Lowe Brockenbrough & Co. Inc. Grows Position in Apple Inc. $AAPL

Key Points

• Lowe Brockenbrough & Co. increased its Apple position by 1.1% in the first quarter, bringing its holdings to 279,895 shares valued at approximately $71 million. Institutional investors collectively own 67.73% of Apple.
• Apple exceeded quarterly expectations with adjusted earnings of $2.02 per share and revenue of $109.42 billion, up 16.4% year over year. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.27 per share, representing a 0.3% yield.
• Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $330.44, though concerns include Apple’s high valuation, component costs, supply risks and uncertainty around its AI strategy.

Lowe Brockenbrough & Co. Inc. lifted its position in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL - Free Report) by 1.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 279,895 shares of the iPhone maker's stock after buying an additional 2,913 shares during the period. Apple makes up about 3.5% of Lowe Brockenbrough & Co. Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 3rd largest position. Lowe Brockenbrough & Co. Inc.'s holdings in Apple were worth $71,035,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of AAPL. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. purchased a new stake in shares of Apple during the 4th quarter valued at $41,000. ROSS JOHNSON & Associates LLC boosted its position in shares of Apple by 1,800.0% in the 1st quarter. ROSS JOHNSON & Associates LLC now owns 190 shares of the iPhone maker's stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 180 shares in the last quarter. LSV Asset Management purchased a new position in Apple during the 4th quarter worth $65,000. Timmons Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Apple during the 4th quarter worth $69,000. Finally, Inspire Investing LLC acquired a new position in Apple during the 4th quarter valued at about $76,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.73% of the company's stock.

Apple Trading Up 2.0%

NASDAQ AAPL opened at $309.46 on Wednesday. Apple Inc. has a 1 year low of $202.16 and a 1 year high of $344.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.93. The company has a market capitalization of $4.52 trillion, a PE ratio of 35.49, a P/E/G ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a fifty day moving average of $309.42 and a 200 day moving average of $282.24.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL - Get Free Report) last announced 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. The company had revenue of $109.42 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $109.04 billion. Apple had a return on equity of 135.46% and a net margin of 27.62%.The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 16.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.57 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Apple Inc. will post 8.76 earnings per share for the current year.

Apple Announces Dividend

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

Trending Headlines about Apple

Here are the key news stories impacting Apple this week:

• Positive Sentiment: India proposed extending tax exemptions for equipment suppliers to contract manufacturers through 2041. The policy could support Apple’s effort to expand iPhone production in India and reduce reliance on China. India proposes extending tax breaks for contract manufacturing in a boost for Apple
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and bullish investors argue that Apple’s capital-light AI strategy could eventually pay off through its enormous installed base, device upgrades and Services ecosystem, without the infrastructure spending burden faced by hyperscalers. Apple’s AI Strategy Looks Different—Will It Pay Off?
• Positive Sentiment: Apple’s acquisition of PlasmaSolve could improve manufacturing simulations, device coatings and production yields, potentially supporting thinner and stronger future hardware. AAPL Stock Alert: What to Know as Apple Acquires PlasmaSolve
• Neutral Sentiment: Apple asked a U.S. court to block OpenAI and two former employees from using alleged trade secrets. OpenAI has responded by calling the case careless and publishing private communications; the dispute could affect OpenAI’s hardware plans but remains legally unresolved. Apple seeks preliminary injunction against OpenAI in trade secrets case
• Neutral Sentiment: Apple is also challenging a U.K. demand for access to encrypted user data. A favorable outcome could protect its privacy positioning, while prolonged regulatory litigation creates uncertainty. Apple launches fresh legal challenge against UK encrypted data access demand
• Negative Sentiment: The strongest pressure remains financial: Apple exceeded quarterly EPS and revenue estimates, but its outlook was viewed as disappointing. Higher memory and component costs, supply constraints, a Services revenue miss and delayed Apple Intelligence features have undermined confidence in near-term growth.
• Negative Sentiment: China Renaissance, DZ Bank and Phillip Securities downgraded AAPL, citing persistent memory inflation, supply risks and uncertainty over Apple Intelligence returns. With the stock trading around 35 times earnings and a PEG ratio above 2.6, investors are demanding substantial growth to justify the valuation.
• Negative Sentiment: The CEO transition adds execution risk. While some coverage views Cook’s departure as a well-prepared succession, investors will watch whether John Ternus can accelerate AI development and sustain Apple’s growth momentum.

Insider Transactions at Apple

In other Apple news, insider Ben Borders sold 1,274 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $290.00, for a total value of $369,460.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 38,713 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $11,226,770. The trade was a 3.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.06% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Rosenblatt Securities raised their price target on Apple from $276.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Apple in a report on Monday, June 8th. Phillip Securities lowered shares of Apple from a "hold" rating to a "moderate sell" rating in a research report on Monday. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $360.00 target price (down from $370.00) on shares of Apple in a research note on Friday. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Apple from $350.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $330.44.

About Apple

Apple Inc NASDAQ: AAPL is a multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. The company designs, develops and sells consumer electronics, software and services. Over its history Apple has evolved from personal computers to a broad portfolio that spans mobile devices, wearables, home entertainment and digital services.

Apple's principal hardware products include the iPhone smartphone, iPad tablet, Mac personal computers, Apple Watch wearable devices and a range of accessories such as AirPods and HomePod.

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