The risk of Apple that investor should aware
Investors should keep in mind that the risk to $Apple(AAPL)$ Q1 2023 earnings release may not only be limited to the company's December 2022 quarter, but may extend to its early 2023 guidance. Or, in other words, guidance may not meet (or exceed) expectations.
So far, Apple is the only one of the FAANG giants that hasn't announced a cost-cutting plan that includes layoffs. However, that doesn't mean the company doesn't plan to do so. How will the market react if Apple announces a major cost-cutting plan? Would the market celebrate margin growth, or would it worry about Apple's growth prospects for 2023? I think the latter is more likely.
On the positive side, I'm excited about Apple's 2023, as I expect the company to make more announcements about its AR/VR ambitions. Until that's proven, I also understand Apple's focus on consumers and I'm bullish on this announcement. Of course, this product could also disappoint, like Meta's Quest Pro - which, in my opinion, sets the bar pretty high and dominates the product landscape.
Against the backdrop of supply and demand challenges, I am concerned about Apple's upcoming December 2022 quarterly earnings. Specifically, I think Apple will have a hard time meeting analysts' general expectations, which I think are overly optimistic. Therefore, I maintain my long-term price target of $200 per share, but I am downgrading my recommendation on Apple to a tentative "hold".
For reference, while Apple has historically outperformed the broader market, the company's stock began to underperform the S&P 500 in late November and early December. Over the past 12 months, Apple shares have fallen about 8%, while the SPY has fallen slightly less than 6%. Could this be a warning sign?
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