Apple's stock flirts with best day in four months as analyst explains why bears should show caution
By Emily Bary
'Sentiment and positioning are both so one-sidedly negative' that positive iPhone demand signals could lift stock 'quickly higher,' says Mizuho
Apple Inc. shares were flirting with their best one-day performance in more than four months after an analyst advised that would-be short sellers show caution in light of iPhone 15 demand indications.
"It remains very early in launch and a lot can change, but my thought heading into [the] iPhone 15 cycle was that sentiment and positioning are both so one-sidedly negative and short that with any delays in delivery times driven more by supply issues vs even consumer demand (OLED screen and...image sensors), that alone could push AAPL stock quickly higher at any point in coming weeks and month," said Mizuho's Jordan Klein, a desk-based analyst with the sales team.
Read:Preorders for the iPhone 15 have begun, and here's a sign they've been 'solid'
He noted that some of Apple's (AAPL) iPhone 15 Pro Max models were showing delivery dates into November, which would be the longest wait time in the past seven years. Meanwhile, China delivery times look better-than-feared given concerns heading into the iPhone's release about a reported ban on iPhone use among Chinese government officials for business purposes.
Don't miss: iPhone 15 preorders: Here are the deals from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon
"Hence, while I am not a big fan of the long set-up in AAPL near term, I also would be careful on short side given these pending iPhone 15 data points," Klein wrote.
Apple shares were 2.25% in afternoon trading Monday and on track for their largest single-day percentage gain since June 30, 2023, when they rose 2.31%. However, the stock was up as much as 2.50% earlier in the session, which would have made for its largest one-day gain since May 5, 2023.
BofA analyst Wamsi Mohan took a more cautious stance on iPhone 15 preorder trends, noting that "ship dates for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models are extended, but somewhat lower (on average) compared to last year at this point in the preorder cycle."
He has a neutral view on Apple shares as the "positive of new product introductions" is outweighed by "a potentially weaker consumer spending environment."
See also: IPO market braces for first tech unicorns in nearly two years
-Emily Bary
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September 18, 2023 15:02 ET (19:02 GMT)
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