Equities Analysts Offer Predictions for Apple Q3 Earnings

Key Points

• Zacks Research has lowered its Q3 2026 EPS estimate for Apple to $1.65, down from $1.66, affecting overall earnings projections.
• Apple's average stock rating is categorized as a Moderate Buy, with 2 Strong Buy ratings, 15 Buy ratings, and a target price averaging $244.03.
• Recently, Apple declared a quarterly dividend of $0.26, representing a yield of 0.4%, with a payout ratio of 15.78%.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL - Free Report) - Investment analysts at Zacks Research dropped their Q3 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Apple in a report issued on Tuesday, September 23rd. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the iPhone maker will post earnings of $1.65 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $1.66. The consensus estimate for Apple's current full-year earnings is $7.28 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Apple's FY2026 earnings at $7.57 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $1.96 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $8.46 EPS.

Several other analysts have also weighed in on AAPL. Loop Capital dropped their target price on shares of Apple from $230.00 to $226.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 21st. Rosenblatt Securities lifted their price target on shares of Apple from $223.00 to $241.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 10th. Citigroup reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Apple in a report on Wednesday, September 10th. Sanford C. Bernstein began coverage on Apple in a research note on Monday, September 15th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $290.00 target price for the company. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on Apple from $190.67 to $205.82 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, September 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $244.03.

Apple Price Performance

Apple stock opened at $254.43 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.78 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.61, a PEG ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 1.11. Apple has a 52-week low of $169.21 and a 52-week high of $260.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.87. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $226.20 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $212.51.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The iPhone maker reported $1.57 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.43 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $94.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $88.64 billion. Apple had a return on equity of 170.91% and a net margin of 24.30%.The firm's revenue was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.40 earnings per share.

Apple Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 14th. Investors of record on Monday, August 11th were issued a $0.26 dividend. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 11th. Apple's payout ratio is 15.78%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Deirdre O'brien sold 34,821 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.20, for a total transaction of $7,772,047.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 136,687 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,508,538.40. This represents a 20.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.06% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of AAPL. Advanced Portfolio Management LLC increased its position in Apple by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Advanced Portfolio Management LLC now owns 13,815 shares of the iPhone maker's stock worth $3,260,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Baker Boyer National Bank grew its stake in shares of Apple by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Baker Boyer National Bank now owns 18,011 shares of the iPhone maker's stock worth $3,695,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the period. Beddow Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in Apple by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Beddow Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,597 shares of the iPhone maker's stock worth $533,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Salus Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in Apple by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. Salus Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,310 shares of the iPhone maker's stock valued at $291,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the period. Finally, Red Tortoise LLC raised its stake in Apple by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Red Tortoise LLC now owns 5,717 shares of the iPhone maker's stock valued at $1,173,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the period. 67.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Apple

Apple Inc designs, manufactures, and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables, and accessories worldwide. The company offers iPhone, a line of smartphones; Mac, a line of personal computers; iPad, a line of multi-purpose tablets; and wearables, home, and accessories comprising AirPods, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats products, and HomePod.

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