaction. Otherwise, they're pretty much worthless.

And if they are usually wrong and saying things only to get a reaction, I might as well watch 'Maury' instead... it'd be the same thing.

.

Pundits give their opinion. They are designed to elicit controversy. They are simply part of the entertainment world.

I accept them as such, which is why it doesn't bother me.

As long as someone doesn't come out with an intentional factual lie, I simply find myself to be amused by what they say.

He's made mistakes, given his opinions, but I've never caught him in an actual lie.

[iPoodOverZune]

John Dvorak is John Dork

[cameronj]

Guess I was wrong about what would happen after earnings! Wish I hadn't sold - I do still think it was a sensible and defensible decision, but after the market's reaction to the great earnings (which I DID expect ) especially on a bloody day like today, I'm buying back in.

Hope I didn't piss anyone off too much... oh and gooo Apple! 200 here we go!

(PS to all you longs, THIS would be the sign for you to sell )

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by TBaggins

Mel, whether or not it was a slip or planned doesn't really matter. Neither does what 'fanbois' do or don't do.

Because no matter how you slice it, Dvorak is still a whore.

And frankly, I'm amazed that someone of your intellect and character would waste time defending him. Trust me Mel, Duh-hor-hack is beneath you.

Hating him helps him. So stop helping him. Ignore him.

[g5man]

Originally Posted by cameronj

Guess I was wrong about what would happen after earnings! Wish I hadn't sold - I do still think it was a sensible and defensible decision, but after the market's reaction to the great earnings (which I DID expect ) especially on a bloody day like today, I'm buying back in.

Hope I didn't piss anyone off too much... oh and gooo Apple! 200 here we go!

(PS to all you longs, THIS would be the sign for you to sell )

don't fret.

we all make assumptions about where the stock will go after earnings and sometimes we are right and sometimes wrong.

I sold after last earnings hoping for a correction around 100 which never came. I jumped right back in at 104 and have been buying eversince.

tomorrow will be a green day for aapl since the market was oversold. we might get lucky and even hit 150.

[Flounder]

Originally Posted by melgross

Pundits give their opinion. They are designed to elicit controversy. They are simply part of the entertainment world.

I accept them as such, which is why it doesn't bother me.

They are being presented (and unfortunately accepted) more and more often as legitimate sources of news. That's what bothers me......

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by Flounder

They are being presented (and unfortunately accepted) more and more often as legitimate sources of news. That's what bothers me......

So, that makes John Dvorak the Ann Coulter ("Coultergeist") of tech reportage.

[lfe2211]

Originally Posted by cygnusrk727

And now the #1 PC weenie in the world is admiting he likes Macs....And recommends them to other people.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2162397,00.asp

Apple is a rocket blasting off.

Hey, this is a Dvorak-free zone. With all due respect, please do not post anything by that idiot. Anything that gives him pub means we have that much longer to put up with his nonsensical drivel.

[aplnub]

At what percentage of market share for computers will Apple reach when they catch of to MS in worth?

[melgross]

Originally Posted by cameronj

Guess I was wrong about what would happen after earnings! Wish I hadn't sold - I do still think it was a sensible and defensible decision, but after the market's reaction to the great earnings (which I DID expect ) especially on a bloody day like today, I'm buying back in.

Hope I didn't piss anyone off too much... oh and gooo Apple! 200 here we go!

(PS to all you longs, THIS would be the sign for you to sell )

Ha!.

My broker's been telling me that since it was 38, and his reaction to my "No!", was: "What, do you think it will go to 40?"

Well, it went a bit beyond that before it split.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by Flounder

They are being presented (and unfortunately accepted) more and more often as legitimate sources of news. That's what bothers me......

No, they aren't. The fact that they are opinionated is pretty obvious, or we wouldn't be writing all of this.

I take it for what it's worth.

I really don't think it's worth getting upset over.

I rarely read what he writes, though sometimes, if the subject is interesting, I will.

One problem is that Mac "fans" get too enervated over anything they think is a slur upon their platform. I don't.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by aplnub

At what percentage of market share for computers will Apple reach when they catch of to MS in worth?

That's not an answerable question.

You would somehow have to disassociate all of Apple's other major product lines from the Mac sales, and be able to predict just how each of them will be doing.

That's just not possible.

[SpamSandwich]

Y'know, I bought MS and AAPL around the same time, never sold any of either... and look who's come out the big winner.