On Monday, Citi raised its price target on Apple to $365 from $315 while maintaining its Buy rating. The move reflects stronger margin expectations and rolled-forward financial estimates amid what the bank sees as Apple’s continued resilience in a tough environment for devices.
Apple shares were trading at new all-time highs in Monday morning trading, as investors digested the positive commentary ahead of the company’s upcoming earnings report. Citi remains constructive on the stock, highlighting Apple’s ability to gain market share even as broader smartphone and PC markets face headwinds.
Outperforming a Declining Market
Citi notes that smartphone and PC markets are likely to decline by mid-to-high teens percent. Despite this, Apple is positioned to outperform. According to the note:“continues to outperform the broader smartphone market through share gains, design-driven demand, and strong positioning in the mid-range price segment via promotions and subsidies.”
The firm also stated that Apple “should continue gaining market share despite a slowing devices market.”
Pricing Power and Margin Protection
A key driver behind the higher price target is Apple’s demonstrated ability to implement selective price increases. Citi observed that Apple raised prices on several products mid-quarter amid rising component costs and is evaluating additional memory suppliers to diversify its supply chain.
While iPhone prices remain unchanged for now, Citi expects price increases in the upcoming September launch cycle:“with more focus likely on the higher end models where demand is more resilient.”
The bank also flagged an expected foldable iPhone launch in the fourth calendar quarter. These factors support higher margin expectations following recent price increases.
AI Outlook: Measured Near-Term, Optimistic Longer-Term
On Apple Intelligence, Citi takes a pragmatic view. The note states that Apple Intelligence is:“unlikely to drive a significant upgrade cycle in the near term.”
However, the bank sees meaningful longer-term potential from enhanced Siri AI capabilities, which should increase user engagement and support growth in high-margin services revenue.
September Launch as Key Catalyst
Citi identifies the September iPhone launch as:“an important catalyst that could further strengthen investor sentiment.”
This event is viewed as a potential positive for both hardware momentum and overall investor confidence.
Services Growth: iCloud and Advertising in Focus
On the services side, Citi notes that Sensor Tower data showed App Store revenue in the June quarter grew just 3% year-over-year — tracking below company guidance. That said, the bank views iCloud and advertising as stronger drivers for future revenue growth.
Citi’s raised price target to $365 reflects a combination of:
• Continued market share gains in a challenging devices environment
• Ability to protect and expand margins through selective pricing
• Rolled-forward estimates and stronger margin expectations
MacDailyNews Take: Citi’s note underscores Apple’s structural advantages — brand strength, ecosystem lock-in, and pricing power — even as near-term AI-driven upgrade cycles remain limited.
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.
Get real, the Price should be going up, it should stay stead or lower, There is no option for Apple to correct the problems in the near future. So if you take the 1, 5, 10 year outlook on component availability and prices, The industry already said for the next ten years it will be harsh. The 1 year is constrained and prices are high so products should reflect that. the 5 year os already spoken for with limited availability, high prices and the products affected without any chance of coming down due to suppliers and companies NOT setting up contingencies for the future, the 10 year will be tough if they do not do anything NOW, Apple products will face higher prices in ALL lines, no matter what they try. so having positive stock movement is ridiculous if you know the issues that are evident. Thinking that the stock will sky rocket is really dumb. if you foretell a 10-15% price hike on ALL product lines, your limiting the consumer base that can get your products, also that will affect international sales too, very steeply. China, India is having tighter employment problems so their available cash flow to buy apple stuff is constrained. why would they buy $1k phone if they can buy a cheaper one for $300? in these tough times, poor people aren’t dumb. Apple is pushing high end products and that will take them down. They should reassess their consumer base, reinvest in their component lines to secure them in the future and reignite developers which has been lacking.
There’s this thing, though…that some call; supply & demand.
Economics is known as the “dismal science”. Moniker given at a diff time & for diff reasons, but for now, economics doesn’t care if it hurts, or brings glee. The discipline often forces people to confront inevitable and sometimes painful trade-offs.
Money goes where “its treated best.”