During the June quarter the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus kept the iPhone the top-selling smartphone brand at all four major U.S. carriers, with a sell-through share of almost 50 percent, according to survey data published on Wednesday.
Apple's domination in the smartphone market compelled Canaccord Genuity to raise its price target on Apple stock to $145 on Monday, advising investors to buy in on the continued strength of the new iPhone 6, which decimated profits for competitors last quarter.
Investment firm Canaccord Genuity raised its price target on shares of Apple to $135 on Tuesday, citing its latest survey showing supply constraints for the higher-capacity iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, signaling higher average selling prices and greater profits for the company's handset division.
A new analysis of third-quarter handset industry operating profits estimates that Apple accounted for a massive 86 percent share, blowing away the competition as rivals such as Samsung saw their profit levels dip.
New data shows the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 5s were the top three selling smartphones at all four major U.S. carriers over the last month, giving Apple complete dominance of its home market.
With its price target at risk of falling below the company's actual trading share price, Canaccord Genuity on Thursday updated its forecast for Apple stock to $660, and revealed the results of a new survey that found the iPhone 5s is the most popular handset at all four major U.S. carriers.
Total iOS device sales may have reached 80 million units in the just-concluded December quarter, driven by particularly strong demand for the new iPhone 5s and iPad Air, sales surveys conducted by Canaccord Genuity suggest.
The mobile market continues to be a two-horse race for profitability between Apple and Samsung, with the two rivals commanding 109 percent of profits — a number made possible because its competitors are actually losing money in the smartphone space.
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Roger Fingas
Neil Hughes
