Apple Shares Drop as Jefferies Lowers Target Price to $264 Citing iPhone Margin Concerns
Apple Inc. dropped 1.5% on Monday following a downgrade to Underperform by Jefferies. Analyst Edison Lee also reduced his price target to $263.66 from $285.56.
Apple stock (AAPL) set for $602 billion valuation test after Jefferies downgrade
Shares of Apple Inc. slipped ahead of Wednesday's market open, marking losses for a second consecutive session. A new downgrade from Jefferies shifted focus to Apple's product roadmap as the main point of contention in its valuation, instead of present sales figures.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Sheds About $97 Billion in Market Capitalization After Jefferies Cuts Rating
Apple Inc. lost about $97 billion in market value on Monday following a downgrade from Jefferies, which pointed to worries about iPhone pricing and possible margin pressures.
Dow Jones: Four stocks drive 178-point swing in live session
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped on Monday, pressured by a fall in Apple shares that outweighed advances from Chevron and Microsoft. By 11:51 a.m. EDT, the index was trading 0.09% below its previous close on Friday.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Samsung (KRX:005930) high-end smartphones make up an estimated 24% of global units
Globally, premium smartphones with a wholesale average selling price above $600 accounted for 29% of unit sales in H1 2026. Apple and Samsung together captured 84% of this category. As a result, their premium offerings made up about 24.36% of total smartphone units, increasing from 20.50% in the previous year. Counterpoint’s preliminary rounded shares were used for this calculation.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Shares Shed $500 Billion but Hold Firm on Valuation Premium
Apple shares declined while the broader U.S. market started higher on Wednesday. The company's valuation adjustment is still limited, with its earnings multiple staying above those of three leading technology rivals.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Shares Hover at $303 as Tariff Refunds Account for 85% of Q3 Earnings Beat
Apple Inc. traded lower in Tuesday's premarket, following a fourth consecutive session of declines. On Monday, the stock dropped 1.78% to close at $303.42, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 2.13% that day.
Dow Hits Record High as Oil Declines, Megacap Stocks Surge $537 Billion
U.S. equities jumped on Monday, helped by a drop in oil prices that soothed worries over inflation. The Dow finished at an all-time high, while the S&P 500 ended just 0.1% under its record closing level.
Apple Shares Approach $308 as Services Revenue Miss Spurs Premium Debate
Apple Inc. slipped 0.3% prior to Monday's market open. U.S. regular trading stayed shut. On Friday, 132.5 million shares were traded in a selloff.
Apple shares fall; tariff refunds formed bulk of earnings beat
Apple Inc. lost about $350 billion in market capitalization on Friday. Despite record iPhone sales, investors raised concerns about the sustainability of the earnings beat. The stock closed at $308.91.
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 02.08.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: August 2, 2026, 4:00 AM EDTUpdated: August 3, 2026, 3:59 AM EDT Analyzing Firearm Manufacturing Stocks: Sector Cyclicality, Demand Indicators, and Risk Factors August 3, 2026, 3:54 AM EDT. Shares of firearm manufacturers are notably cyclical among industrials, impacted by both unit shipments and average selling price. Leading firms in the space include Sturm, Ruger & Co. (RGR), Smith & Wesson Brands (SWBI), and Olin Corporation (OLN). Investors often rely on the FBI’s NICS background-check data as a significant, timely indicator of consumer demand and an early tool for revenue projections. This segment is marked by distinctive
Wall Street Ends Higher Ahead of Key Jobs Data That Could Challenge Big-Tech Gains
U.S. cash markets remained shut on Saturday, following a turbulent week that saw gains. Trading will resume in the next standard session on Monday at 9:30 a.m. EDT.
Buffett weighs S&P 500 ETF concentration over $1.29 fee difference
On Thursday, SPY allocated 20.27% of its assets to three stocks. Apple, Nvidia and Microsoft all surpassed the 5% mark. If all three moved 1% in tandem, SPY would shift by roughly 0.20 percentage point, assuming no movement elsewhere.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Shares Drop 7.4% After EPS Beat Largely Attributed to Tariff Refunds
U.S. financial markets did not trade on Saturday. Apple shares finished Friday at $308.91, falling 7.35%. The decline wiped out approximately $358 billion in value. Over the week, the stock dropped 7.2%, while the Nasdaq advanced 1.6%.
S&P 500 Rises 1% Over the Week While AI Impact Leads to Mixed Results Among Major Tech Stocks
Wall Street advanced last week, yet the market rally heightened scrutiny of AI investments. Investors favored strong cloud earnings, while companies with poor cash conversion faced selling pressure.
TS2 TECH • U.S. MARKET
US Stock Market Forecast: Week Ahead
Last updated August 1, 2026 • 05:36 ET / 11:36 CEST • U.S. markets are closed
S&P 500
7,489.72
+1.0% last week
Nasdaq
25,373.85
+1.6% last week
Dow Jones
52,485.03
+1.0% last week
Russell 2000
2,931.34
Less than +0.1% last week
Wall Street moves into August showing a modest positive trend, but stops short of a decisive surge higher. The S&P 500 rose 1.0% over the past week, ending the period 1.6% under its June 2 all-time high. The Nasdaq advanced 1.6%, as small cap stocks remained mostly unchanged.
Near-term bias
Neutral to positive
Neutral to positive
Ideally, hiring remains steady and wage increases stay limited. Strong jobs data may push Treasury yields and rate-hike expectations higher. A significant disappointment could fuel worries about economic growth.
The recovery remains limited in scope
Friday highlighted underlying tension. The S&P 500 climbed 0.7%, yet losing stocks surpassed gainers by 1.3 to 1. A handful of major firms powered the index higher. July ended with the Nasdaq falling 3.2%.
Distance to record
1.6%
The S&P 500 is still near levels that could prompt another test, though broader market participation is needed.
Forward valuation
20×
Projected earnings stand at about 19 times the 10-year average.
Q2 profit growth
+29.3%
S&P 500 earnings growth after adjustments, covering both reported figures and latest projections.
US 10-year yield
4.745%
Friday’s session ended with higher yields continuing to weigh on equity multiples.
September hike odds
67%
Probability of a 25 basis point hike by the Federal Reserve as priced in by the market.
VIX close
15.99
The index slid 6.44% on Friday, even as several individual stocks posted significant swings.
Fed rate: 3.50%–3.75%
The central bank left rates unchanged with a 9–3 vote, as three members called for an immediate quarter-point hike.
Core PCE: 3.3% year on year
Inflation is still higher than the 2% target, making robust labour numbers more difficult for equities to digest.
Leadership division persists
Small caps remain ahead in 2026, yet they missed last week’s rally. The divergence is notable. Sustained gains typically require participation beyond megacaps.
Russell 2000
+18.1%
S&P 500
+9.4%
Nasdaq
+9.2%
Dow Jones
+9.2%
Returns from the beginning of the year up to July 31, 2026. Bar scale ranges from 0% to 20%.
Coming up: August 3–7
The jobs report is the primary focus. Over one in four S&P 500 companies are scheduled to announce results, maintaining elevated single-stock volatility.
August 3
Monday
ISM manufacturing: Expected at 54.0, compared with 53.3 in June.
After markets shut: Palantir (NASDAQ:PLTR).
August 4
Tuesday
Trade deficit: Forecast at $73.0 billion, compared to $77.6 billion.
Job openings: Forecast at 7.5 million, compared to 7.6 million.
Results: Merck (NYSE:MRK), Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT), AMD (NASDAQ:AMD) and SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX).
August 5
Wednesday
ADP jobs: Forecast stands at 75,000, compared with 98,000.
ISM services: Forecast at 54.4, compared to 54.0 previously.
Results: Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) reported earnings.
August 6
Thursday
Initial claims: Forecast was 200,000; actual result was 197,000.
Q2 productivity: Expectations were for 0.7%, compared with 0.3%.
August 7
Friday
Nonfarm payrolls: Forecast at 83,000, compared to 57,000 in June.
Unemployment: Expected at 4.3%, compared to 4.2%.
The wage data could prove just as significant as the overall jobs number.
Three possible market directions
Bull case
Record retest
Payrolls come in around 83,000, with unemployment remaining near 4.3% and Treasury yields slipping from 4.745%. Major companies post strong earnings, supporting the current earnings narrative. The S&P 500 now needs to climb just 1.6% to recover.
Base case
Uneven consolidation
Index gains are underpinned by profit growth, yet a 20-times multiple and 67% chance of a rate hike curb further upside. Major growth stocks are at the forefront, while broader market participation stays uneven.
Bear case
Rates take control
If hiring or wages heat up, oil prices remain high and the 10-year yield climbs, markets may face added strain. A disappointing earnings result from a leading AI or industrial firm could intensify selling, and last week’s gains could be erased.
Risks involved
WTI crude settled at $84.67 on Friday, while Brent ended at $90.12. Fresh tensions between the US and Iran could push energy prices higher and increase inflation forecasts. Rising bond yields may heighten valuation pressures, while a dense earnings calendar adds to gap risk among the biggest index components.
Perspective from investors
The 1.0% weekly rise should not be taken as widespread confirmation. A clearer indication will come next week if yields drop and participation increases. Absent both, any attempt at a record high could stay vulnerable.
U.S. stocks climb as AI-driven surge sidesteps small caps
U.S. equities finished up on Friday, with technology and consumer sectors posting the strongest gains. The S&P 500 advanced 0.70%, and the Nasdaq rose 1.00%. The cash session ended at 4 p.m. EDT.
US Stocks Hold Steady Midday Amid AI-Driven Gains, Treasury Yield Stands at 4.73%
U.S. equities gave up the bulk of their initial gains by midday on Friday as rising Treasury yields offset positive momentum from strong cloud earnings. The S&P 500 was unchanged, while the Nasdaq held a modest lead.
Dow Jones Gains Led by Five Stocks While Broader Market Lags
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained ground on Friday, lifted by a limited cloud-driven recovery. By 12:01 p.m., it had reached 52,396.89, an increase of 188.83 points. U.S. cash markets stayed open.
Apple Shares Slide 7% With Q3 EPS Boost Largely Attributed to Tariff Refund
Apple Inc. shares lost 7.3% in pre-market trading on Friday. Despite posting record quarterly revenue, investors concentrated on the company’s increasing supply constraints. The slide could wipe out roughly $361.6 billion in market capitalization.
Apple heads into earnings with record streak as $1.5 billion margin question looms
Apple Inc. stock declined by 1.8% to $332.25 during late-morning trading on Thursday, while U.S. cash markets were open. The company is set to announce its fiscal third-quarter earnings after the market closes, with a conference call scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT.
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