Stockchase Opinions

Karen Firestone, CEO, Aureus Asset ManagementApple IncAAPLHOLDAug 10, 2026

Downgraded today to sell

With Apple, there are always fundamental issues--manufacturing, chips, China, competition--which heat up as the PE rises, now 33x. If you're overweight Apple, they reduce their holding until the market climbs on the bandwagon when Apple is cheap and people load up. It always happens. She is happy to hold.

$308.26

Stock price when the opinion was issued

$308.26

As of Aug 10, 2026. Market Open.

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BUY ON WEAKNESS
Downgraded today

Since March, he's bought this 6 times and it kept moving higher. It's up 26% since the June 25 low of $273. It is losing near-term momentum, for sure, and is vulnerable to a deeper decline. When it does, the stock will pause, and he will continue to buy more, because this is the Mag 7 stock that will stand above the others.

BUY
Downgraded today to sell

Free cash flow is large and it pays a 3.5% dividend, better than peers. You need a stock like Apple to contrast with the high-beta semis stocks.

BUY ON WEAKNESS
Downgraded today to sell

He sold half his position. It was frothy at $330 going into earnings. There's margin pressure from the rising costs of chips going into their new iPhones. While others were saying that Apple finally was going AI, he's still waiting. If you have an oversize position, takes some profits. But if your average cost of $15 and you're long term, then you'll pay a mighty big capital gains tax. Doubts this will fall back to $200. The fundamentals have not changed. Overall, the chart moves up with ups and downs. If this falls to $270, he's back in. Now, it's too expensive at 33x PE. He'd add at 25x PE though doubts we'll reach that.

WAIT

Huge runup, she took profits. Great job building one of the strongest ecosystems in the world. Last quarter was strong. Warned that margins in coming quarters may be pressured by higher memory costs and supply constraints. Still playing catchup in AI.

Still likes it, but sees better value in companies that are building AI infrastructure rather than buying it. Be patient.

PARTIAL SELL

He sold half his holding yesterday before earnings, because this was priced for perfection after a tremendous run. Still trading around a rich 35x PE. Also, they suffer price increase on chips from Qualcomm. Apple still makes up 6.5% of his portfolio.

PARTIAL SELL

He sold some shares before earnings. He's never been underweight Apple which has tons of free cash flow, product cycle upgrades and superb management. 

DON'T BUY

Despite this pullback, she's still not interested. Trades at a high 32x forward PE. We don't know when gross margins will trough. Services division are slowing. Overall, the quarter was fine, but is still not cheap.

BUY

They had a great run, so any pullback is normal and aren't losing their moat in smartphones Obviously, there are supply issues and price increases will dampen demand. She fully believes in the future of the company.

WATCH
Reports later this week.

Trading at 38x forward PE, has never traded that expensively before. They have to get everything perfect. Sales in China will be particularly important.

BUY
Their late entry in AI now paying off?

They avoided the AI spending crazy and took a measured approach, then partnered with other companies that did spend. These AI models will become commodities. It's interesting that CEO Tim Cook's successor is the head of hardware; he expects a serious change in Apple hardware which is where capital will be deployed. They will retain their loyal customers.

BUY

The tech intelligensia says that Apple missed the important story of our lives, AI, a lost opportunity and a failure. He likes that Apple let Alphabet spend billions on AI, then paid Alphabet a nominal sum to use that AI in the iPhone. A great deal.

BUY

The fundamentals haven't changed. They're still way behind in AI with no plan. Valuation is more reasonable than it was. It's still slow growth. It's money looking for a home. Pure and simple.

COMMENT

There's a lot of money going into it. There are 2.5 billion Apple devices in the world is no joke. And they could deliver AI in them. There's room to run. He wrote a covered call at a $350 strike; if it stalls here a bit, he gets paid an options premium. He loves it. He's been in and out of it for 15 years. Likes the coming cycle: the flip phone, prospects in China. Apple Intelligence is just getting started which can help with a multi-year upgrade cycle.

COMMENT

Is suing OpenAI, cleaming it stole Apple's IP to build its own consumer devices, essentially naming Apple employees who left for OpenAI. But some accuse Apple of sour grapes. Then again, OpenAI faces many lawsuits of wrongdoing. OpenAI's lawsuits could distract it from winning the AI race, Apple's suit could be the first of more IP ones.