Apple’s Q226 earnings preview: Analysts project another strong quarter

Apple money logo

Apple is set to report its fiscal second-quarter 2026 results right after the market close (around 1:30 p.m. PDT / 4:30 p.m. EDT) on April 30, 2026, with the conference call scheduled for 2:00 p.m. PDT / 5:00 p.m. EDT. Wall Street is projecting another strong quarter, building on the company’s record-breaking Q1 performance and the ongoing iPhone 17 upgrade cycle.

Most Recent FactSet-Aggregated Analyst Expectations

The latest consensus estimates (as of April 25, 2026, per Yahoo Finance data, which aggregates analyst forecasts commonly aligned with FactSet sourcing) call for:

• Revenue: $109.69 billion (31 analysts; range: $107.08B–$115.37B), implying ~15% year-over-year growth from $95.36 billion in Q2 FY2025.
• EPS: $1.95 (32 analysts; range: $1.56–$2.16), up ~18% from $1.65 a year ago.

These figures align closely with other recent aggregators:

• TipRanks (as of April 19): $109.45 billion revenue and $1.95 EPS.
• Visible Alpha / S&P Global Market Intelligence (April 23): ~$109.3 billion revenue, with iPhone expected at ~$56.5 billion and Services at ~$30 billion.
• LSEG data via IG Markets: $109.5 billion revenue (+14.9% YoY), including iPhone at $56.9 billion (+21.4%) and Services at $30.4 billion (+14.2%).

Slight variations reflect ongoing analyst updates, but the overall picture is one of solid double-digit growth.

Key Drivers Analysts Are Watching

• iPhone and Products: Expectations point to continued strength from the iPhone 17 lineup and strong upgrade demand, particularly in the U.S. and improving conditions in Greater China. Some bullish calls (e.g., JP Morgan at $112.7 billion total revenue and Goldman Sachs highlighting 23% iPhone growth) see product revenue potentially beating the ~$78.8 billion consensus. Supply-chain constraints on advanced chips remain a minor headwind, but pricing adjustments are expected to help offset memory and component cost increases.

• Services: The high-margin segment is forecast to hit ~$30–30.4 billion (+13–14% YoY), continuing its reliable growth trajectory and supporting overall gross margin expansion to the 48–49% range.

• Apple Intelligence and Broader Outlook: While AI features are still ramping (with more details expected at WWDC in June), analysts will listen closely for updates on on-device processing, the Google Gemini integration, and the M5 chip roadmap. Gross margin commentary, China recovery, and any tariff-related risks will also be in focus.

• CEO Transition: Tim Cook’s planned move to executive chairman (with John Ternus stepping in as CEO on September 1st) adds an extra layer of intense interest. The call could provide reassurance on continuity and long-term strategy.

Consensus points to Apple delivering another beat-and-raise style quarter, with revenue growth in the mid-teens and healthy EPS expansion. The combination of iPhone supercycle momentum, Services resilience, and steady progress on AI positions the company well heading into the back half of FY2026.

Investors will be parsing every word from CFO Kevan Parekh on guidance, margins, and the path forward under new leadership. Earnings season kicks off in earnest on April 30 — expect the usual post-earnings volatility, but the Street’s bar appears comfortably achievable based on the latest FactSet-aligned forecasts.

Apple has a long-standing tradition of announcing updates to its capital return program — including dividend increases and new or expanded share repurchase authorizations — during its fiscal Q2 earnings release

Analysts and investors have come to expect these shareholder-friendly announcements in the spring quarter because Apple’s March-ending quarter typically generates strong cash flow, giving the board an ideal window to signal confidence in the company’s outlook while refreshing its capital allocation strategy for the year ahead. With Apple’s Q2 FY2026 results due April 30, 2026, many expect another mid-single-digit dividend raise and a sizable new buyback authorization to continue this consistent pattern.

MacDailyNews Note: As usual, we’ll bring you Apple’s results as soon as they are released, right around 1:30 p.m. PDT / 4:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 30, 2026 and then follow with live notes from Apple’s conference call at 2:00 p.m. PDT / 5:00 p.m. EDT.



Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!

Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.