4,674 Apple Inc. $AAPL Shares Bought by Wellington Altus USA Inc.

Key Points

• Wellington Altus USA increased its Apple stake by 78.4% in the second quarter, purchasing 4,674 additional shares and bringing its holdings to 10,633 shares valued at approximately $3.08 million.
• Apple reported quarterly EPS of $2.02, beating estimates of $1.89, while revenue rose 16.4% year over year to $109.42 billion. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.27 per share.
• Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and a $340.39 price target, although insiders have sold shares recently and some analysts cite competitive and demand-related risks.

Wellington Altus USA Inc. increased its holdings in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL - Free Report) by 78.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 10,633 shares of the iPhone maker's stock after acquiring an additional 4,674 shares during the period. Apple comprises 2.0% of Wellington Altus USA Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th biggest holding. Wellington Altus USA Inc.'s holdings in Apple were worth $3,077,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sterling Wealth Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Apple by 0.3% in the second quarter. Sterling Wealth Management Inc. now owns 11,579 shares of the iPhone maker's stock worth $3,351,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares during the last quarter. Evansbrook LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Apple by 0.4% in the first quarter. Evansbrook LLC now owns 8,095 shares of the iPhone maker's stock valued at $2,054,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. JMG Financial Group Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Apple by 0.7% during the first quarter. JMG Financial Group Ltd. now owns 5,102 shares of the iPhone maker's stock valued at $1,295,000 after buying an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Advocate Investing Services LLC boosted its position in shares of Apple by 0.5% during the second quarter. Advocate Investing Services LLC now owns 7,847 shares of the iPhone maker's stock valued at $2,271,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Apple by 2.0% during the first quarter. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC now owns 2,029 shares of the iPhone maker's stock valued at $515,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.73% of the company's stock.

Apple Stock Up 1.3%

AAPL stock opened at $340.97 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $4.98 trillion, a P/E ratio of 39.10, a P/E/G ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $323.36 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $303.99. Apple Inc. has a 1-year low of $243.42 and a 1-year high of $345.34.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The iPhone maker reported $2.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.89 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $109.42 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $109.04 billion. Apple had a return on equity of 135.46% and a net margin of 27.62%. The business's revenue was up 16.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.57 EPS. Analysts expect that Apple Inc. will post 8.75 EPS for the current year.

Apple Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 13th. Investors of record on Monday, August 10th were given a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 10th. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. Apple's dividend payout ratio is presently 12.39%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on AAPL shares. China Renaissance lowered Apple from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and lowered their price target for the company from $329.00 to $280.00 in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. CICC Research raised their price objective on Apple from $310.00 to $340.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Piper Sandler began coverage on shares of Apple in a report on Monday, August 17th. They set an "overweight" rating on the stock. Daiwa Securities Group lifted their price objective on shares of Apple from $325.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. Finally, Oppenheimer reiterated a "market perform" rating on shares of Apple in a research note on Thursday, September 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-five have issued a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $340.39.

Trending Headlines about Apple

Here are the key news stories impacting Apple this week:

• Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan raised its Apple price target from $340 to $360 and maintained an “Overweight” rating, citing improved iPhone 18 Pro demand. Bank of America reiterated its Buy rating and kept a $370 target, viewing potential Starlink competition as manageable. Apple Stock Climbs as JPMorgan Lifts Target, BofA Reiterates Buy
• Positive Sentiment: Apple reportedly reached a 22% share of the global smartphone market in the third quarter, supported by premium iPhone 18 Pro demand despite an overall industry shipment decline. Reports of strong orders for a new foldable iPhone also provided an additional growth narrative. Apple Stock Nears Record High as iPhone Market Share Hits 22%
• Positive Sentiment: Investors are anticipating Apple’s expanded smart-home strategy, including a rumored HomeView hub and updated Apple TV and HomePod mini. A successful launch could strengthen Apple’s ecosystem and open a new product category. Will the HomeView Be Apple’s First Smart Home Success?
• Neutral Sentiment: CEO succession is proceeding with John Ternus replacing Tim Cook, while Cook becomes executive chairman. Apple also met with Chinese officials, underscoring the importance of maintaining stable business and trade relations in its largest overseas market. Tim Cook Meets China’s Vice Premier
• Negative Sentiment: SpaceX’s planned Starlink mobile service could pressure wireless-carrier subsidies that support iPhone sales and eventually create a competing smartphone ecosystem. SpaceX’s Starlink Could Pose Risks to Apple
• Negative Sentiment: Reported supplier order reductions and rising memory costs are renewing concerns about iPhone 18 demand and margins. Google’s integration of wearable data with more than 160 lab tests also increases competition for Apple’s health-platform advantage. iPhone 18 Demand and Supplier Order Cuts

Insider Activity at Apple

In other Apple news, SVP Jennifer Newstead sold 2,399 shares of Apple stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $336.18, for a total value of $806,495.82. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 41,992 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $14,116,870.56. The trade was a 5.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO John Ternus sold 25,412 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $332.94, for a total transaction of $8,460,671.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 59,567 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,832,236.98. The trade was a 29.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Insiders have sold a total of 279,383 shares of company stock worth $92,912,517 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.06% of the company's stock.

Apple Profile

Apple Inc is a technology company that designs, develops and markets consumer electronics, software and digital services. Its best-known products include the iPhone smartphone, Mac personal computers, iPad tablets, Apple Watch, AirPods and other accessories. The company also develops operating systems and software platforms, including iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS and visionOS.

Apple's services business includes the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+ and iCloud.

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