Wells Fargo upgrades Apple stock to 'outperform,' says recent correction is an overreaction
Longtime Apple bear Wells Fargo Securities changed its rating on the iPhone maker on Tuesday, saying recent losses in the company's stock have been overdone, especially in light of the company's continued success in China.
Wells Fargo Securities originally downgraded AAPL stock in early 2014 citing concerns over the company's margins. It had maintained its "market perform" rating until Tuesday, when analyst Maynard Um upgraded Apple to "outperform," calling the company's recent share slide an overreaction.
Um noted that shares of Apple have declined about 22 percent since mid-July, and 8.5 percent since just last Thursday. He sees those losses as a buying opportunity for investors.
"While we note that our fundamental stance on Apple's challenges are unchanged, we believe shares have over-corrected," Um wrote. "Tim Cook's email to CNBC's Jim Cramer that iPhone activation growth in China "has actually accelerated over the past few weeks..." gives us better visibility to the Sept. quarter (September is typically an iPhone transition month making Jul./Aug. important, in our opinion)."
In addition, he believes that the market is not giving Apple the benefit of its cash balance. As of the end of last quarter, the company had more than $200 billion in cash, most of it held offshore.
Um cautioned that his same concerns about Apple remain --?he thinks the company still has tough year-over-year comparisons ahead in the December quarter, he's worried about declining iPad sales, and he's less bullish on the Apple Watch than consensus on Wall Street.
Wells Fargo's valuation range for AAPL stock is between $125 and $135. Shares of the company slid to $103 on Monday, amid greater losses across all of the market.
Continued concern over Apple prompted Chief Executive Tim Cook to send an email to CNBC analyst Jim Cramer, revealing material information about growth in China. The news proved encouraging for Um and others.
"I get updates on our performance in China every day, including this morning, and I can tell you that we have continued to experience strong growth for our business in China through July and August," Cook wrote. "Growth in iPhone activations has actually accelerated over the past few weeks, and we have had the best performance for the App Store in China during the last 2 weeks."
Wells Fargo Securities originally downgraded AAPL stock in early 2014 citing concerns over the company's margins. It had maintained its "market perform" rating until Tuesday, when analyst Maynard Um upgraded Apple to "outperform," calling the company's recent share slide an overreaction.
Um noted that shares of Apple have declined about 22 percent since mid-July, and 8.5 percent since just last Thursday. He sees those losses as a buying opportunity for investors.
"While we note that our fundamental stance on Apple's challenges are unchanged, we believe shares have over-corrected," Um wrote. "Tim Cook's email to CNBC's Jim Cramer that iPhone activation growth in China "has actually accelerated over the past few weeks..." gives us better visibility to the Sept. quarter (September is typically an iPhone transition month making Jul./Aug. important, in our opinion)."
In addition, he believes that the market is not giving Apple the benefit of its cash balance. As of the end of last quarter, the company had more than $200 billion in cash, most of it held offshore.
Um cautioned that his same concerns about Apple remain --?he thinks the company still has tough year-over-year comparisons ahead in the December quarter, he's worried about declining iPad sales, and he's less bullish on the Apple Watch than consensus on Wall Street.
Wells Fargo's valuation range for AAPL stock is between $125 and $135. Shares of the company slid to $103 on Monday, amid greater losses across all of the market.
Continued concern over Apple prompted Chief Executive Tim Cook to send an email to CNBC analyst Jim Cramer, revealing material information about growth in China. The news proved encouraging for Um and others.
"I get updates on our performance in China every day, including this morning, and I can tell you that we have continued to experience strong growth for our business in China through July and August," Cook wrote. "Growth in iPhone activations has actually accelerated over the past few weeks, and we have had the best performance for the App Store in China during the last 2 weeks."
Comments
... Will Wall Street actually risk a recession just to tank Apple? I don't think so.
This statement says it all about Wall Street. They hate Apple specifically and Apple's success even more. They continue not to understand anything about Apple, instead trying to kill them. Whether people like Apple products or not, Apple is a company that is making so much money it's ridiculous yet Wall Street won't give them any credit. It's like an English teacher refusing to give a great student writer anything better than a C when everyone loves this student's writing. Wall Street is jealous and as you say, could ruin the world's economy because they refuse to admit it.
doomed. doomed.
All of the links in this article go to other AI articles. Where did Um make these remarks? What source are you quoting? Responsible journalism please. Cite your sources.
Check out https://eresearch.fidelity.com/eresearch/evaluate/news/basicNewsStory.jhtml?symbols=AAPL&pageno=&storyid=201508250858MRKTWTCHNEWS_SVC000172&provider=MRKTWTCH&product=NEWS_SVC&; I know it's just another financial firm saying someone said something but it echoes what's said here.
Apple has 220B$, but 190B$ are currently stuck offshore, in fact Apple has to issue bond to finance buy-backs and return to investors.
In my opinion once the "tax holiday" is finalized and approved, AAPL should sky-rocket.
Overreaction is an understatement to say the least.
I'll say it again.
If Wall Street allows Apple to explode up to $140-$150 this year the USA stock market will recover and test all time highs before the end of the year.
If Wall Street continues to manipulate Apple's price down the USA stock market will tank and threaten our economy.
Apple is the bell weather. Where it goes the next 4 months will determine what happens to the broad USA stock market. And in turn the USA market moves the entire world market.
That is why I think my $150 price target for EOY is still possible. Will Wall Street actually risk a recession just to tank Apple? I don't think so.
With as much Apple stock as I own, that would be great, but frankly no way $150 by EOY. It will do well to get back to mid to high $120's.
Don't forget, this search for bottom is likely not over just because today is up so far.
it's such a racket. crash the stock. buy it all. push it back up. sell. repeat.
doomed. doomed.
exactly. And the SEC is all bent out of shape that Tim Cook sent Cramer and email and does nothing about the greedy wall street fat cats who have been manipulating Apple since it joined the Dow.
If Cook could pull Apple from the Dow, he should do it with a huge middle finger raised to all the filet mignon, sherry drinking, suspender wearing slime balls as he walks out the door.
Wall St. is a con.
That has to be the dumbest statement I've heard in a while.
Is analyst still worried about "bendgate" to?
I'll say it again.
If Wall Street allows Apple to explode up to $140-$150 this year the USA stock market will recover and test all time highs before the end of the year.
If Wall Street continues to manipulate Apple's price down the USA stock market will tank and threaten our economy.
Apple is the bell weather. Where it goes the next 4 months will determine what happens to the broad USA stock market. And in turn the USA market moves the entire world market.
That is why I think my $150 price target for EOY is still possible. Will Wall Street actually risk a recession just to tank Apple? I don't think so.
I disagree with you. The US stock market is a disaster waiting to happen. It is a fat bloated bubble just waiting for the right pin. For Apple shares to inflate to $150 would just be even more fuel waiting for the coming spark.
Apple is a great company, but its share price will not be immune to the coming adjustment.
The only thing wrong with that chart is that the red line on the end didn't keep on going 12000 or so. It wouldn't surprise me if some engineers were out yesterday trying to erect a floor at 16000.
I disagree with you. The US stock market is a disaster waiting to happen. It is a fat bloated bubble just waiting for the right pin. Etc Etc.
If you really believe this -- and are not just spouting off -- you can profit from it. You know, put your money where your mouth is. Buy long-term index puts.
Don't you want to become more wealthy? Why don't/won't you do it?
(Fixed a typo).
What if Tim Cook's "One more thing" in the coming keynote is this: Apple Car? WS anal yst would pee in their pants and stocks will skyrocket.
EDIT: FWIW your estimate that Apple has already paid upwards of 20% of their overseas tax bill is far higher than that from other professionals. How did you compute your figures out of curiosity?
"At the end of its most recent fiscal year, Apple held an astounding $157.8 billion in profits offshore -- beating out all Fortune 500 firms -- while paying a foreign tax rate of only 2 percent. Meanwhile, Microsoft held $92.9 billion while paying a foreign tax rate of only 3 percent. Other top cash hoarders that paid less than ten percent included the Manhattan-based banking conglomerate CitiGroup with $43.8 billion and a 9 percent tax rate and the Silicon Valley software giant Oracle with $32.4 billion and a 4 percent tax rate."
http://ctj.org/pdf/pre0415.pdf
All of the links in this article go to other AI articles. Where did Um make these remarks? What source are you quoting? Responsible journalism please. Cite your sources.
Um made the remarks in a research note. Um himself is the source.