Apple Inc. $AAPL is Birch Financial Group LLC’s 4th Largest Position

Birch Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) by 11.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 28,061 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,805 shares during the period. Apple comprises about 4.2% of Birch Financial Group LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest position. Birch Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Apple were worth $7,145,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of AAPL. Emergent Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Apple by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Emergent Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,191 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock worth $1,067,000 after buying an additional 173 shares in the last quarter. UG Investment Advisers Ltd. bought a new position in Apple during the 3rd quarter worth about $4,449,000. Jennison Associates LLC increased its position in Apple by 15.6% during the 3rd quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 37,458,386 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock valued at $9,538,029,000 after purchasing an additional 5,045,979 shares during the period. Westfuller Advisors LLC increased its position in Apple by 46.5% during the 3rd quarter. Westfuller Advisors LLC now owns 30,745 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock valued at $7,829,000 after purchasing an additional 9,760 shares during the period. Finally, Delta Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Apple by 19.4% in the 3rd quarter. Delta Financial Advisors LLC now owns 77,250 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock valued at $19,670,000 after purchasing an additional 12,561 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.73% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wedbush reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $350.00 price objective on shares of Apple in a report on Tuesday. TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $325.00 price target on shares of Apple in a report on Friday, January 30th. Monness Crespi & Hardt boosted their price target on Apple from $300.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Apple in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Apple from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, November 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have given a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Apple currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $292.13.

Apple Trading Up 1.5%

Apple stock opened at $264.58 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 0.97. The stock has a market cap of $3.88 trillion, a PE ratio of 33.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.09. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $265.00 and a two-hundred day moving average of $257.42. Apple Inc. has a one year low of $169.21 and a one year high of $288.62.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The iPhone maker reported $2.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.67 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $143.76 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $138.25 billion. Apple had a net margin of 27.04% and a return on equity of 159.94%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 15.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.40 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Apple Inc. will post 7.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Apple Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 9th were paid a dividend of $0.26 per share. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 9th. Apple’s payout ratio is presently 13.15%.

Trending Headlines about Apple

Here are the key news stories impacting Apple this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Supreme Court ruling likely lowers Apple’s tariff burden and near-term cost exposure — the decision to strike down broad tariffs reduces the company’s past and potential future tariff bills, easing supply-chain costs and improving margins. How the Supreme Court’s decision affects Apple and its $3.3 billion tariff bill
• Positive Sentiment: AI-led market rebound benefits Apple sentiment — coverage notes Apple alongside Nvidia as part of an AI recovery that has lifted tech stocks, supporting investor enthusiasm around Apple’s expanding AI initiatives and device roadmap. This Week’s Market Wrap: AI-Led Volatility, Inflation, And Late-Cycle Risk Signals
• Positive Sentiment: Bullish analyst stance — Wedbush and other bulls urge staying invested, arguing the pullback is overdone and 2026 could be a breakout year for Apple’s AI push, supporting demand for the shares. Ignore the Panic and Keep Buying Apple Stock, According to Wedbush
• Positive Sentiment: New distribution deals expand Apple TV reach — a Reuters report on Apple TV partnering with EverPass to carry live sports into bars/hotels incrementally supports services revenue and content monetization. Apple TV partners with EverPass Media
• Neutral Sentiment: Product/AI feature developments continue — Apple and Google adding music-focused generative-AI features signals steady product evolution but not an immediate revenue inflection. Google Gemini, Apple add music-focused generative AI features
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry supply dynamics — rising DRAM/chip prices are pressuring some hardware players, but coverage flags Apple as a relative bright spot; impact on Apple margins is mixed and dependent on component pass-through. Soaring DRAM Prices Shake Hardware Stocks, but Apple and Arista Remain Bright Spots
• Negative Sentiment: High-profile legal risk — West Virginia sued Apple alleging iCloud facilitated distribution of child sexual abuse material; this raises regulatory, reputational, and potential compliance costs that investors view as a meaningful overhang. Apple Sued Over Allegations of CSAM on iCloud
• Negative Sentiment: Institutional trimming signals caution — reports that Berkshire Hathaway/Warren Buffett and other funds reduced Apple stakes have raised questions about top-holder conviction and added selling pressure. Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett Trims Massive Apple Stake
• Negative Sentiment: Downgrade/concern narratives — some analysts and commentary cite margin pressure and a perceived lack of innovation, which can lengthen any correction if earnings guidance or product cadence disappoints. Apple: Margin Pressure And Lack Of Innovation (Rating Downgrade)

Apple Profile

Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) is a multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. The company designs, develops and sells consumer electronics, software and services. Over its history Apple has evolved from personal computers to a broad portfolio that spans mobile devices, wearables, home entertainment and digital services.

Apple’s principal hardware products include the iPhone smartphone, iPad tablet, Mac personal computers, Apple Watch wearable devices and a range of accessories such as AirPods and HomePod.