New York, Jan 9, 2026, 16:05 EST — After-hours
- Apple shares closed up 0.13% at $259.37, ending a seven-session losing streak
- Evercore lifted its Apple target to $330 and raised quarterly estimates ahead of results later this month
- Apple and Chase set a roughly 24-month timeline to shift the Apple Card portfolio from Goldman Sachs
Apple Inc shares (AAPL.O) rose 0.13% to $259.37 at the close on Friday, snapping a seven-session losing streak. The stock traded between $256.27 and $260.20. (Investing)
The move matters because Apple is heading into quarterly results with investors split on whether iPhone demand is holding up well enough to protect pricing and margins. After a rough run into the new year, the stock has started reacting more sharply to analyst calls and services-related headlines.
Evercore ISI raised its price target on Apple to $330 from $325 and reiterated an “Outperform” rating on Friday, lifting its quarterly revenue and earnings estimates above the Street’s consensus. The firm said demand has leaned toward higher-end iPhones, which can lift average selling prices — the amount customers pay per phone — while flagging that gross margin, a key profitability measure, may face pressure later depending on component agreements. (Investing)
Evercore analyst Amit Daryanani said “there is near-term upside to AAPL estimates,” Barron’s reported. In a separate note cited by the publication, Mizuho Securities forecast an 8% drop in iPhone sales in 2026, pointing to a slower smartphone market and more price-sensitive buyers.
Apple and JPMorgan Chase’s Chase unit said this week that Chase will become the new issuer of Apple Card, with an expected transition in about 24 months; Mastercard will remain the payment network. “Chase shares our commitment to innovation,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, in a joint statement. (JPMorgan Chase)
A regulatory filing showed Apple’s CEO Tim Cook received total compensation of $74,294,811 for 2025, largely tied to stock awards, and the company set its 2026 annual meeting for Feb. 24 in a virtual format. The filing also laid out management proposals, including the advisory vote on executive pay.
U.S. equities rallied after data showed employers added 50,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate eased to 4.4%, the Labor Department said. The S&P 500 closed at a record and Treasury yields fell, with “investors … getting granular and picking the winners and losers,” said Zachary Hill, head of portfolio management at Horizon Investments. (Reuters)
But Apple still has to deliver clean numbers and steady margins to keep the bounce from fading, especially if rates swing again. Traders are also bracing for next week’s U.S. CPI report on Jan. 13 and the Federal Reserve’s Jan. 27-28 policy meeting, both potential triggers for megacap tech.
Next up for Apple is its fiscal first-quarter results conference call on Jan. 29 at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET). Investors will be listening for iPhone demand signals, services momentum and any fresh detail on the Apple Card transition timeline.
