Apple Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables, and accessories worldwide. The company offers iPhone, a line of smartphones; Mac, a line of personal computers; iPad, a line of multi-purpose tablets; and wearables, home, and accessories comprising AirPods, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats products, and HomePod. It also provides AppleCare support and cloud services; and 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. In addition, the company offers various services, such as Apple Arcade, a game subscription service; Apple Fitness+, a personalized fitness service; Apple Music, which offers users a curated listening experience with on-demand radio stations; Apple News+, a subscription news and magazine service; Apple TV+, which offers exclusive original content; Apple Card, a co-branded credit card; and Apple Pay, a cashless payment service, as well as licenses its intellectual property. The company serves consumers, and small and mid-sized businesses; and the education, enterprise, and government markets. It distributes third-party applications for its products through the App Store. The company also sells its products through its retail and online stores, and direct sales force; and third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, and resellers. Apple Inc. was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.

Apple Inc.

Key Points
MP Materials has a huge competitive edge in the U.S. rare earth industry.
The U.S. government and tech giants like Apple are backing MP Materials.
The miner is about to hit a major milestone that could ignite a fresh bull run.
Forget the tech boom. Forget Nvidia. A little-know stock has absolutely crushed the S&P 500 in 2025, and it comes from the ultra-boring and oft-overlooked materials sector.
Shares of MP Materials (NYSE: MP) are up 300% in 2025 as of this writing, and that's after the stock's sharp recent drop from its 52-week high of $100.25 per share it touched on Oct. 14. At its peak, MP Materials stock was up a jaw-dropping 532% in 2025.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
It has been a game-changing year for MP Materials, with the Pentagon acquiring a majority stake in the rare earth mining company through a $400 million investment, and tech giant Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) sealing a multiyear $500 million partnership to buy recycled rare earth magnets from MP Materials for hundreds of millions of its devices like iPhones.
There's a reason why everyone's suddenly paying attention to MP Materials.
Big breakthroughs, huge potential
Rare earths are vital for electronics, electric vehicles, semiconductors, drones, and more, but 77% of the rare earths consumed in the U.S. came from China in 2024.
President Donald Trump wants to change that and is making bold moves to break America's dependency on China. MP Materials could play a crucial role in that as it owns Mountain Pass, one of the richest rare earth mines in the world, and is the largest rare earths producer in the U.S.
Most importantly, MP Materials already produces rare earth oxides and metals and is targeting commercial magnet production by the end of 2025.
As part of its deal with the U.S. Department of Defense, MP Materials will also build a second magnet manufacturing facility called the 10X Facility. 100% of the magnets produced at the facility will be purchased by defense and commercial customers for 10 years under the deal.
MP Materials may appear pricey with a market cap exceeding $11 billion, but its undeniable growth potential has made it one of the hottest stocks of 2025 and one worth keeping an eye on.
Should you invest $1,000 in MP Materials right now?
Before you buy stock in MP Materials, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and MP Materials wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $590,357!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,141,748!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,033% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 27, 2025
Neha Chamaria has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends MP Materials. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Forget the Tech Boom: This Miner Is Up 300% in 2025

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) will provide an investor update that will elaborate on the impact of tariffs and its progress on AI.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks »
*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of Oct. 24, 2025. The video was published on Oct. 26, 2025.
Should you invest $1,000 in Apple right now?
Before you buy stock in Apple, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Apple wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $590,357!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,141,748!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,033% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 27, 2025
Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Should You Buy Apple Stock Before Big Investor Update?

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – October 28, 2025 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Apple AAPL, Lenovo LNVGY, Dell Technologies DELL and HP HPQ.
Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:
Apple Set to Report Q4 Earnings: Buy, Sell or Hold AAPL Stock?
Apple is set to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on Oct. 30.
Apple expects fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 net sales to grow in the mid to high single digits on a year-over-year basis. The company expects the Services year-over-year growth rate to be similar to that of the June quarter (13.3%). Gross margin is expected to be 46-47% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, including a tariff impact of $$1.1 billion. Operating expenses are expected to be between $15.6 billion and $15.8 billion.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal fourth-quarter net sales is pegged at $101.19 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 6.6%.
The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at $1.73 per share, down by a penny over the past 30 days. The estimate indicates a 5.5% increase from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
AAPL’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the trailing four quarters, the earnings surprise being 6.2%, on average.
Let us see how things have shaped up prior to this announcement.
Apple’s iPhone Sales Likely to Rise Y/Y in Q4
Apple’s fortunes are heavily reliant on the iPhone, which is by far its biggest revenue contributor. The device accounted for 47.4% of net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, wherein sales increased 13.5% year over year to $44.58 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal fourth-quarter iPhone net sales is pegged at $49.75 billion, suggesting a 7.6% year-over-year growth.
iPhone sales have been suffering from stiff competition in China from Chinese vendors, including Huawei and Xiaomi. China is an important market for Apple as the iPhone maker’s manufacturing is primarily concentrated in the country. Per Counterpoint data, Apple shipments increased 1% year over year, driven by price discounts for the iPhone 16. However, Apple, with 15% market share, trailed Huawei, Vivo, OPPO and Xiaomi.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal fourth-quarter China sales is pegged at $16.23 billion, suggesting 8% growth from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.
AAPL’s Services to Grow in the Double Digits in Q4
An expanding paid subscriber base has been a key catalyst for the Services business, which has been riding on the increasing popularity of the App Store and an expanding installed base of devices. Apple has more than 1 billion paid subscribers across its Services portfolio, offering Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Card, Apple Fitness+ and Apple One bundle.
The consensus mark for Services is pegged at $26.96 billion, suggesting 12.3% growth on a year-over-year basis.
Apple’s Mac Sales to Rise Y/Y
AAPL has been gaining share in the PC market, thanks to strong demand for the latest Mac devices powered by the M4 family of chips — M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max. Apple’s strong Mac portfolio helped it gain market share in the third quarter of fiscal 2025. Per IDC, Apple had a market share of 9%, up 30 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis. Shipment grew 13.7% year over year to 6.8 million. Per Gartner, Apple had a market share of 8.9%, up 20 bps year over year.
In terms of shipments, Apple trails Lenovo’s growth of 17.3%, per IDC data. Dell Technologies’ shipment increased 2.6%, while HP saw shipment growth of 10.7%. According to Gartner’s list, Lenovo was placed at the #1 spot with shipment growth of 16.6%, trailed by Apple’s 10.7%, HP’s 10.6% and Dell Technologies’ 2.5% growth.
The consensus mark for Mac revenues is pegged at $8.44 billion, suggesting 9% growth on a year-over-year basis.
Apple shares have risen 5% year to date (YTD), underperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector’s return of 26%. While Apple shares have outperformed HP YTD, the shares have lagged Dell Technologies. HP shares dropped 15.2%, while Dell Technologies returned 37.7%.
Apple Stock’s Performance
The AAPL stock is not so cheap, as the Value Score of D suggests a stretched valuation at this moment.
In terms of the forward 12-month price/earnings, AAPL is trading at 33.22X, higher than the Zacks Computer & Technology sector’s 29.64X.
AI Focus to Aid AAPL’s Prospects
Apple has been seeing better iPhone sales in regions where Apple Intelligence is available. iPhone 17 sales are off to a strong start as compared with iPhone 16, driven by a better chip (A19), improved display (6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion), and an upgraded selfie camera. The launch of the new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro, 14-inch MacBook Pro, and Apple Vision Pro, all powered by the new M5 chip, bodes well for Apple’s prospects.
Apple’s AI push is expected to bring consumer-focused AI-enabled PCs into the market, thereby aiding its Mac shipments in the long run.
However, stiff competition in the smartphone and PC market, along with regulatory headwinds, is a concern. A stretched valuation makes the stock risky for investors.
Currently, AAPL carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which implies that investors should wait for a favorable point to accumulate the stock. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?
Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year.
Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
https://www.zacks.com
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Quantum Computing Stocks Set To Soar
Artificial intelligence has already reshaped the investment landscape, and its convergence with quantum computing could lead to the most significant wealth-building opportunities of our time.
Today, you have a chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this technological revolution. In our urgent special report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power, you'll discover the little-known stocks we believe will win the quantum computing race and deliver massive gains to early investors.
Access the Report Free Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Apple, Lenovo, Dell and HP

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – October 28, 2025 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Microsoft MSFT, Apple AAPL, Alphabet GOOGL, Amazon AMZN and Meta Platforms META.
Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:
Five of Seven Mega-Caps Report: Global Week Ahead
What’s happening across this Global Week Ahead?
· Renewed trade tensions and talks between Washington, Beijing and Canada will dominate a week, headlined by
· Central bank decisions in the United States, Canada, and Europe, while
· Argentina's voters head to the polls
Next are Reuters’ five world market themes, re-ordered by equity traders—
(1) Five of the Seven Mega-Cap Stars Report Their Q3 Earnings
Mega-cap tech and growth company earnings reports headline a massive week of U.S. corporate results that could shed light on the state of the effervescent "AI trade.”
Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, Amazon and Meta Platform — five of the "Magnificent Seven" mega-cap companies that dominate equity indexes — all report earnings.
Investors will also be scouring data for signs of the costs and impact of shifting U.S. trade policy. S&P500 companies are estimated to have increased Q3 earnings by 9.2% from the prior year, with a greater-than-typical number of companies beating profit estimates so far, according to LSEG IBES data.
(2) On Wednesday, Both Bond & Stock Traders Count on a 25-bps FOMC Cut
Markets are all but certain that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by a quarter-point when it concludes its meeting on Wednesday, and they are showing similar conviction for another trim in December.
Still, that year-end cut might be less clear if the government shutdown doesn't end, leaving data-guided policymakers driving blind without official economic indicators.
Meanwhile, Trump is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday as part of a trip to Asia and on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit.
Their long-awaited rendezvous had been called into question following an escalation in trade tensions and a standoff over China's restrictions on rare earth exports, as well as U.S. curbs on technology exports amid Trump's threat to impose 100% tariffs, all of which remain a market vexation — and a consideration for the Fed.
(3) The ECB meeting ends on Thursday. They Likely Stay Pat. The Bank of Canada (BoC) Looks to Cut its Policy Rate for a 2nd Month.
That's right, the Bank of Canada is also expected to cut rates for a second month running on Wednesday with a pick-up in inflation not expected to stand in its way, although Trump's announcement that all trade talks with the country are terminated will cast a cloud.
And the European Central Bank (ECB) ends a meeting on Thursday, although it appears to be in "nothing to see here" mode, with a Reuters poll of economists predicting it is likely to leave rates unchanged at 2% for a third straight meeting and remain on hold until the end of the year. Traders see a roughly 65% chance of a quarter-point cut by mid-2026 given the downside risks to economic growth.
Headwinds are looming, however. Apart from trade tensions, there is still French political turbulence and an election in the Netherlands on Wednesday dominated by populist cross-currents. So, ECB chief Christine Lagarde may be pressed on whether the bloc remains in a "good place.”
(4) Also Thursday, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) Should Stay Put with Its Policy Rate
The Bank of Japan is likely to forgo a rate hike next Thursday in favor of a move in December or January, but not due to pressure from the country's dovish new premier.
Two-thirds of analysts polled by Reuters say fiscal and monetary dove Sanae Takaichi, who ascended to the top job on Tuesday, won't delay monetary tightening, although her oft-repeated view is that the central bank should be aligned with government policies.
Instead, analysts and traders point to BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda's consistently cautious tone, particularly on potential tariff fallout, even with his board performing a conspicuously hawkish pivot last month.
And his desire to see more data — including U.S. Christmas shopping trends — has most analysts eyeing a December hike at the earliest.
(5) Argentina’s Mid-term Elections Re-shape the Ruling Milei Era
Argentina's mid-term elections on Sunday gave President Javier Milei a convincing win in the country’s midterms, outpacing rival Peronists 41% to 24.5%. After Milei’s inflation-crushing economic reform program, the peso is up +10% upon his victory.
Deepening ties with Washington have delivered some of the best returns for emerging market investors since Milei took over in December 2023. U.S. President Donald Trump's unprecedented backing, including direct intervention in FX markets, a $20 billion central bank swap line and the prospect of another $20 billion loan to shore up government bonds hadn't previously stopped the peso's slide to record lows.
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
https://www.zacks.com
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Quantum Computing Stocks Set To Soar
Artificial intelligence has already reshaped the investment landscape, and its convergence with quantum computing could lead to the most significant wealth-building opportunities of our time.
Today, you have a chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this technological revolution. In our urgent special report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power, you'll discover the little-known stocks we believe will win the quantum computing race and deliver massive gains to early investors.
Access the Report Free Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, Amazon and Meta Platforms

Key Points
iPhone sales are maintaining momentum, according to a new research report.
Apple reports fourth-quarter earnings later this week.
Apple stock is attractively priced for the long-term investor.
Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) stock has been trailing the market this year, knocked off its perch as the most highly valued stock in the world by both Nvidia and perennial rival Microsoft. But it's never been a great idea to bet against this Warren Buffett favorite, which has several features that make it a powerhouse tech stock.
The stock is already roaring back to life, hitting new highs recently on the news of strong iPhone sales. Is it time to add it to your portfolio?
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
Win for the iPhone
iPhone sales are an important, perhaps the most important, indication of what's happening at Apple. That's because they account for about half of Apple's total sales. The iPhone is Apple's premier product, the linchpin in its ecosystem of connecting products.
Apple stock tends to rise and fall along with iPhone sales growth, or even market sentiment about where iPhone sales are headed. Since Apple is currently the third-most-valuable company in the world, and this is its signature product, consumer behavior trends will impact Apple stock.
Recently, there's been momentum. That started with an excellent update in the company's fiscal third quarter (ended June 28), when iPhone sales increased 13% year over year.
Recently, market research firm Counterpoint said that sales of the iPhone 17, Apple's latest release, outpaced iPhone 16 sales by 14% over the first 10-day period it was for sale in the U.S. and in China. These are the tech company's largest markets. The base model is popular in China, while the premium model is doing well in the U.S.
The new iPhone Air, which is the thinnest smartphone on the market but has fewer capabilities, has been less thrilling. But the device is an important reminder that Apple has the most cutting-edge technology in the space, a thumbs-up for its ability to keep its dominant position in the space.
Apple's edge at its best
iPhone users tend to be loyal to Apple, and they'll often buy a range of interconnected Apple products like Macs, iPads, and AirPods. One of the features users love about Apple is its quality, which means they don't necessarily need to upgrade every time there's a new launch. The market keeps tabs on when iPhone users find it valuable to upgrade to a new device.
The Apple ecosystem is a major edge for the company over other hardware companies. It also increasingly relies on software for sales growth, and subscriptions in particular, which is a higher-margin business. This is the kind of business with a competitive edge that Buffett loves, especially when it's consumer focused. While subscription services are a recurring revenue stream, which means Apple can rely on those monthly, high-margin payments coming in, keeping satisfied customers in the ecosystem is another way to generate reliable revenue.
Buy Apple stock today?
Apple stock has already fallen a bit, and investors will get more information when Apple reports fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year earnings.
The market hasn't been fully satisfied with Apple's progress in artificial intelligence (AI) and seems to be worried about whether Apple is keeping up with its competitors. However, higher iPhone sales demonstrate that at the consumer level, users are just fine with the state of Apple Intelligence right now. More than that, they love Apple products, and as Apple keeps releasing new upgrades and technology, they will continue to buy more of them.
That's the basis of Apple's incredible system, and the company should remain a leader in technology well into the future.
Apple isn't likely to be a high-growth stock at this stage of the game, but it should be reliable for gains and value, as well as a growing dividend. I wouldn't bet against Apple right now, and trading at 29 times forward one-year earnings, it's reasonably valued.
Should you invest $1,000 in Apple right now?
Before you buy stock in Apple, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Apple wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $590,357!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,141,748!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,033% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 27, 2025
Jennifer Saibil has positions in Apple. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Apple Stock Is Soaring on iPhone Sales. Is It Time to Reconsider This Warren Buffett Stock?

Key Points
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway in the second quarter soldApple stock but started a new position in UnitedHealth Group.
Apple benefits from immense consumer loyalty and pricing power, but its sputtering innovation engine and lofty valuation are cause for concern.
UnitedHealth Group benefits from vertical integration, but profits are declining and the company is contending with several Justice Department investigations.
In the second quarter, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway sold 20 million shares of Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL). While it remains the largest holding in the company's $313 billion portfolio, Buffett has now sold 625 million shares since late 2023, representing approximately 70% of the position.
Meanwhile, Buffett started a brand new position in UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a company whose stock has surged 5,600% over the last three decades, yet currently trades 42% below its record high.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
Here's what investors should know.
Apple: The stock Warren Buffett sold in the second quarter
Apple has cultivated a reputation for premium consumer electronics devices due to engineering expertise that spans hardware, software, and services. Particularly important is its ability to design custom semiconductors, which improve performance and power efficiency across its iPhone, iPad, and Mac products, and help the company control costs.
Apple accounted for 43% of smartphone sales in the second quarter, nearly three times more than its closest competitor Samsung. But the company also has a strong presence in personal computers, smartwatches, and tablets, and its ability to provide a seamless user experience across devices keeps consumers loyal and affords the company immense pricing power.
However, Apple's execution has been very disappointing where artificial intelligence (AI) is concerned. The introduction of Apple Intelligence (AI features for newer iPhone and Mac models) has so far failed to catalyze the upgrade cycle so many analysts predicted. And the most anticipated feature (a ChatGPT-like Siri) has been delayed repeatedly and is not expected until the first half of 2026.
Meanwhile, Apple's innovation engine has seemingly stalled. Its last groundbreaking new product was AirPods in 2017. But the company has now gone eight years without a major innovation, the longest stint since the iPod launched in 2002. That is particularly concerning because the stock trades at 40 times earnings, which is very rich for a company whose earnings are projected to grow at 10% annually in the next three years.
Here's the big picture: Apple is an excellent business. But the lack of innovation in recent years, especially with respect to artificial intelligence, and the stock's price tag give me pause. Buffett evidently has a great deal of confidence in the company given that it remains Berkshire's largest holding, but I think investors should avoid the stock until the valuation looks more reasonable.
UnitedHealth Group: A stock Warren Buffett bought in the second quarter
UnitedHealth Group is a diversified healthcare company that breaks its operations into two segments: (1) UnitedHealthcare provides health insurance to individuals and employers, and it administers Medicare and Medicaid plans; (2) Optum provides medical care services (Optum Health), pharmacy services (Optum Rx), and analytics services (Optum Insight).
That vertical integration gives UnitedHealth a holistic view patients, which theoretically helps control costs for the company and its clients. Morningstar analyst Julie Utterback writes, "Historically, this integrated strategy resulted in some of the best returns in the managed care industry." However, UnitedHealth Group faces several serious problems.
Medical costs and utilization of healthcare services have exceeded expectations, such that the company says it underestimated its expenses by $6.5 billion in 2025. The problem is spread throughout the business: About half of that total comes from Medicare plans, and the rest is split between individual, employer, and Medicaid plans. In turn, earnings fell 18% in the first half of 2025 as its profit margin contracted.
The company is also the subject of several Justice Department probes. The list includes investigations into whether its past acquisitions of doctor groups violated antitrust laws, and whether it deliberately inflated billings in its Medicare Advantage plans. The scope of the second investigation was recently widened to include pharmacy benefit manager Optum Rx. The Federal Trade Commission has also sued UnitedHealth for insulin price manipulation.
Here's the big picture: UnitedHealth Group shares currently trade 42% below the record high due to concerns about falling profits and the ongoing investigations. So, despite winning Berkshire Hathaway as a shareholder, I think there are too many unknowns for investors to buy the dip. I would keep this stock on my watchlist until we have more information about the Justice Department probes.
Should you invest $1,000 in Apple right now?
Before you buy stock in Apple, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Apple wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $590,357!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,141,748!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,033% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 27, 2025
Trevor Jennewine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool recommends UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Warren Buffett Sells Apple Stock and Buys a Brand New Stock Up 5,600% in 30 Years

Key Points
Nevada-based Peavine Capital bought 194,700 shares of IEF for an estimated $18.6 million in the third quarter.
The transaction represented 3.8% of Peavine's 13F reportable assets under management.
At quarter-end, the firm reported holding nearly 1.9 million IEF shares valued at $180.8 million, representing about 37.3% of fund assets.
Nevada-based Peavine Capital disclosed a purchase of 194,700 shares of the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF in an SEC filing for the period ended September 30.
What Happened
According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released on October 21, Peavine Capital increased its stake in the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:IEF) by 194,700 shares during the third quarter. The estimated transaction value, based on the quarter's average price, was about $18.6 million. At quarter-end, the fund reported holding nearly 1.9 million IEF shares worth $180.8 million.
What Else to Know
Peavine's IEF stake now accounts for 37.3% of 13F reportable assets under management.
Top holdings after the filing:
NYSEMKT:SPY: $199.4 million (41.2% of AUM)
NASDAQ:IEF: $180.8 million (37.3% of AUM)
NYSEMKT:SGOV: $95.8 million (19.8% of AUM)
NASDAQ:AAPL: $5.1 million (1.1% of AUM)
NYSE:CAT: $1.3 million (0.3% of AUM)
As of Monday's market close, shares of IEF were priced at $97.49, up 2.7% over the past year, compared to an 18% gain for the S&P 500.
ETF Overview
Net assets
$40.4 billion
Price (as of market close Monday)
$97.49
12-month trailing yield
3.71%
1-year total return
2.2%
ETF Snapshot
IEF's investment strategy seeks to track the performance of U.S. Treasury bonds with maturities between 7 and 10 years, providing targeted exposure to intermediate-term government debt.
The portfolio is composed primarily of U.S. Treasury securities, with at least 90% of assets in government bonds, ensuring high credit quality and liquidity.
Structured as an ETF, the fund offers investors efficient access to the U.S. Treasury market and regular income distributions.
The iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) provides targeted exposure to intermediate-term U.S. Treasury securities. It has substantial assets under management and a focus on high-credit-quality government bonds. Its strategy and structure offer access to the U.S. Treasury market,
Foolish Take
Peavine Capital’s increased bet on Treasuries underscores a clear shift toward safety and stability. The move brings Peavine’s total IEF position to 1.9 million shares worth $180.8 million, now accounting for 37.3% of its reportable assets.
Notably, Peavine’s only other meaningful additions this quarter were in iShares Treasury ETFs and the S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY)—a clear signal of a barbell strategy: pairing safe-haven bonds with broad market equity exposure. Together, SPY and IEF now make up nearly 80% of Peavine’s total holdings, a conservative allocation positioning the firm to weather both rate and equity volatility.
IEF, which tracks Treasuries maturing between seven and 10 years, offers an average 3.9% yield to maturity, 7-year duration, and 0.15% expense ratio—providing investors with a steady income stream and downside protection. For long-term investors, Peavine’s posture reflects a classic late-cycle playbook: locking in yields and maintaining equity exposure through low-cost, diversified ETFs.
Glossary
ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund): An investment fund traded on stock exchanges, holding assets like stocks or bonds.
Assets Under Management (AUM): The total market value of assets a fund or investment manager oversees on behalf of clients.
13F reportable assets: Securities that institutional investment managers must disclose quarterly to the SEC if managing over $100 million.
Dividend yield: The annual dividend income expressed as a percentage of the investment's current price.
Total return: The investment's price change plus all dividends and distributions, assuming those payouts are reinvested.
Intermediate-term: Refers to bonds or investments with maturities typically between 5 and 10 years.
U.S. Treasury securities: Debt instruments issued by the U.S. government to finance its operations, considered low risk.
Liquidity: How quickly and easily an asset can be bought or sold without affecting its price.
Credit quality: An assessment of a bond issuer's ability to repay debt, with higher quality indicating lower risk.
Income distributions: Payments made by funds to investors, usually from interest, dividends, or capital gains.
Position: The amount of a particular security or asset held by an investor or fund.
Stake: The ownership interest or holding in a particular security or company.
Where to invest $1,000 right now
When our analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,033%* — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500.
They just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 27, 2025
Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and iShares Trust - iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

What This Fund’s $180 Million Treasury Bet Signals to Long-Term Investors

Key Points
Meta Platforms' social media platforms provide the company with a treasure trove of data.
The company uses artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure its ads hit their mark.
The stock is attractively priced, particularly in light of its track record of growth.
The engine that drives the U.S. economy has changed dramatically over the past two decades. Case in point: Energy bellwether ExxonMobil and industrial stalwart General Electric were the two largest publicly traded companies by market cap in 2005, with values of $375 billion and $362 billion, respectively. Now, just 20 years later, technology companies at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) top the charts.
Only four companies have joined the ultra-exclusive $3 trillion club, and the names are immediately recognizable. Chipmaker Nvidia leads the list at $4.4 trillion (as of this writing), within striking distance of a new all-time high. iPhone maker Apple recently soared into second place at $3.9 trillion. Cloud and software provider Microsoft is right on Apple's heels, worth $3.8 trillion. Search pioneer Alphabet wraps up our quartet at $3 trillion.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
With a market cap of $1.8 trillion, it might seem premature to suggest tech titan Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) is destined for membership in the $3 trillion club, but the evidence is clear. If this comes to pass, investors who buy shares today could pocket returns of 67% if Meta crosses the $3 trillion mark. Here's why I believe the writing is on the wall.
A captive audience
Meta is the parent company behind several of the world's most popular social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. To stake its claim in the AI revolution, Meta tapped the information it compiles from the nearly 3.5 billion users who visit one of its platforms every day. This data helped the company develop its suite of Llama large language models (LLMs), which are among the most competitive in the industry. This positions Meta to profit from the tidal wave of AI adoption.
The company benefits from its foray into AI in other ways. Meta has long used machine learning -- an earlier branch of AI -- to surface relevant content for users and direct its targeted advertising. The development of generative AI only increased Meta's advantage, as the company curated AI-powered tools to help advertisers succeed.
The results tell the tale. In the second quarter, Meta generated revenue of $47.5 billion, which climbed 22% year over year, resulting in diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $7.14, which jumped 38%.
Commentary from CEO Mark Zuckerberg shed light on the results. He noted that AI is "unlocking greater efficiency and gains across our ads system ... [driving] roughly 5% more ad conversions on Instagram and 3% on Facebook." There's more. The company's content strategy is bearing fruit as users spent 5% more time on Facebook and 6% more on Instagram. More time translates to more advertising, which ultimately increases revenue.
The company's ever-expanding user base and increasing ad conversions position Meta for continued success.
The path to $3 trillion
Meta has a market cap of roughly $1.8 trillion (as of this writing), so it will take a stock price increase of roughly 66% to propel its value to $3 trillion. Wall Street's estimates that Meta will generate revenue of $196 billion in 2025, giving the stock a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 9. Assuming its P/S remains constant, Meta will need to generate revenue of roughly $327 billion annually to support a $3 trillion market cap.
Furthermore, Wall Street is currently forecasting Meta's revenue growth at nearly 15% annually over the next five years. If the company can achieve this benchmark, it could surpass a $3 trillion market cap as soon as 2029. Those projections might well be conservative, as Meta has grown its trailing-12-month revenue by more than 897% over the past decade.
Finally, at less than 27 times trailing-12-month earnings, Meta's valuation is cheaper than the multiple of 31 for the S&P 500 -- yet has increased by 656% over the past 10 years, well ahead of the S&P 500, which gained just 232%.
Should you invest $1,000 in Meta Platforms right now?
Before you buy stock in Meta Platforms, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Meta Platforms wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $590,357!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,141,748!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,033% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 27, 2025
Danny Vena has positions in Alphabet, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends GE Aerospace and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Prediction: This Unstoppable Stock Will Join Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet in the $3 Trillion Club Before 2029

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Monday rose by +1.22%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) rose by +0.69%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) rose by +1.82%. December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ25) rose by +1.21%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ25) rose by +1.83%.
US stocks rallied sharply on Monday after US and Chinese negotiators, who met over the weekend in Malaysia, said they reached a tentative trade agreement to be finalized at Thursday's summit between Presidents Trump and Xi on the sidelines of the ASEAN conference in Malaysia. Treasury Secretary Bessent said the agreement means the US threat of a 100% tariff on US imports from China, set to start November 1, is "effectively off the table." Meanwhile, China agreed not to restrict the export of rare earth metals for at least one year and to buy a "substantial" amount of US soybeans. The two sides also made progress on shipping fees and US demands that China crack down on the export to the US of fentanyl and precursors. The two sides may also reach an agreement that would allow US consumers to continue to access TikTok.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
Treasury Secretary Bessent said Monday that the pool of candidates for the next Fed Chair has been narrowed to Christopher Waller, Kevin Warsh, Kevin Hassett, Michelle Bowman, and Rick Rieder. President Trump is expected to announce a decision on a new Fed Chair by year-end to replace current Fed Chair Powell, whose term as the Fed Chairman ends on May 15, 2026. Mr. Powell's separate term as a Fed Governor runs until January 2028, though he faces pressure from Mr. Trump to step down as a Fed Governor as well, so Mr. Trump can appoint a more dovish Fed governor.
This is a busy week, with the FOMC meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, when it is expected to cut its federal funds rate target by -25 bp. Also, five of the Magnificent Seven companies report earnings this week, with Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft reporting on Wednesday, and Apple and Amazon.com reporting on Thursday.
There was some carry-over support from last Friday's Sep US CPI report of +3.0% y/y for both the nominal and core figures, which was slightly weaker than expectations of +3.1% y/y for both figures.
Trade relations with Canada were a negative factor for stocks on Monday after President Trump said on Saturday that he would impose a new 10% tariff on US imports from Canada as punishment for last week's anti-tariff advertisement released by the provincial government of Ontario. Mr. Trump initially said that he was only halting US trade negotiations with Canada due to the ad, but he escalated the punishment over the weekend by imposing a new 10% tariff, even though Ontario had agreed to pause the ad campaign.
Ontario's ad featured former US President Reagan speaking out in a 1987 address in favor of free trade and against tariffs, calling tariffs an outdated idea that stifles innovation, drives up prices, and hurts US workers. Mr. Trump claimed the ad was deceptive and said it was designed to influence the US Supreme Court ahead of oral arguments on November 5 on the legality of Mr. Trump's reciprocal tariffs. Lower courts have already deemed Mr. Trump's reciprocal tariffs illegal, ruling the tariffs are based on a specious claim of emergency authority. If the US Supreme Court upholds those rulings, the US government will have to refund the tariffs already collected, and Mr. Trump's power to impose tariffs will be limited to well-founded sections of US trade law.
The US government shutdown continues into its fifth week, weighing on market sentiment and the US economy. The government shutdown is delaying the release of government reports, including all the recent weekly unemployment claims reports, the September unemployment and payroll report, Aug trade balance, Sep retail sales, Sep PPI, Sep housing starts, Sep industrial production, Sep leading indicators, and others. Bloomberg Economics estimates that 640,000 federal workers will be furloughed during the shutdown, which would expand jobless claims and push the unemployment rate up to 4.7%.
The markets are focused on earnings results as the Q3 earnings season continues. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, 84% of the S&P 500 companies that have reported so far have beaten forecasts, on course for the best quarter since 2021. However, Q3 profits are expected to have risen by +7.2% y/y, the smallest increase in two years. Also, Q3 sales growth is projected to slow to +5.9% y/y from +6.4% in Q2.
Overseas stock markets on Monday closed higher. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed up +0.64%. China's Shanghai Composite closed up +1.18%. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 closed up +2.46%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ5) on Monday rose slightly by +0.5 tick. The 10-year T-note yield fell -1.2 bp to 3.989%. T-note prices initially fell on Monday due to the US-Chinese trade agreement, which reduced safe-haven demand for Treasury securities and was positive for the US and Chinese economies. T-note prices were also pressured by the rally in US stocks.
However, T-note prices recovered later in the day as the 10-year inflation expectations rate fell by -1.1 bp to 2.288%. T-notes have support from the ongoing US government shutdown, which could lead to additional job losses, reduced consumer spending, and a weakened US economy, potentially allowing the Fed to continue cutting interest rates.
The markets are discounting a 98% chance of a -25 bp rate cut at this week's FOMC meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct 28-29).
European government bond yields closed lower. The 10-year German bund yield fell -1.0 bp to 2.616%. The 10-year UK gilt yield fell 3.0 bp at 4.402%.
Swaps are discounting a 1% chance for a -25 bp rate cut by the ECB at its next policy meeting on October 30.
US Stock Movers
The Magnificent Seven stocks all closed higher on Monday, led by a +4.3% gain in Tesla (TSLA), a +3.6% gain in Alphabet (GOOG), and gains of more than +2% in Nvidia (NVDA) and Apple (AAPL).
Chip stocks traded higher across the board Monday, led by a +11% gain in Qualcomm (QCOM) on news of a new AI chip and computer line to compete with Nvidia. Marvell Technology (MRVL) rose more than +5%, and Arm Holdings (ARM) rose more than +4%. ON Semiconductors (ON), Lam Research (LRCX), and Intel (INTC) all rose by more than +3%.
Crypto stocks traded higher, with support from Monday's gains of more than +3% in Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) and +5% in Ethereum (^ETHUSD). Riot Platforms (RIOT) rallied more than +7%, Strategy (MSTR) rallied +2.3%, and Coinbase (COIN) rallied +2.0%.
Avidity Biosciences (RNA) rallied +42% after news that Swiss-based Novartis plans to buy the company in a deal worth $12 billion. Novartis ADR shares (NVS) fell -0.9%.
Ohio-based Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) agreed to buy Cadence Bank (CADE) for $7.4 billion in an all-stock deal to expand into the Southeast and South. Huntington fell -1.8%, while Cadence rallied +4.4%.
American Water Works (AWK) fell -2.5%, and Essential Utilities (WTRG) fell -1.4%, after news that the two companies finalized AWK's purchase of Essential Utilities for $12 billion in an all-stock deal.
Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) rallied more than +7% after raising its full-year net sales guidance.
Lululemon Athletica (LULU) rallied about +2% on news of an agreement with the National Football League and sports merchandiser Fanatics Inc to develop a line of fan apparel.
Robinhood Markets (HOOD) rose more than +4% after CICC gave the brokerage a new rating of outperform.
Newmont (NEM) fell more than -5% as the company seeks to gain control of Barrick's gold mines in Nevada.
Boeing (BA) rose +0.8% even though factory workers in St Louis narrowly rejected a new 5-year contract that would have ended a 3-month strike that has disrupted the company's main military manufacturing operations.
Earnings Reports(10/28/2025)
DR Horton Inc (DHI), PayPal Holdings Inc (PYPL), UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH), Wayfair Inc (W), Labcorp Holdings Inc (LH), Corning Inc (GLW), Armstrong World Industries Inc (AWI), Sysco Corp (SYY), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL), VF Corp (VFC), Carrier Global Corp (CARR), A O Smith Corp (AOS), United Parcel Service Inc (UPS), Hubbell Inc (HUBB), Sherwin-Williams Co/The (SHW), Ecolab Inc (ECL), Zebra Technologies Corp (ZBRA), IQVIA Holdings Inc (IQV), MSCI Inc (MSCI), Smithfield Foods Inc (SFD), Tenet Healthcare Corp (THC), Applied Industrial Technologie (AIT), Axalta Coating Systems Ltd (AXTA), Repligen Corp (RGEN), Xylem Inc/NY (XYL), Invesco Ltd (IVZ), SoFi Technologies Inc (SOFI), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (REGN), American Tower Corp (AMT), Incyte Corp (INCY), ATI Inc (ATI), NextEra Energy Inc (NEE), Neurocrine Biosciences Inc (NBIX), Booking Holdings Inc (BKNG), Mondelez International Inc (MDLZ), Sensata Technologies Holding P (ST), WP Carey Inc (WPC), Enphase Energy Inc (ENPH), Aurora Innovation Inc (AUR), Landstar System Inc (LSTR), Equity Residential (EQR), ONEOK Inc (OKE), Flowserve Corp (FLS), Caesars Entertainment Inc (CZR), Edison International (EIX), CoStar Group Inc (CSGP), Frontier Communications Parent (FYBR), MSA Safety Inc (MSA), Chemed Corp (CHE), Range Resources Corp (RRC), BXP Inc (BXP), PPG Industries Inc (PPG), RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd (RNR), Regency Centers Corp (REG), ExlService Holdings Inc (EXLS), Veralto Corp (VLTO), Visa Inc (V), Expand Energy Corp (EXE), Seagate Technology Holdings PL (STX), Element Solutions Inc (ESI), Highwoods Properties Inc (HIW), Electronic Arts Inc (EA), Teradyne Inc (TER).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
More news from Barchart
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Rally on US-China Preliminary Trade Agreement

Apple AAPL is set to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on Oct. 30.
Apple expects fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 net sales to grow in the mid to high single digits on a year-over-year basis. The company expects the Services year-over-year growth rate to be similar to that of the June quarter (13.3%). Gross margin is expected to be 46-47% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, including a tariff impact of $$1.1 billion. Operating expenses are expected to be between $15.6 billion and $15.8 billion.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal fourth-quarter net sales is pegged at $101.19 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 6.6%.
The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at $1.73 per share, down by a penny over the past 30 days. The estimate indicates a 5.5% increase from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
Consensus Estimate Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AAPL’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the trailing four quarters, the earnings surprise being 6.2%, on average.
Apple Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
Let us see how things have shaped up prior to this announcement.
Apple’s iPhone Sales Likely to Rise Y/Y in Q4
Apple’s fortunes are heavily reliant on the iPhone, which is by far its biggest revenue contributor. The device accounted for 47.4% of net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, wherein sales increased 13.5% year over year to $44.58 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal fourth-quarter iPhone net sales is pegged at $49.75 billion, suggesting a 7.6% year-over-year growth.
iPhone sales have been suffering from stiff competition in China from Chinese vendors, including Huawei and Xiaomi. China is an important market for Apple as the iPhone maker’s manufacturing is primarily concentrated in the country. Per Counterpoint data, Apple shipments increased 1% year over year, driven by price discounts for the iPhone 16. However, Apple, with 15% market share, trailed Huawei, Vivo, OPPO and Xiaomi.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal fourth-quarter China sales is pegged at $16.23 billion, suggesting 8% growth from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.
AAPL’s Services to Grow in the Double Digits in Q4
An expanding paid subscriber base has been a key catalyst for the Services business, which has been riding on the increasing popularity of the App Store and an expanding installed base of devices. Apple has more than 1 billion paid subscribers across its Services portfolio, offering Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Card, Apple Fitness+ and Apple One bundle.
The consensus mark for Services is pegged at $26.96 billion, suggesting 12.3% growth on a year-over-year basis.
Apple’s Mac Sales to Rise Y/Y
AAPL has been gaining share in the PC market, thanks to strong demand for the latest Mac devices powered by the M4 family of chips — M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max. Apple’s strong Mac portfolio helped it gain market share in the third quarter of fiscal 2025. Per IDC, Apple had a market share of 9%, up 30 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis. Shipment grew 13.7% year over year to 6.8 million. Per Gartner, Apple had a market share of 8.9%, up 20 bps year over year.
In terms of shipments, Apple trails Lenovo’s LNVGY growth of 17.3%, per IDC data. Dell Technologies’ DELL shipment increased 2.6%, while HP HPQ saw shipment growth of 10.7%. According to Gartner’s list, Lenovo was placed at the #1 spot with shipment growth of 16.6%, trailed by Apple’s 10.7%, HP’s 10.6% and Dell Technologies’ 2.5% growth.
The consensus mark for Mac revenues is pegged at $8.44 billion, suggesting 9% growth on a year-over-year basis.
AAPL Shares Underperform Sector
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Apple shares have risen 5% year to date (YTD), underperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector’s return of 26%. While Apple shares have outperformed HP YTD, the shares have lagged Dell Technologies. HP shares dropped 15.2%, while Dell Technologies returned 37.7%.
Apple Stock’s Performance
The AAPL stock is not so cheap, as the Value Score of D suggests a stretched valuation at this moment.
In terms of the forward 12-month price/earnings, AAPL is trading at 33.22X, higher than the Zacks Computer & Technology sector’s 29.64X.
AAPL Stock is Overvalued
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AI Focus to Aid AAPL’s Prospects
Apple has been seeing better iPhone sales in regions where Apple Intelligence is available. iPhone 17 sales are off to a strong start as compared with iPhone 16, driven by a better chip (A19), improved display (6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion), and an upgraded selfie camera. The launch of the new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro, 14-inch MacBook Pro, and Apple Vision Pro, all powered by the new M5 chip, bodes well for Apple’s prospects.
Apple’s AI push is expected to bring consumer-focused AI-enabled PCs into the market, thereby aiding its Mac shipments in the long run.
However, stiff competition in the smartphone and PC market, along with regulatory headwinds, is a concern. A stretched valuation makes the stock risky for investors.
Currently, AAPL carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which implies that investors should wait for a favorable point to accumulate the stock. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. Little-known AI firms tackling the world's biggest problems may be more lucrative in the coming months and years.
See "2nd Wave" AI stocks now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Indicator	TTM Median
P/E	31.76 28.98
Price/Sales	7.76 2.58
P/B	45.60 2.76
P/FCF	31.47 24.31

Indicator	TTM Median
ROE	151.31 15.33
ROA	28.37 6.66
ROI	65.77 9.73
Net Worth	3.07K 0.98
Quick Ratio	0.78 1.53
Current Ratio	0.82 1.84

Indicator	TTM Median
Net Profit Margin	24.30 9.71
Operating Margin	31.81 11.07
Gross Margin	46.63 50.00
Return on tangible equity	151.31 27.59

Indicator	TTM Median
EPS	2.40 0.24
EPS Forecast	2.36 0.19
Revenue	95.36B 73.00M
Gross Profit	44.87B —
EBITDA	32.25B —

Apple Inc.

TTM metrics for the latest quarter under IFRS and their historical dynamics

Valuation

Debts

Efficiency

Other ratios

Revenue