Apple's Stock Higher On Reports Of 'Much Busier' iPhone 11 Demand

Apple Inc. AAPL traded higher by 2% on Friday following a report by the Nikkei Asian Review that Apple has increased production of the iPhone 11 by up to 10%, or about 8 million units.

The Nikkei Asian Review quoted a source familiar with the matter, who said iPhone 11 production has been “much busier than we expected,” and order volume is now ahead of last year’s levels.

The production hike could be a sign that Apple has hit a home run with its surprising budget-conscious iPhone 11 strategy. For the first time in history, Apple dropped the prices of its updated models this year.

How To Play It

Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said reports of strong iPhone demand are particularly encouraging given concerns over the potential negative impact of the trade war on China sales.

“We continue to believe China as a region is currently one of the main catalysts of demand for the iPhone 11 and is tracking roughly 20% ahead of plan, which is a surprise to many investors in light of the current UFC trade battle between the US and China with pro Huawei and competitive worries abound,” Ives said.

Wedbush has an Outperform rating and $245 price target for Apple.

Bank of America analyst Ruplu Bhattacharya said the reports are also good news for iPhone casing supplier Jabil Inc JBL.

“We raise our Diversified Manufacturing Segment (DMS) revenue and margin estimates for the November quarter which is typically the strongest quarter for Jabil,” Bhattacharya said.

He remains cautious on the stock with a Neutral rating and $37 price target given the weak macroeconomic backdrop.

Benzinga’s Take

For years, Apple skeptics have predicted saturation of the iPhone market would eventually catch up to Apple, but the company seems to always find a way to deliver. Apple took a gamble in potentially sacrificing iPhone margins for volume with its pricing cuts, and it looks like that gamble may pay off for investors.

Do you agree with this take? Email feedback@benzinga.com with your thoughts.

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