Apple Earnings Beat Forecasts But Trade War Fears Push AAPL Stock Lower

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By Tyler Matthews

Despite Apple reporting strong quarterly results that surpassed Wall Street forecasts, including $1.65 EPS and $95.4 billion in revenue, investor focus quickly shifted to future uncertainties, triggering an initial drop in the company’s stock price. Service revenue, though slightly missing forecasts at $26.65 billion, still marked a notable 11.6% year-over-year growth.

Trade Tensions Cast Shadow

A primary concern stems from ongoing US-China trade friction. CEO Tim Cook estimated that reciprocal tariffs between the nations could add a substantial $900 million to Apple’s costs in the current fiscal quarter alone. This challenging outlook prompted a negative market reaction, with Apple (AAPL) shares initially falling over 4% following the earnings announcement. Subsequently, the stock traded around $205.5, marking a session decline of roughly 3.5% and contributing to a nearly 18% drop year-to-date in 2025.

Analyst Perspectives Vary

Financial analysts responded to the earnings release and forward-looking statements with revised price targets and ratings, reflecting diverse opinions on the stock’s potential trajectory:

Firm Action / Target Implied Outlook (based on source report)
Jefferies Downgraded to Sell Projected 20% downside
Barclays Maintained Rating, Target $173 ~19% downside
UBS Reiterated Neutral, Target $210 ~2% downside
Morgan Stanley Maintained Rating, Target $235 ~10% upside
Bank of America Lowered Target to $235 (from $240) ~10% upside
JPMorgan Lowered Target to $245 ~13% upside
Goldman Sachs Maintained Rating Projected 19% upside

The ongoing trade dispute remains a key factor influencing investor confidence, despite Apple’s demonstrated ability to exceed near-term financial expectations. The market awaits further developments regarding a potential trade agreement between the U.S. and China.

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