New York, Jan 27, 2026, 12:49 (EST) — Trading in the regular session.
Apple Inc shares climbed roughly 2.2% to $260.91 on Tuesday, riding a wider surge in big tech ahead of the iPhone maker’s quarterly earnings report later this week. The stock fluctuated between $256.08 and $261.93 during the session.
Apple will hold its fiscal first-quarter earnings call on Thursday, putting the spotlight on holiday iPhone sales and margin impact from rising costs. Investors want clear answers fast. 1
JPMorgan bumped its Apple price target to $315 from $305, sticking with an Overweight rating—signaling it expects the stock to outperform the market. The firm noted that investor attention has shifted to rising memory costs and Apple’s pricing power. Still, JPMorgan predicts iPhone revenue growth will outpace consensus and sees little margin pressure thanks to supplier contracts. (Gross margin measures the portion of sales remaining after direct production costs.) 2
Jefferies cut its Apple price target to $276.47 from $283.36, maintaining a Hold rating—a neutral signal. Analyst Edison Lee highlighted a slowdown in the services segment, citing Sensor Tower data that showed App Store revenue growth slowing to about 7% in the December quarter, the weakest surge in seven quarters, according to 6 .
Apple’s jump came as the S&P 500 hit a record high and the Nasdaq pushed upward, with investors digesting a packed week of earnings. “This is a chance to see if investors are willing to boost CapEx spending to chase the AI opportunity,” said Art Hogan, market strategist at B. Riley Wealth; CapEx means capital expenditures on equipment and projects. Charlie Ripley, senior investment strategist at Allianz Investment Management, noted he was keeping an eye on “who the dissenters might be” as the Federal Reserve kicked off its two-day policy meeting. 3
New legal pressure is mounting. On Tuesday, UK tech firm Reincubate filed a lawsuit against Apple in New Jersey federal court, accusing the company of violating U.S. antitrust laws and infringing on patented camera technology linked to Apple’s “Continuity Camera” feature. Apple has yet to respond, according to Reuters. 4
Traders see the earnings report as a straightforward gauge: can Apple sustain iPhone momentum without sacrificing too much profitability? Cost and pricing guidance often carries as much weight as the headline revenue figure.
Services, such as the App Store, remain another key factor. Any weaker-than-expected results there might dampen sentiment following the stock’s recent surge ahead of the report.
Apple’s earnings call is set for Jan. 29 at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET). Investors will be watching closely for updates on iPhone sales, services revenue, and profit margins — plus any commentary on the current quarter. 5
