While commenting on how to anticipate iPhone product cycles, UBS analyst Steven Milunovich said in a report that Apple Inc. AAPL should narrow the discount at which it is currently trading as investors “perceive life beyond F18.”
The analyst maintained a Buy rating on the company, with a price target of $127.
Historically, Apple’s stock tends to appreciate when next 12-month financials exceed the consensus revenue and EPS expectations and decline when expectations are missed.
“Rarely does the stock make a material move unless beats have begun, though the stock did react early to the powerful iPhone 6 cycle,” Milunovich noted.
Downward movements are less pronounced than upward movements and downside often lags negative data points by two to four months. This may reflect a positive investor bias toward Apple. Milunovich further observed that the stock is more correlated with next 12-month results than with next 6-month results.
iPhone 8 Cycle
The analyst expects the iPhone 8 cycle to be reflected in Apple’s stock as early as January or February 2017. With the iPhone unit growth estimate at 8 percent, in-line with current consensus forecasts, the stock is unlikely to make a dramatic move in the near term.
Milunovich added, however, that iPhone unit growth in FY 2018 could be 16 percent, beating the current consensus expectations. Considering the 12-month lead, the stock may begin discounting the iPhone 8 cycle early next year.
“March will be interesting as a true reflection of demand and gross margin; even if it is weak, the stock might hold up if the iPhone 8 surprises to the upside,” the analyst commented.
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