Wedbush's Dan Ives has lifted his Apple price target to $310, citing stronger-than-expected demand for the newly launched iPhone 17.
Apple's iPhone 17 lineup launched in September 2025, with analysts predicting early sales surpassing the iPhone 16 cycle. That demand prompted Wedbush Securities to raise its 12-month price target to $310, in a note to investors seen by AppleInsider.
That's well above Apple's current stock price of about $255. Store checks and supply chain reports show the iPhone 17 Pro is in high demand.
Shipping times are already stretching. Analysts expect Apple to boost production of both models by about 20%.
The slimmer iPhone Air model has also drawn more interest than anticipated in early U.S. sales. That device, aimed at filling the gap between standard and premium models, may turn into a surprise hit for Apple's lineup.
A major factor driving Apple's momentum is pent-up demand. Out of 1.5 billion iPhones in use worldwide, about 315 million are more than four years old.
Many of those owners are likely to upgrade soon, creating a large pool of potential buyers. Analysts expect Apple's fiscal 2026 iPhone shipments to top Wall Street's earlier estimate of 230 million units.
They now forecast between 240 million and 250 million units. But despite the upbeat start, Apple's long-term trajectory still depends heavily on China.
China remains the swing factor
After several years of declining sales in the region, a rebound is seen as critical to sustaining momentum.
Apple's iPhone Air release in China is on hold while regulators review its eSIM compatibility. Analysts think the device will get the green light soon.
In the meantime, Huawei and Xiaomi are keeping heavy pressure on Apple in the high-end smartphone market. Those challenges make a full recovery in China more difficult for Apple.
The iPhone Air may prove to be a popular smartphone.
Analysts frame the iPhone 17 cycle as an opportunity for Tim Cook to stabilize Apple's China story after years of setbacks. But that requires navigating political risks, including ongoing trade disputes and tech restrictions between Washington and Beijing.
Apple's new price target
Wedbush raised its Apple stock outlook to $310, betting that the iPhone 17 cycle will be the company's strongest in years. Analysts also expect Apple to recover in China, which has dragged on results lately.
The forecast assumes Apple will manage to profit from AI, even if it needs to lean on partners. Together, those factors form the basis for Wedbush's optimistic price target.
That's a lot of "ifs" for one stock target. But Wall Street thrives on optimism, and Apple's track record of pulling off big upgrade cycles makes the bet tempting.
The iPhone 17 has given Apple a jolt of momentum, and analysts are rewarding it with a higher forecast. Whether Apple can hit that $310 mark depends on good holiday sales, and a turnaround in China.
