New York, Jan 28, 2026, 09:45 (ET) — Regular session
- Apple shares barely moved in early trading as investors braced for Thursday’s earnings report
- Wall Street is hunting for clues on whether the iPhone’s holiday quarter stayed strong, factoring in services too
- Traders are keeping an eye on Apple’s AI initiatives as well as the wider “Magnificent Seven” earnings season
Apple shares edged up roughly 0.04% to $258.37 in early New York trading Wednesday, after hitting a session high of $258.95.
The stock stands as one of the market’s most powerful drivers, with its earnings report due this week amid a backdrop where investors seek confirmation that megacap profits will continue to carry indexes. “Expectations are very high,” noted Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial. Reuters
Pressure is mounting ahead of the Federal Reserve’s rate announcement later Wednesday, with investors keenly eyeing Chair Jerome Powell for clues on the next move. Earlier, U.S. stock futures suggested the S&P 500 might open at fresh highs, buoyed by gains in semiconductor stocks.
Apple’s holiday-quarter earnings on Thursday will be the immediate focus, with analysts predicting the strongest iPhone sales growth in over four years, driven by demand for premium Pro models—even before new AI features fully roll out. Reuters reported Apple’s biggest AI move yet: partnering with Alphabet’s Google Gemini to overhaul Siri. Stonehage Fleming fund manager Gerrit Smit noted, “Apple can probably generate a positive return on very little AI investment, thanks to its distribution.” Reuters
Apple’s sizable presence in the Dow has kept the stock front and center in the index’s swings this week. Its recent sharp rally played a big role in driving the blue-chip average higher in the session before.
On the Street, sentiment is split ahead of the earnings release. Jefferies lowered its price target, while JPMorgan raised theirs, Investor’s Business Daily noted. Analysts remain divided over whether robust iPhone sales are fully priced in and if services growth will stay steady.
JPMorgan lifted its price target on Apple to $315 from $305, maintaining an Overweight rating, per Investing.com. Remember, a “price target” reflects where analysts see the stock heading, not a promise. Investing.com
Costs remain unpredictable. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo highlighted that memory prices are climbing, driven by supply shifting toward AI hardware. Apple is working to hold down prices despite pricier components, The Verge reported.
There are other risks, too. Regulatory pushback in Europe over App Store rules still looms large. Any sign margins are under pressure—or that demand is slipping in crucial markets—could quickly weigh on a stock priced for perfection.
Apple’s fiscal first-quarter earnings drop Thursday, Jan. 29, with the conference call slated for 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET, per the company’s investor relations page.
