Nasdaq AAPL Apple

Now would be a great moment to add a few growth stocks to your portfolio. Why? Because we're heading toward a bull market, and that type of economic environment tends to favor these sorts of players. We're not there yet, but, since historically, every U.S. market correction or be

Overeager traders might have assumed that Apple ( NASDAQ:AAPL ) stock would only go up in 2023. Now is the time to be careful, though, as reality dawns on the market and Apple faces unforeseen challenges in the fourth quarter. All in all, I am neutral on AAPL stock and wouldn't dare to short-sell it, but I'm not buying right now. Apple is a world-famous manufacturer of smartphones, computers, wearables, and accessories. The company also offers streaming and other services. Apple's market cap is fairly close to $3 trillion, and the company is one of the "Magnificent Seven" technology titans. Yet, it's a mistake to assume that Apple is invincible and unstoppable. I fully understand why AAPL stock might be considered a "forever stock." Nevertheless, investors should time their entries carefully, and Apple is vulnerable to global economic headwinds just like any other company is. Apple's Epic Run Comes to a Standstill Apple stock is one of the Magnificent Seven stocks that roared ahead earlier this year, but nothing in the financial markets can just go up forever without taking a break. Just look at the chart, and you'll see that the buyers are exhausted, and Apple's investors are probably getting frustrated. Also, Apple doesn't pay much of a dividend, and the company has an earnings event coming up fairly soon, on November 2. So, maybe Apple stock isn't such a "magnificent" Buy right now. Don't get the wrong idea here. Short-selling Apple shares is almost always a bad idea. Just be aware of Apple's issues and challenges before making any buying decisions. For example, Apple plans to release a cheaper version of its $3,500 Vision Pro virtual/augmented reality headset. It might be $2,500, which is still quite expensive and unaffordable for many people. Moreover, if Apple is preparing to offer lower-priced headsets, it's probably a sign that the company's pricy headsets didn't grab enough attention. It just goes to show that even a "magnificent" company like Apple can falter sometimes. Apple's Smartphone Sales Might Disappoint Investors As I mentioned earlier, Apple has an earnings event coming up soon. We don't know whether the company will report strong global smartphone sales figures or not. That's important, as iPhone sales are crucial to Apple's bottom line. There are already potential signs of trouble, though. According to a Reuters report, data from Counterpoint Research indicates that "the global smartphone market contracted by 8% to its lowest third-quarter level in a decade" due to "subdued demand for major brands" such as Apple. Furthermore, Apple's smartphone shipments declined by 8% in the third quarter of 2023. Hence, this is Apple's problem just as much as any other global smartphone company's. Plus, Apple is apparently having trouble selling its smartphones in one highly-populated region. Here's the rundown. A Bloomberg report states that Apple's "new iPhone 15 is selling far worse in China than its predecessor." More specifically, during its first 17 days of availability in China, iPhone 15 sales were down 4.5% compared to iPhone 14 sales. If Apple can't sell many of its pricy Vision Pro headsets, and its iPhone sales seem to be slumping in China, the company's upcoming earnings report might be lackluster or even a big miss. Now, let's take a look at what analysts expect from Apple stock. Is Apple Stock a Buy, According to Analysts? On TipRanks, AAPL comes in as a Moderate Buy based on 20 Buys and nine Hold ratings assigned by analysts in the past three months. The average Apple stock price target is $207.51, implying 16.9% upside potential. If you’re wondering which analyst you should follow if you want to buy and sell AAPL stock, the most accurate analyst covering the stock (on a one-year timeframe) is  Krish Sankar of TD Cowen, with an average return of 47.5% per rating and a 93% success rate. Click on the image below to learn more. Conclusion: Should You Consider AAPL Stock? Analysts seem to be moderately optimistic about Apple -- but not overwhelmingly so. Surely, they realize that Apple isn't perfect and has its share of challenges and problems to deal with. At the very least, investors might choose to wait until Apple discloses its third-quarter financial report before making any decisions. When all is said and done, I still like Apple, but I'm staying neutral on AAPL stock for the time being. Disclosure

Wall Street reversed course to rise on Tuesday as upbeat earnings and signs of resilience in the U.S. economy buoyed investor sentiment, even as a spike in Treasury yields pressured megacaps.

For the first time in several years, there is no more FAANG or FANGMAN to talk about during the earnings season. It has been retired from the lexicon and has been replaced with the “Magnificent 7.”

Netflix NFLX is expanding its presence in the gaming industry by testing its cloud gaming service in the United States, following initial trials in Canada and the U.K. This move is an expansion of NFLX’s mobile gaming efforts, whi

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (Symbol: IVV) where we have detected an approximate $2.6 billion dollar inflow -- that's a 0.8% increase week over week

In early trading on Tuesday, shares of Boeing topped the list of the day's best performing Dow Jones Industrial Average components, trading up 1.4%. Year to date, Boeing has lost about 1.6% of its value.

Wall Street's main indexes fell on Tuesday as Treasury yields rose following hotter-than-expected economic data, while chipmakers fell after the Biden administration said it was halting shipments of AI chips to China.

Warren Buffett is often called the most successful investor of all time. His conglomerate, Berkshire Hathaway, has grown into the world's ninth-biggest company by market capitalization, among a top 10 that also includes names like Alphabet, Microsoft, and Nvidia. Meanwhile, the t

Wall Street's main indexes were set to open lower on Tuesday as hotter-than-expected retail sales data stoked worries U.S. interest rates could stay higher for longer, with the Middle East conflict further denting sentiment.

Below is Validea's guru fundamental report for APPLE INC (AAPL). Of the 22 guru strategies we follow, AAPL rates highest using our Multi-Factor Investor model based on the published strategy of Pim van Vliet. This multi-factor model seeks low volatility stocks that also have str

Futures for Wall Street's main indexes fell on Tuesday as investors assessed diplomatic efforts to contain the Middle East conflict, while awaiting a slew of corporate earnings and data to gauge the state of the U.S. economy.

Launched on 05/15/2000, the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to provide a broad exposure to the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.

The Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG) was launched on 09/09/2010, and is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market.

Launched on 09/22/2009, the iShares Russell Top 200 Growth ETF (IWY) is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to provide a broad exposure to the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market.

Launched on 12/17/2007, the Vanguard Mega Cap ETF (MGC) is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to provide a broad exposure to the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.

When examined over multidecade periods, Wall Street's three major stock indexes -- the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI), S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), and Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) -- are undeniable moneymakers. But when explored over shorter spans, the

Stock markets are bracing for more volatility due to high interest rates, rising oil prices, stubborn inflation, and geopolitical tensions. Given these uncertain times, it could be a good idea to focus on mega-cap stocks (stocks of large companies with at least $200 billion in market capitalization) that have the ability to thrive even during uncertain times and have promising long-term growth potential. Using TipRanks’ Stock Comparison Tool, we placed Meta Platforms ( NASDAQ:META ), Amazon ( NASDAQ:AMZN ), and Apple ( NASDAQ:AAPL ) against each other to find the most attractive mega-cap tech stock as per Wall Street analysts. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) Social media giant Meta Platforms has impressed investors with a solid comeback this year after being under pressure for a couple of quarters due to weakness in digital ad spending and the adverse impact of Apple’s iOS privacy policy changes, which limited its ad-targeting capabilities. Meta’s revenue grew 11% in Q2 2023 and the company guided for Q3 revenue in the range of $32 billion to $34.5 billion, which indicates year-over-year growth of at least 15%. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is optimistic about the road ahead, backed by strong engagement across Meta's apps, traction in Threads and Reels, and the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) pursuits. Zuckerberg is also focused on improving Meta’s profitability through efficiency measures. Is Meta a Buy, Sell, or Hold? Meta is scheduled to announce its third-quarter results on October 25. Heading into the Q3 results, Mizuho analyst James Lee reiterated a Buy rating on Meta stock last week, with a price target of $400. The analyst highlighted that agency checks indicate that Meta’s advertising revenue growth is tracking ahead of the Street’s consensus. Lee also expects further operating leverage from Meta’s increased efficiency. The analyst contends that with an estimated exit rate of 20% plus revenue growth, the 2024 growth consensus estimate of 13% seems conservative, given positive leading indicators from improved pricing. Lee said that while investors are concerned that Meta’s 2024 operating expense guidance could be elevated at 20% year-over-year growth, the possibility of such an outlook seems low due to the narrow product roadmap of Metaverse and a lower possibility of any significant rise in headcount. With 41 Buys and two Holds, Wall Street has a Strong Buy consensus rating on Meta Platforms stock. The average price target of $376.03 implies 17.1% upside potential. Meta shares have rallied more than 167% year-to-date.   Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) Despite a tough macro backdrop, e-commerce and cloud computing behemoth Amazon impressed investors with its second-quarter performance. The company returned to double-digit sales growth in the second quarter. Moreover, its cost-cutting efforts helped in boosting its earnings. While sales growth of the company’s Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud business slowed down to 12%, it beat analysts’ expectations. The AWS business is more profitable than Amazon’s retail business. The company is confident about AWS’s growth potential and believes that it is “poised to be customers' long-term partner of choice in generative AI.” AMZN is also upbeat about its advertising business, which posted sales growth of 22% in Q2 2023. What is the Target Price for Amazon Stock? Ahead of Amazon’s third-quarter results on October 26, Goldman Sachs analyst Eric Sheridan reiterated a Buy rating on AMZN stock last week but lowered the price target to $175 from $180 to reflect higher capital expenditure. The analyst stated that cloud computing industry checks through September indicate that AWS revenue remained largely stable. He expects stable AWS revenue growth in Q3 2023 over Q2 (at 12% year-over-year) and reacceleration in Q4 (more than 14% year-over-year), driven by easier comparisons, lower pace of spending optimization by enterprises, and growth in new workloads.   Looking beyond the quarterly results, the analyst believes that Prime Video ads could be a nearly $2 billion revenue opportunity for Amazon in 2025, with about a $700 million contribution to consolidated EBIT. Wall Street has a Strong Buy consensus rating on AMZN stock based on 40 Buys versus one Hold rating. At $176.18, the average price target implies 36% upside potential. Shares have risen about 58% so far this year. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Persistent macro uncertainty and high interest rates are weighing on consumer spending on discretionary items, especially big-ticket purchases. Apple’s results in the recent quarters clearly reflect the impact of weak consumer spending on its key products. In particular, revenue from iPhone, Mac, and iPad declined on a year-over-year basis in the fiscal third quarter (ended July 1, 2023). However, an 8% growth in Apple’s Services business helped offset the weakness in product sales to some extent. Aside from macro pressures, reports on issues related to iPhone 15 and growing competition are also impacting investor sentiment for AAPL stock. Is Apple a Buy or Sell Right Now? Apple is scheduled to announce its fiscal fourth-quarter results on November 2. Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring expects Apple to report "a relatively in-line" September quarter, specifying that his revenue estimate of $89.9 billion and EPS forecast of $1.39 are within 1% of the Street’s estimates. However, Woodring's December quarter revenue and EPS estimates of $123.8 billion and $2.13 are 5% and 9% lower than his previous forecast, respectively, but are still marginally above consensus revenue and EPS forecasts of $123.2 billion and $2.11, respectively. He expects the December quarter to be impacted by iPhone supply shortages and a stronger U.S. dollar. The analyst does not expect Apple’s upcoming earnings to be a material catalyst for the stock. He lowered his price target for AAPL stock to $210 from $215 on Monday but maintained a Buy rating. Including Woodring, 20 analysts are bullish on AAPL stock, while nine have a Hold recommendation, bringing the consensus rating to a Moderate Buy. The average price target of $207.51 implies 16.1% upside potential. Shares have advanced 38% year-to-date.   Conclusion Wall Street is highly bullish on Meta Platforms and Amazon, while it is cautiously optimistic about Apple. Currently, analysts see higher upside potential in AMZN stock than the other two mega-cap tech stocks. Amazon’s dominance in e-commerce and cloud computing, its prospects in AI, and growing advertising revenue are expected to drive continued growth in the years ahead. Disclosure

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd is expected to report a 30% slump in third-quarter profit on Thursday but analysts predict robust growth next year as the chip industry emerges from its current downturn.

Stock markets are bracing for more volatility due to high interest rates, rising oil prices, stubborn inflation, and geopolitical tensions. Given these uncertain times, it could be a good idea to focus on mega-cap stocks (stocks of large companies with at least $200 billion in market capitalization) that have the ability to thrive even during uncertain times and have promising long-term growth potential. Using TipRanks’ Stock Comparison Tool, we placed Meta Platforms ( NASDAQ:META ), Amazon ( NASDAQ:AMZN ), and Apple ( NASDAQ:AAPL ) against each other to find the most attractive mega-cap tech stock as per Wall Street analysts. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) Social media giant Meta Platforms has impressed investors with a solid comeback this year after being under pressure for a couple of quarters due to weakness in digital ad spending and the adverse impact of Apple’s iOS privacy policy changes, which limited its ad-targeting capabilities. Meta’s revenue grew 11% in Q2 2023 and the company guided for Q3 revenue in the range of $32 billion to $34.5 billion, which indicates year-over-year growth of at least 15%. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is optimistic about the road ahead, backed by strong engagement across Meta's apps, traction in Threads and Reels, and the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) pursuits. Zuckerberg is also focused on improving Meta’s profitability through efficiency measures. Is Meta a Buy, Sell, or Hold? Meta is scheduled to announce its third-quarter results on October 25. Heading into the Q3 results, Mizuho analyst James Lee reiterated a Buy rating on Meta stock last week, with a price target of $400. The analyst highlighted that agency checks indicate that Meta’s advertising revenue growth is tracking ahead of the Street’s consensus. Lee also expects further operating leverage from Meta’s increased efficiency. The analyst contends that with an estimated exit rate of 20% plus revenue growth, the 2024 growth consensus estimate of 13% seems conservative, given positive leading indicators from improved pricing. Lee said that while investors are concerned that Meta’s 2024 operating expense guidance could be elevated at 20% year-over-year growth, the possibility of such an outlook seems low due to the narrow product roadmap of Metaverse and a lower possibility of any significant rise in headcount. With 41 Buys and two Holds, Wall Street has a Strong Buy consensus rating on Meta Platforms stock. The average price target of $376.03 implies 17.1% upside potential. Meta shares have rallied more than 167% year-to-date.   Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) Despite a tough macro backdrop, e-commerce and cloud computing behemoth Amazon impressed investors with its second-quarter performance. The company returned to double-digit sales growth in the second quarter. Moreover, its cost-cutting efforts helped in boosting its earnings. While sales growth of the company’s Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud business slowed down to 12%, it beat analysts’ expectations. The AWS business is more profitable than Amazon’s retail business. The company is confident about AWS’s growth potential and believes that it is “poised to be customers' long-term partner of choice in generative AI.” AMZN is also upbeat about its advertising business, which posted sales growth of 22% in Q2 2023. What is the Target Price for Amazon Stock? Ahead of Amazon’s third-quarter results on October 26, Goldman Sachs analyst Eric Sheridan reiterated a Buy rating on AMZN stock last week but lowered the price target to $175 from $180 to reflect higher capital expenditure. The analyst stated that cloud computing industry checks through September indicate that AWS revenue remained largely stable. He expects stable AWS revenue growth in Q3 2023 over Q2 (at 12% year-over-year) and reacceleration in Q4 (more than 14% year-over-year), driven by easier comparisons, lower pace of spending optimization by enterprises, and growth in new workloads.   Looking beyond the quarterly results, the analyst believes that Prime Video ads could be a nearly $2 billion revenue opportunity for Amazon in 2025, with about a $700 million contribution to consolidated EBIT. Wall Street has a Strong Buy consensus rating on AMZN stock based on 40 Buys versus one Hold rating. At $176.18, the average price target implies 36% upside potential. Shares have risen about 58% so far this year. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Persistent macro uncertainty and high interest rates are weighing on consumer spending on discretionary items, especially big-ticket purchases. Apple’s results in the recent quarters clearly reflect the impact of weak consumer spending on its key products. In particular, revenue from iPhone, Mac, and iPad declined on a year-over-year basis in the fiscal third quarter (ended July 1, 2023). However, an 8% growth in Apple’s Services business helped offset the weakness in product sales to some extent. Aside from macro pressures, reports on issues related to iPhone 15 and growing competition are also impacting investor sentiment for AAPL stock. Is Apple a Buy or Sell Right Now? Apple is scheduled to announce its fiscal fourth-quarter results on November 2. Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring expects Apple to report "a relatively in-line" September quarter, specifying that his revenue estimate of $89.9 billion and EPS forecast of $1.39 are within 1% of the Street’s estimates. However, Woodring's December quarter revenue and EPS estimates of $123.8 billion and $2.13 are 5% and 9% lower than his previous forecast, respectively, but are still marginally above consensus revenue and EPS forecasts of $123.2 billion and $2.11, respectively. He expects the December quarter to be impacted by iPhone supply shortages and a stronger U.S. dollar. The analyst does not expect Apple’s upcoming earnings to be a material catalyst for the stock. He lowered his price target for AAPL stock to $210 from $215 on Monday but maintained a Buy rating. Including Woodring, 20 analysts are bullish on AAPL stock, while nine have a Hold recommendation, bringing the consensus rating to a Moderate Buy. The average price target of $207.51 implies 16.1% upside potential. Shares have advanced 38% year-to-date.   Conclusion Wall Street is highly bullish on Meta Platforms and Amazon, while it is cautiously optimistic about Apple. Currently, analysts see higher upside potential in AMZN stock than the other two mega-cap tech stocks. Amazon’s dominance in e-commerce and cloud computing, its prospects in AI, and growing advertising revenue are expected to drive continued growth in the years ahead. Disclosure