Shares of Apple climbed more than 3% on Thursday following reports that the company would be exempt from newly announced 100% import duties on semiconductors. This extension came on top of a 5.1% gain the previous session, as investors reassessed Apple’s vulnerability to escalating trade tensions. Market participants noted that exemption from chip tariffs could spare Apple’s gross margins from a potential 100-basis-point hit, reinforcing confidence in the company’s supply-chain resilience. Analyst sentiment has turned more positive in recent days, with several firms raising their ratings or price targets following the U.S. investment announcement and tariff exemption news. One major bank reiterated an overweight rating while upped its 12-month target by 5%, citing a stronger margin outlook and reduced geopolitical tail-risks. Consensus estimates now project mid‐single-digit revenue growth in fiscal Q4, supported by services and higher-value device sales. Trading volume in Apple shares surged to more than 88 million shares on Tuesday, a 63% increase over the three-month average. This spike coincided with renewed optimism around Apple’s AI initiatives and the upcoming product cycle. Institutional investors increased net purchases by an estimated 15% during the week, according to block trade data, suggesting that fund managers view current levels as an attractive entry point ahead of the company’s fall device launches. During a White House event, CEO Tim Cook announced an additional $100 billion commitment to U.S. manufacturing over the next four years, bringing Apple’s total domestic investment pledge to $600 billion through 2030. The plan includes partnerships to produce cover glass in Kentucky, expand chip-making facilities in Arizona and Texas, and build AI data centers in four states. Executives contend this program will underpin roughly 20,000 new jobs at Apple and its suppliers and help shield the company from future tariff actions.
Shares of Apple climbed more than 3% on Thursday following reports that the company would be exempt from newly announced 100% import duties on semiconductors. This extension came on top of a 5.1% gain the previous session, as investors reassessed Apple’s vulnerability to escalating trade tensions. Market participants noted that exemption from chip tariffs could spare Apple’s gross margins from a potential 100-basis-point hit, reinforcing confidence in the company’s supply-chain resilience. Analyst sentiment has turned more positive in recent days, with several firms raising their ratings or price targets following the U.S. investment announcement and tariff exemption news. One major bank reiterated an overweight rating while upped its 12-month target by 5%, citing a stronger margin outlook and reduced geopolitical tail-risks. Consensus estimates now project mid‐single-digit revenue growth in fiscal Q4, supported by services and higher-value device sales. Trading volume in Apple shares surged to more than 88 million shares on Tuesday, a 63% increase over the three-month average. This spike coincided with renewed optimism around Apple’s AI initiatives and the upcoming product cycle. Institutional investors increased net purchases by an estimated 15% during the week, according to block trade data, suggesting that fund managers view current levels as an attractive entry point ahead of the company’s fall device launches. During a White House event, CEO Tim Cook announced an additional $100 billion commitment to U.S. manufacturing over the next four years, bringing Apple’s total domestic investment pledge to $600 billion through 2030. The plan includes partnerships to produce cover glass in Kentucky, expand chip-making facilities in Arizona and Texas, and build AI data centers in four states. Executives contend this program will underpin roughly 20,000 new jobs at Apple and its suppliers and help shield the company from future tariff actions.