Previewing Black Friday Week: Apple Best Positioned Tech Name

Previewing the holiday shopping season, which officially kicks off with Black Friday falling on November 25 this year, Drexel Hamilton said Apple Inc. AAPL, AU Optronics Corp (ADR) AUO, Corning Incorporated GLW and LG Display Co Ltd. (ADR) LPL are most sensitive to holiday spending trends.

The firm believes Apple remains one of the best positioned companies to benefit from spending trends this holiday season.

Apple's Winning Products

Some of the Apple products, according to the firm, that will do well include:

• iPhone 7/7 Plus.
• A new Apple Watch (Series 2 ceramic Apple Watch edition).
• Apple Watch Nike+.
• New MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.

Additionally, the firm believes if the company launches its new AirPods for the holidays, it expects it to be a very popular stocking stuffer.

Analyst Brian White highlighted a release from the National Retail Federation, which showed 137.4 million people plan to or are considering shopping during Thanksgiving weekend compared to the 135.8 million estimated for last year and the 151 million that trooped in actually.

The Federation estimates holiday sales growth of 3.6 percent to $655.8 billion, 3.2 percent more than in 2015 and the seven-year average growth of 3.4 percent.

Meanwhile, Drexel Hamilton also noted that the Consumer Technology Association, or CTA, expects 116 million Americans to purchase tech or tech accessories during Black Friday week, which is roughly 47 percent of the United States' adult population. The CTA termed the year to be record breaker for tech, the firm added.

Some Of CTA's Estimates

• Overall retail sales to be up 3.8 percent this year's holiday season, up from 3.9 percent in 2015.
• Spending on tech to increase by 3.1 percent, up from 1.4 percent in 2015.
• 75 percent of gift buyers are leaning toward tech compared to 74 percent in 2015.
• 68 percent of adults in the United States plan to buy tech gifts in 2016 vs. 63 percent in 2015.

CTA's Tech Wish List For Adults

• Notebook computers: 11 percent.
• TVs: 8 percent.
• Smartphones: 8 percent.
• Tablets: 7 percent.
• Video game consoles: 5 percent.
• Smartwatches: 3 percent.
• VR headsets: 2 percent.
• Home robotic vacuums: 2 percent.
• Portable GPS: 2 percent.

At Last Check

• Apple was surging 1.54 percent to $111.76.
• AU Optronics ADR was gaining 1.54 percent to $3.62.
• Corning was up 0.06 percent to $23.84.
• LG Display was slipping 2.39 percent to $11.86.