Apple Inc. $AAPL Shares Sold by Defender Capital LLC.

Defender Capital LLC. decreased its position in shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL - Free Report) by 34.8% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 4,695 shares of the iPhone maker's stock after selling 2,501 shares during the quarter. Apple makes up about 0.4% of Defender Capital LLC.'s holdings, making the stock its 15th largest position. Defender Capital LLC.'s holdings in Apple were worth $1,032,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Conquis Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Apple during the fourth quarter worth about $63,000. LSV Asset Management purchased a new position in shares of Apple during the fourth quarter worth about $65,000. Pillar Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Apple during the fourth quarter worth about $82,000. Compass Planning Associates Inc purchased a new position in shares of Apple during the fourth quarter worth about $96,000. Finally, Sellwood Investment Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Apple during the fourth quarter worth about $147,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.73% of the company's stock.

Apple Price Performance

Shares of Apple stock traded down $4.2250 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $226.3350. 21,412,486 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 57,531,371. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. Apple Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $169.21 and a fifty-two week high of $260.10. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.36 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.35, a P/E/G ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.16. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $210.83 and a 200 day moving average price of $213.06.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The iPhone maker reported $1.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.43 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $94.04 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $88.64 billion. Apple had a return on equity of 170.91% and a net margin of 24.30%.The company's quarterly revenue was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.40 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Apple Inc. will post 7.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Apple Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 11th were issued a $0.26 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 11th. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. Apple's payout ratio is 15.78%.

Apple declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, May 1st that allows the company to repurchase $100.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the iPhone maker to repurchase up to 3.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wedbush reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $270.00 price target on shares of Apple in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Apple from $240.00 to $245.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, August 1st. Evercore ISI reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $250.00 price objective on shares of Apple in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a "hold" rating on shares of Apple in a report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on Apple from $173.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday, August 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $237.60.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Apple news, SVP Deirdre O'brien sold 34,821 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.20, for a total value of $7,772,047.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 136,687 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,508,538.40. The trade was a 20.30% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.06% of the company's stock.

Apple Company Profile

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.