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Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Shares Purchased by Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Shares Purchased by Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC

  • 22.03.2025 06:35
  • etfdailynews.com
  • Keywords: High Risk

Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC increased its Apple Inc. holdings by 3.3%, owning 240,458 shares worth $60 million, with Apple being its fourth-largest holding. Other major investors also boosted their stakes in Apple during the quarter. The stock has an average "Moderate Buy" rating and a target price of $243.65, with recent earnings and a dividend yield of 0.47%.

Apple Reports

Estimated market influence

Context

Business Insights and Market Implications Analysis

Key Investment Activities

  • Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC:

    • Increased holdings in Apple by 3.3% during Q4.
    • Total shares held: 240,458, valued at $60,215,000.
    • Represents 4.9% of their portfolio, making it the 4th largest holding.

  • State Street Corp:

    • Increased Apple stake by 10.6% in Q3.
    • Total shares: 584,010,284, valued at $136,074,372,000.

  • FMR LLC:

    • Increased Apple stake by 5.3% in Q3.
    • Total shares: 363,859,362, valued at $84,779,231,000.

  • Geode Capital Management LLC:

    • Increased Apple stake by 6.5% in Q3.
    • Total shares: 333,857,500, valued at $77,542,863,000.

  • Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc:

    • Increased Apple stake by 6.6% in Q3.
    • Total shares: 94,942,731, valued at $22,121,656,000.

  • International Assets Investment Management LLC:

    • Increased Apple stake by 20,372.7% in Q3.
    • Total shares: 94,347,510, valued at $219,829,700,000.

Analyst Ratings and Price Targets

  • Average rating: "Moderate Buy" with a consensus target price of $243.65.
  • Positive sentiment: Wells Fargo ($275), JPMorgan ($270), Goldman Sachs ("buy").
  • Negative sentiment: Morgan Stanley cut target to $252, Loop Capital downgraded to "hold" with a price target of $230.

Stock Performance and Valuation

  • Current stock price: Opened at $214.10 on Friday.
  • Market cap: $3.22 trillion.
  • P/E ratio: 33.98, PEG ratio: 2.44, Beta: 1.18.
  • 50-day moving average: $232.19, 200-day moving average: $233.33.

Earnings and Dividend

  • Q4 earnings: EPS of $2.40, topping estimates by $0.04.
  • Dividend: Quarterly dividend of $0.25, annualized to $1.00, yield of 0.47%.
  • Return on equity (ROE): 160.83%, net margin: 24.30%.
  • Analyst expectations: $7.28 EPS for the current year.

Competitive Landscape and Industry Implications

  • Apple remains a dominant player in smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables, and accessories.
  • Faces competition from Samsung, Google (Alphabet), Amazon, and other tech giants.
  • Strong institutional ownership (67.73%) highlights investor confidence in long-term growth potential.

Long-Term Effects and Risks

  • Innovation focus: Apple's investments in AR/VR technologies and services sector could drive future growth.
  • Regulatory risks: Potential scrutiny over antitrust practices, data privacy, and supply chain management.
  • Supply chain resilience: Dependence on China for manufacturing poses risks during global disruptions.

Strategic Considerations

  • Apple's ability to maintain high margins (24.30%) underscores its strong pricing power and cost control.
  • The company's focus on sustainability and environmental initiatives could attract ESG investors.
  • Analysts' mixed ratings suggest a balanced view of growth potential versus execution risks.

Conclusion

Apple's robust financial performance, institutional backing, and innovation pipeline position it as a key player in the tech sector. However, challenges such as regulatory scrutiny, supply chain risks, and competitive pressures will influence its long-term trajectory. Investors should monitor both macroeconomic trends and Apple's ability to maintain its growth momentum.