Investment Research firm UBS said Monday it believes Apple's expanding relationship with major US consumer electronics retailers is likely to branch out further, producing positive long term effects on Mac sales.
Financial experts at UBS Investment Research say they believe Apple Inc. is developing a "mega-platform" based around its recently introduced multi-touch display technology that will facilitate broad growth opportunities through an assortment of future products.
Apple Inc. is likely to hold a media event to launch its upcoming Leopard operating system in the coming months, and may also introduce ultra portables and expand its iPhone distribution to other retailers shortly thereafter, UBS Investment Research said this week.
UBS Investment Research on Tuesday increased its estimates and 12-month price target on shares of iPod maker Apple, Inc., saying it sees the company's new iPhone device as a 'revolutionary' product that 'can thrive as a convergence platform for years to come.'
Responding to a 4 percent drop off in shares of Apple Computer Wednesday morning, UBS Investment Research issued a note to clients in which it said fears over the company's ongoing stock-options issues appear to be overblown.
Shares of Apple Computer rose over 2 percent to regained some of Monday's losses after UBS Investment Research issued a bullish research note in which it raised its price target on the iPod maker.
Shares of Apple Computer closed at an all-time high Thursday after PiperJaffray released an upbeat research note stating that the company appears on track to see record-setting sales of its iPod digital music players during the December holiday quarter.
Foxconn Electronics, the registered trade name of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, has secured a contract with Apple Computer to manufacturer its first mobile handset that will also dual as a digital music player, according to an overseas report.
Checks with retailers in the north east indicate there is strong demand for Apple Computer's Intel Mac line leading into the holiday shopping season, with sales of its iPod digital music players also gaining traction, analysts for UBS Investment Research said Tuesday. Meanwhile, the firm's inquiries turned up "little excitement" over Microsoft's Zune digital music player, which makes its market debut today.
Analysts for UBS Investment Research are thrilled with what they're seeing from Apple Computer in recent quarters and are urging investors to buy shares of the company ahead of January's insanity-induced Macworld trade show in San Francisco, Calif.
Apple Computer at the close of the stock market on Wednesday will report earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter of 2006 and offer guidance for its fiscal first quarter of 2007.
An analyst at UBS Investment Research says solid demand for Macs should help support earnings estimates for Apple Computer's fourth fiscal quarter of 2006, results of which are due next Wednesday, offsetting deceleration in iPod sales that drew concerns earlier in the quarter.
Dell on Monday said it will delay filing its second quarter fiscal report due to an ongoing informal investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission over previously disclosed accounting irregularities.
Shares of Apple Computer rose to a 4-month high on Thursday after one Wall Street analyst raised his estimates for the Mac maker, saying the company is likely to announce a major move into the digital home next week.
Saying it's about time for a second-half rally, analysts for UBS Investment Research on Thursday raised their price target on shares of Apple Computer to $80 while maintaining a Buy rating on the stock.
Analysts for UBS Investment Research on Wednesday increased their forecast for Mac unit sales during Apple Computer's third fiscal quarter after checks showed solid education buying and increasing interest in the company's MacBook notebook line.
Apple Computer could introduce an "ultra-portable PC" that employs NAND-based flash memory in time for the January Macworld trade show in San Francisco, one Wall Street analyst says.
Shares of Apple Computer rival Dell Inc. slid over 5 percent on Tuesday morning after the company warned investors that earnings for its first fiscal quarter will fall below guidance as a result of recent price cuts aimed at maintaining its lead as the world's leading manufacturer of personal computers.
Despite optimism about the company's product pipeline, UBS Investment Research on Thursday cut its price target on shares of Apple Computer to $90 from $95 and also adjusted its estimates downward for the next two fiscal years.
Shares of Apple Computer soared nearly 10 percent on Wednesday to close at $67.21 after the company announced a piece of software that will enable users of its new Intel Mac systems to run operating systems from rival Microsoft Corp.
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