Bullish On iPhone 15 Cycle, Wedbush's Ives Further Raises Apple Price Target

Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives believes that Apple Inc. AAPL is heading into the iPhone 15 product cycle from a position of strength. The upcoming iPhone 15 product cycle could be another trophy case moment for Cupertino, with expected units and Average Selling Prices (ASPs) that could easily surpass current Street expectations.

The Apple Analyst: Ives is raising his price target from $205 to $220 to reflect increased confidence in this upcoming iPhone cycle and reiterates Apple as an “Outperform” and Wedbush Best Ideas List name.

See Also: Should I Buy iPhone 14 Or Wait For iPhone 15

The Apple Thesis: Based on Ives’ analysis, approximately 250 million iPhones have not been upgraded in over 4 years, setting Apple up for a major installed base upgrade cycle heading into this anniversary 15-year release. With more Apple customers heading down the Pro path, especially in China, Ives believes ASPs could start to approach the ~$925 level for the iPhone 15 cycle, up roughly $100 in the last 18 months.

As reported previously, Apple’s Vision Pro mixed reality headset, priced at a hefty $3,499 and expected to hit the market early next year, is not expected to be a problem. Ives suggests that the headset's capability to integrate gaming, video streaming, conferencing, and health/fitness apps across Apple's ecosystem positions it as a revolutionary product that could potentially outpace competitors.

The iPhone 15 lineup is rumored to feature the world's thinnest screen bezels, a "dynamic island" feature for quick access to frequently used apps, the A17 Bionic chipset, enhanced HD photography capabilities, and a switch to solid-state buttons from physical ones.

Ives forecasts that by fiscal year 2024, Apple’s annual services revenue is expected to be near $100 billion, with a double-digit growth rate. He believes this growth trajectory is crucial for the ongoing re-evaluation of Apple’s stock value.

Apple Price Action: Apple stock traded 0.2% higher at $178.82 in the premarket session on Wednesday.

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