Apple Inc. $AAPL Shares Bought by Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC

Key Points

• Baker Ellis Asset Management increased its Apple holdings by 46% in the third quarter, adding 20,833 shares for a total of 66,136 shares valued at approximately $20.8 million. Institutional investors collectively own 67.73% of Apple’s stock.
• Apple reported quarterly earnings of $2.02 per share, exceeding 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.
• Apple shares were trading near their 52-week high at $347.73, with a forward-looking valuation near 40 times earnings. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus, but execution challenges, insider selling and valuation risks remain key concerns.

Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL - Free Report) by 46.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 66,136 shares of the iPhone maker's stock after buying an additional 20,833 shares during the period. Apple comprises approximately 2.2% of Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest holding. Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC's holdings in Apple were worth $20,807,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Berkshire Hathaway Inc bought a new position in shares of Apple in the 2nd quarter worth $65,950,297,000. Bank of America Corp DE purchased a new stake in shares of Apple during the 2nd quarter worth $36,986,090,000. Legal & General Group Plc bought a new stake in Apple during the second quarter valued at about $30,443,242,000. Deutsche Bank AG bought a new stake in Apple during the second quarter valued at about $13,658,359,000. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Apple during the second quarter valued at about $10,588,946,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.73% of the company's stock.

Apple Trading Down 0.1%

Apple stock opened at $347.73 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $329.75 and a two-hundred day moving average of $309.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 1.00. Apple Inc. has a one year low of $243.42 and a one year high of $351.73. The stock has a market cap of $5.07 trillion, a PE ratio of 39.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 1.07.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The iPhone maker reported $2.02 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.89 by $0.13. Apple had a return on equity of 135.46% and a net margin of 27.62%. The business had revenue of $109.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $109.04 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.57 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 16.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Apple Inc. will post 8.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Apple Announces Dividend

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

Key Headlines Impacting Apple

Here are the key news stories impacting Apple this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Strong iPhone Duo demand is the primary catalyst. The foldable phone launched globally Friday amid long lines, limited store inventory and reports that preorders are backordered into 2027. Supply-chain reports indicate Apple raised its first-year shipment target by 44%, to roughly 14 million units. The premium product could expand Apple’s addressable market and support revenue growth. Apple fans react as iPhone Duo hits stores
• Positive Sentiment: The launch strengthens Apple’s broader hardware and services roadmap. Analysts are evaluating whether the Duo can drive accessory, software and services revenue, while potential touchscreen Macs, smart-home products and an Apple-Schneider Electric energy-management partnership provide additional growth opportunities. Will Apple take over the smart home
• Positive Sentiment: Apple briefly reclaimed the title of world’s most valuable public company. AAPL approached or surpassed Nvidia’s approximately $5 trillion valuation as Nvidia shares weakened during a broader AI-stock selloff. Investors are treating Apple’s substantial cash generation and lower AI infrastructure spending as a relative safe haven. Apple tops Nvidia in market value
• Neutral Sentiment: The next major test is earnings. Apple’s fiscal fourth-quarter results are expected November 2, with investors looking for evidence that iPhone Duo demand, holiday sales and margins justify a stock trading near 40 times earnings. Analysts remain broadly constructive, but the average price target is close to recent trading levels.
• Negative Sentiment: Execution and valuation risks remain significant. Some early users have reported cracked foldable screens, while reviews cite first-generation glitches, a $2,000 price and limitations involving the camera and apps. These issues could affect returns, customer satisfaction and adoption.
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling adds a modest cautionary signal. Senior Vice President Jennifer Newstead sold approximately $815,000 of AAPL shares, following several similar sales. The transaction is small relative to Apple’s size but may reinforce concerns that the stock has become expensive.

Insider Activity at Apple

In other Apple news, SVP Jennifer Newstead sold 2,399 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $336.18, for a total transaction of $806,495.82. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 41,992 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,116,870.56. This represents a 5.40% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Deirdre O'brien sold 46,389 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $333.42, for a total transaction of $15,467,020.38. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 136,810 shares in the company, valued at $45,615,190.20. The trade was a 25.32% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 286,853 shares of company stock valued at $95,477,342. Company insiders own 0.06% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have commented on AAPL shares. CICC Research boosted their target price on shares of Apple from $310.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Evercore set a $380.00 price target on shares of Apple and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, September 18th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Apple in a report on Friday, September 25th. Seaport Research Partners downgraded shares of Apple from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, August 17th. Finally, Oppenheimer reaffirmed a "market perform" rating on shares of Apple in a research report on Thursday, September 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-five have assigned a Buy rating, fifteen have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $340.12.

Apple Company Profile

Apple Inc designs, develops and sells 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 applications that support its hardware ecosystem.

Apple's services business includes the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, iCloud, Apple Pay and other subscription, payment and digital-content offerings.

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