Updated: December 5, 2025
Apple’s next earnings report is already circled on Wall Street’s calendar — and search interest in “AAPL earnings date” is spiking as traders position for what could be one of the most closely watched results of the season.
Here’s a detailed, news-style look at when Apple reports earnings next, what analysts are expecting, and the key storylines that could move AAPL stock.
When is Apple’s next (AAPL) earnings date?
As of December 5, 2025, Apple’s next earnings report is widely expected on Thursday, January 29, 2026, covering its fiscal Q1 2026 (the December 2025 holiday quarter).
- Several major earnings calendars, including MarketBeat, Quartr and multiple broker platforms, list January 29, 2026 as the next Apple earnings date, typically “after market close” with a 5:00 p.m. ET conference call. [1]
- Public.com’s earnings page also highlights Jan. 29, 2026 as the scheduled date, noting it as the next earnings call for AAPL. [2]
- A recent Yahoo Finance article similarly states that Apple is set to report Q1 2026 earnings on January 29, 2026, reinforcing the consensus. [3]
Important nuance:
Apple has not yet posted a Q1 2026 earnings press release or event listing on its own investor relations homepage. The date is therefore treated as “estimated/unconfirmed” by data providers, even though they overwhelmingly agree on Thursday, January 29, 2026, after the close. [4]
For investors and traders, that means:
- Expect the headline earnings release shortly after 4:30 p.m. ET.
- Expect the AAPL earnings call livestream around 5:00 p.m. ET on Apple’s Investor Relations site, consistent with previous quarters. [5]
Snapshot: Key details about the next AAPL earnings date
- Company: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL)
- Expected earnings date:Thursday, January 29, 2026 (unconfirmed but broadly estimated) [6]
- Fiscal period:Q1 2026 (quarter ending December 2025) [7]
- Report time: After U.S. market close
- Earnings call: ~5:00 p.m. ET webcast via Apple Investor Relations [8]
What Wall Street expects from Apple’s Q1 2026 earnings
Consensus EPS: Around $2.65–$2.67
Across major data providers, analysts are clustered around mid‑$2.60s EPS for Apple’s holiday quarter:
- Nasdaq shows a consensus EPS forecast of about $2.65 for the fiscal quarter ending December 2025. [9]
- Zacks and related feeds list a current-quarter estimate near $2.65, with Q1 EPS growth projected at roughly 10% year over year. [10]
- MarketWatch highlights a “current quarter” EPS estimate of $2.67 for AAPL. [11]
- TipRanks similarly pegs the next quarter EPS estimate at around $2.67, with a range from roughly $2.51 to $2.90. [12]
Taken together, the Street is effectively pricing in EPS of about $2.65–$2.67, up from the $2.40 Apple delivered in last year’s Q1 2025. [13]
That implies EPS growth of roughly 11% year over year if Apple hits expectations.
Consensus revenue: Around $137–$138 billion
On the top line, analysts are also looking for double‑digit growth:
- Yahoo Finance’s analyst estimates page shows an average revenue estimate around $138.0 billion for the current quarter, with forecasts mostly clustered between roughly $136.7 billion and $140.7 billion. [14]
- TipRanks’ sales forecast sits slightly lower but in the same ballpark, with a next-quarter revenue estimate of about $137.2 billion and a wide range (~$115.8–$139.3 billion). [15]
For comparison, Apple reported $124.3 billion in revenue in Q1 2025, an all‑time record at the time. [16]
If consensus proves accurate, Apple would be posting roughly 10–11% year‑over‑year revenue growth in the upcoming Q1 2026 report.
Full‑year FY 2026 outlook
Looking beyond the single quarter:
- MarketBeat and Nasdaq data show full‑year EPS estimates in the low $8 range, implying low double‑digit earnings growth for Apple in fiscal 2026. [17]
- Zacks similarly lists a current‑year estimate near $8.1–$8.2 per share, with forecast EPS growth in the high single to low double digits. [18]
In other words, Wall Street is penciling in a return to solid, if not explosive, earnings growth after a more muted stretch.
How Apple performed last quarter (Q4 2025)
The most recent earnings report — Apple’s fiscal Q4 2025, released on October 30, 2025 — set the tone for the optimism heading into Q1 2026.
According to Apple’s official press release:
- Revenue:$102.5 billion, up 8% year over year, a September‑quarter record. [19]
- Diluted EPS:$1.85, up roughly 13% year over year on an adjusted basis and a record for the quarter. [20]
- Services revenue: Hit an all‑time high around $28.8 billion, continuing a streak of record services performance. [21]
- Full‑year FY 2025 revenue: Around $416 billion, an all‑time high for the company. [22]
Independent summaries from Zacks, Nasdaq and others noted that Apple beat EPS estimates by roughly 6–7% and revenue estimates by around 1–2%, underlining a clean beat on both lines. [23]
Investopedia reported that iPhone 17 demand, especially in the premium tiers, drove iPhone revenue to roughly $49 billion in the quarter, while services revenue reached around $28.75 billion. Apple’s upbeat guidance for the holiday period helped push its market capitalization back above $4 trillion, making it the world’s second‑most valuable public company behind Nvidia. [24]
The backdrop: iPhone 17, China, and services reshape expectations
iPhone 17 and a “phenomenal turnaround” in China
Perhaps the single biggest swing factor heading into the January 29, 2026 AAPL earnings date is the performance of iPhone 17.
Recent data from IDC, highlighted by Business Insider, shows: [25]
- Apple is experiencing a “phenomenal turnaround” in China, with iPhone 17 driving a return to growth.
- Apple is projected to lead smartphone shipments in China for 2025, reversing a previously expected 1% decline into an estimated 3% growth.
- In October and November, Apple is estimated to have held over 20% market share in China’s smartphone market, a sharp improvement after a weak first quarter.
Globally, IDC now expects Apple to ship around 247 million iPhones in 2025, about 6% growth and an all‑time high, according to Investopedia’s summary of the data. [26]
That resurgence has been mirrored in the stock:
- Apple shares recently hit record highs around $287–$289, helped by booming iPhone 17 demand. [27]
- Since early October, AAPL has climbed roughly 16%, outpacing most of the other “Magnificent Seven” names over that stretch. [28]
For Q1 2026, some analysts are now modeling double‑digit iPhone sales growth, with Barron’s citing forecasts of roughly 11% iPhone growth in the holiday quarter. [29]
Services cross $100 billion and face new regulatory risks
While iPhone 17 grabs headlines, services are increasingly the profit engine behind Apple’s numbers.
The Financial Times recently reported that Apple is poised to surpass $100 billion in annual services revenue for the first time, with analysts estimating about $108.6 billion for the fiscal year that just ended, up roughly 13% year over year. [30]
Key points from that reporting and company data:
- Services now contribute around 25% of Apple’s total revenue but as much as 50% of its profit, thanks to gross margins estimated near 75%. [31]
- Over the last five years, the services segment has roughly doubled in size, fueled by the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music, AppleCare, payments and subscriptions. [32]
However, this growth comes with increasing antitrust and regulatory scrutiny in the U.S., U.K. and EU around issues like App Store fees and ecosystem control. [33]
Investors will be closely watching Q1 2026 services growth for signs that:
- Growth can stay in the low‑ to mid‑teens despite tougher comparisons. [34]
- Regulatory changes do not significantly dent margins or subscription momentum. [35]
AI, Apple Intelligence and the long‑term narrative
Apple’s AI story is still developing — and critics spent much of early 2025 arguing that Apple was late to the AI race compared with rivals. [36]
But recent quarters have shown a shift:
- In Q3 2025, Apple reported record revenue of about $94 billion and EPS of $1.57, beating expectations. CEO Tim Cook emphasized a significant ramp‑up in AI investments, including reallocated staff and higher capital spending. [37]
- Analysts noted Apple’s plans to roll out an AI‑enhanced Siri and deeper Apple Intelligence integration in 2026, though some warned that delays could limit near‑term iPhone upgrade incentives. [38]
Wall Street’s view is mixed but improving:
- Some banks, including JPMorgan and Citi, have raised price targets on Apple, highlighting AI as a multi‑year driver of iPhone and services demand once the software is fully rolled out. [39]
- Others remain more cautious, pointing to valuation and execution risk, especially if AI features slip again or fail to resonate with consumers. [40]
The upcoming January 29, 2026 earnings call will be scrutinized for:
- Updated commentary on Apple Intelligence adoption,
- The timeline for broader Siri upgrades, and
- Any signals about AI‑driven hardware refresh cycles heading into late 2026.
How much could AAPL move around the earnings date?
Options traders typically treat Apple earnings as a moderately volatile event, but not a meme‑stock‑style earthquake.
- MarketChameleon’s historical analysis suggests that options markets have often priced in about a 4% one‑day move around AAPL earnings, while the actual average move has been closer to ~2.8% in recent quarters. [41]
- A July 2025 options preview from Yahoo Finance showed traders expecting about a 4% swing in either direction into Apple’s Q3 2025 report, while the average post‑earnings move over the prior four quarters was around 2%. [42]
Recent data from OptionsAI confirms that the average realized one‑day move after Apple earnings over the last several reports has been under 3%, even when implied moves were higher. [43]
For the upcoming Q1 2026 earnings date, implied volatility will evolve as January approaches, but traders can reasonably expect options to price in a low‑ to mid‑single‑digit percentage move in the stock for the day after the report.
What analysts are watching heading into the Q1 2026 AAPL earnings date
1. Holiday iPhone 17 demand and China momentum
The top question: Did Apple deliver the “best holiday quarter in its history”?
- After Q4 2025, Apple guided to December‑quarter revenue growth of about 10–12%, above consensus at the time. [44]
- IDC’s latest data suggests iPhone 17 has rekindled demand both in China and globally, with shipments expected to reach 247 million units in 2025 and double‑digit holiday growth in many geographies. [45]
On the call, expect analysts to probe:
- Whether iPhone 17 strength is broad‑based or skewed to high‑end Pro models,
- Sustainability of the China rebound, given intense competition from local brands, and
- Early read‑through for the 2026 iPhone cycle and any AI‑driven upgrade super‑cycle.
2. Services growth and regulatory overhang
Services have been the steadiest driver of Apple’s EPS expansion:
- Q3 and Q4 2025 both featured record services revenue, with mid‑teens growth and industry‑leading margins. [46]
For Q1 2026, the Street will be focused on:
- Whether services can maintain low‑teens or better growth,
- Any early impact from regulatory or platform changes, especially in Europe,
- Trends in paid subscriptions, App Store billings and advertising. [47]
3. Mac, iPad and “other products” (including Vision Pro)
Although the iPhone and services dominate, Apple’s smaller segments still matter for upside or downside surprises:
- In Q3 2025, Mac sales rose 15% year‑over‑year, while iPad sales dipped 8%, according to recent earnings coverage. [48]
- Wearables and home devices remain sensitive to consumer spending and product refresh timing.
Q1 is historically strong for Mac and iPad given holiday demand, so any unexpected weakness could weigh on the stock, while better‑than‑expected Mac or Vision Pro trends would likely be read positively.
4. Margins, buybacks and cash returns
Apple’s ability to expand margins while returning cash to shareholders is a key part of the long‑term bull case:
- Recent quarters have shown gross margins above 47%, an unusually high level for the company. [49]
- Apple has continued to execute one of the largest share repurchase programs in history, with analysts estimating cumulative cash returns approaching $1 trillion over the coming years. [50]
Investors will be looking for:
- Any guidance about margin trajectory amid currency headwinds and tariffs, [51]
- Updates to buyback and dividend plans, and
- Commentary on the company’s capital allocation priorities, particularly around AI infrastructure.
Is Apple stock expensive heading into the earnings date?
Valuation is front‑and‑center for many AAPL watchers:
- MarketBeat and other data sources put Apple’s trailing P/E in the mid‑30s, with forward earnings growth expected in the low double digits. [52]
- TradingView data shows Apple trading at roughly 34× expected 2026 earnings, a premium to some mega‑cap peers but supported by strong free‑cash‑flow forecasts (FCF projected at over 100% of earnings in 2026–2029). [53]
- TipRanks pegs the average 12‑month price target near $292, only a few percent above recent prices, signaling that many analysts view the stock as fairly valued to slightly expensive after its latest rally. [54]
For long‑term investors, the January 29, 2026 AAPL earnings date may be less about a short‑term “beat or miss,” and more about whether Apple can justify its premium valuation with:
- Sustained double‑digit revenue and EPS growth,
- A credible AI roadmap, and
- Continued dominance in premium smartphones and high‑margin services.
How to follow Apple’s Q1 2026 earnings on January 29
If you want to follow the AAPL earnings date in real time, here’s the typical playbook based on prior quarters: [55]
- Before 4:30 p.m. ET
- Apple’s stock trades normally on the NASDAQ.
- Options and short‑term speculators position ahead of the release.
- Around 4:30–4:40 p.m. ET
- Apple posts its earnings press release to the Newsroom and Investor Relations sites.
- Headline numbers (revenue, EPS, guidance) hit financial news wires and trading terminals.
- 5:00 p.m. ET – Earnings call
- The live earnings call begins, typically accessible via audio webcast on Apple’s Investor Relations page.
- CEO Tim Cook and Apple’s CFO walk through the quarter and give qualitative commentary.
- A Q&A session with Wall Street analysts follows, often revealing more detail on product mix, regional performance, tariffs, AI, and regulatory issues.
- After-hours trading
- AAPL can move significantly in extended hours based on the results and commentary, with the bulk of the reaction usually visible by the end of the call.
Always double‑check the exact webcast link and any updated timing on Apple’s official Investor Relations site closer to the date, in case of last‑minute changes. [56]
Quick FAQ: AAPL earnings date and expectations
When is Apple’s next earnings report?
Apple’s next earnings report is expected on Thursday, January 29, 2026, covering fiscal Q1 2026 (the December 2025 holiday quarter). The date is widely used by earnings calendars but remains formally unconfirmed by Apple as of December 5, 2025. [57]
What time does AAPL report earnings?
Apple typically releases numbers after the market close, with the earnings call starting at 5:00 p.m. ET. That pattern is expected to continue for the Q1 2026 report. [58]
What is the consensus EPS for Apple’s Q1 2026 earnings?
Most estimates cluster around $2.65–$2.67 in EPS, implying about 10–11% year‑over‑year growth versus the $2.40 earned in Q1 2025. [59]
What is the consensus revenue estimate?
Analysts expect roughly $137–$138 billion in revenue, up about 10–11% year over year from Q1 2025’s $124.3 billion. [60]
How volatile is AAPL around earnings?
Historically, Apple tends to move around 2–3% on average in the trading day after earnings, even when options markets price in around a 4% move. [61]
What are the main things that could move the stock on January 29, 2026?
- Whether iPhone 17 holiday demand meets or beats lofty expectations
- The trajectory of services growth and any regulatory updates
- Concrete progress on AI and Apple Intelligence
- Margin performance, buyback pace and guidance for the rest of FY 2026
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation to buy or sell any security, or a guarantee of future performance. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial adviser before making investment decisions.
References
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