A meaningful improvement in Apple sentiment may depend on either a significant upgrade cycle or noticeable AI progress, particularly driven by Siri, potentially marking an inflection point in spring 2026 with the anticipated launch of a revamped Siri offering, according to Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani.
Patrick Seitz for Investors Business Daily:
“The struggle investors have is identifying what drives upside from current levels,” Daryanani said in a client note Friday. “A meaningful sentiment improvement may hinge on either a sizable upgrade cycle or visible AI progress (Siri-driven) — which implies a potential inflection point could emerge in spring 2026 when Apple is expected to launch a revamped Siri offering.”
In the four weeks since the launch of the iPhone 17 series smartphones, order lead times have remained mostly stable in the U.S., Daryanani said in a report Saturday. Some key international markets, such as China, Germany, Japan and the U.K., have seen a shortening of lead times, particularly for the top-of-the-line Pro Max model, he said.
MacDailyNews Note: Daryanani maintains an “Outperform” (Buy) rating on Apple stock with a price target of $290.
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Even if iPhone 17 is a resounding success, still no analyst is willing to cross $300 psychological barrier for Apple.
Apple needs to have a structure like Alphabet with a CEO and SVP for AI, and CEOs for Hardware, Software, entertainment and Semiconductors (at least and may be even more) even if they are the same people.(John, Craig, Eddie and Shrouji) and SVPs being new blood external or internal with SVPs doing the day to day work and CEOs looking at new Horizons.
Looking at the successes of ChatGPT and Sora, AI needs a new branch, in fact almost all current SVPs need to be CEOs. $300 has become a psychological barrier no Analyst is willing to cross unless unless they see a material change.
With John’s name floating around for CEO (Group CEO after Trump is gone,) the only SVP making noise is Shrouji, and as I said before Apple needs to acquire Intel and let Shrouji become CEO of it., Craig has a choice of Software or AI. So there is one place empty for a CEO based on what Craig wants.
This is just floating of ideas. The only thing I want stress is that Apple is too dense at the top and needs infusion of new blood, internal or external.
Look at the Analyst numbers. When an analyst goes out on a limb to beyond $300, then Apple is out of AI woods, And is doing something right.