Did Apple Steal The Show At CES 2015? Analysts Weigh In

The 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was last week at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES is an internationally renowned electronics and technology trade show, with many major companies and industry professionals who attend from around the world.

There was a massive amount of buzz circulating about the wide variety of innovations and smart products featured at this year’s tradeshow.

With that said, many have concluded that the winner of CES was a company who wasn’t even in attendance: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL).

Although Apple did not personally make an appearance at CES, the reason many thought the tech giant stole the show is because most of the smart devices and products presented featured Apple’s IOS platform, or were showcased on an Apple device.

JMP Securities analyst Alex Gauna was one of many who thought that “Apple was the big winner” at CES this year, reiterating an Outperform rating on the stock and a $150 price target on January 12. The analyst noted: “When I look at home automation, and at many of the new apps out there, first and foremost, they wanted to play nicely with iOS.”

He continued: “The iPhone is the single device of choice, they are the undisputed leader as far as a single device.” In addition, the analyst believes there is huge upside potential for Apple, stating “There is a bull case to be made around iPhone 7, and the ecosystem — HomeKit, HealthKit, Car Play, etc.”

Alex Gauna has rated Apple 14 times since October 2012, earning a 50 percent success rate recommending the company and a +6.4 percent average return per recommendation. Overall, the analyst has a 64 percent success rate recommending stocks and a +9.4 percent average return per recommendation.

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Brian White also reiterated a Buy on Apple and a $143 price target on January 12, noting that the company’s presence at CES was “as strong as ever this year.” Following the tradeshow, White was confident in saying that Apple has the ability to add enormous value in wearable technology, smart TVs, and possibly the new up-and-coming area of personal robots.

Brian White has rated Apple 95 times since October 2010, earning a 78 percent success rate recommending the company and a +27.9 percent average return per recommendation.

Overall, the analyst has a 70 percent success rate recommending stocks and a +18.5 percent average return per recommendation.

UBS analyst Steven Milunovich also reiterated a Buy rating on Apple on January 12 with $125 price target, reasoning that the “HealthKit” programming tools the company has developed for its iOS devices and the Apple Watch “will provide brand and device differentiation for Apple in coming years, though it will take time given hurdles such as FDA approvals.”

Steven Milunovich has rated Apple 43 times since August 2012, earning a 61 percent success rate recommending the company and a +7.6 percent average return per recommendation.

Overall, the analyst has a 54 percent success rate recommending stocks and a +3.8 percent average return per recommendation.

On average, the top analyst consensus for Apple on TipRanks is Moderate Buy.