Analyst Downgrades Apple, Cuts Q3 iPhone Shipment Estimate to 29M Amid Competition

Shares of Apple AAPL are down more than 1 percent Monday morning following an earlier downgrade from Credit Agricole's Avi Silver. The analyst now rates Apple shares an Outperform, down from Buy previously, and reduced the price target from $575 to $505. Silver lowered his iPhone shipment estimate for Q3 from 33 million to 29 million amid increasing competition and ahead of the anticipated unveiling of the next version of the iPhone. The analyst's FY13 and FY14 estimates were also lowered as a result of the more conservative iPhone unit estimate. Silver said he expects an iPhone mini later this year but warned he does not expect to see a larger-screen iPhone. With Apple shares last trading at $426.56, Silver's new price target still represents potential upside of more than 18 percent.