Citi Research Believes Apple will Rally in 2017 — 12-Year Chart Included
Photo: 9to5Mac
CNBC — Apple (AAPL) shares can rally in 2017 for five reasons, according to Citi Research, which reiterated its buy rating on the company.
Analyst Jim Suva gave the following list in a note to clients Tuesday:
- “iPhone 8 Super Upgrade Cycle driven by newer form factors driving a stronger upgrade relative to the prior 2 cycles”
- “Tax reform benefit from reduction in corporate taxes and cash repatriation”
- “Sticky user base which drives continued services revenue growth”
- “Enterprise push mid term, Applewood longer term”
- “Attractive valuation – Shares trade at a slight discount to their 4 year median multiples despite improving fundamentals ahead”
Apple shares are underperforming the market in 2016 up 7.6 percent, compared to a 10.4 percent gain for the S&P 500.
Suva reiterated his Apple price target of $130, representing 15 percent upside from Monday’s close.
He cited how Trump’s proposal to lower the U.S. corporate tax rate to 15 percent from 35 percent would add 6 percent to Apple’s earnings-per-share. Suva said if the company used 25 percent of any repatriation tax holiday proceeds for a stock buyback, it could benefit earnings-per-share by an additional 10 percent.
“Across our coverage universe, we see Apple as a significant beneficiary of Trump tax reforms. Apple is very well positioned to benefit from potential tax reform of either or both a repatriation tax holiday and or a lower corporate tax rate,” stated the note.
The analyst predicts iPhone shipments will rise 7 percent in the company’s fiscal year 2018.
“We believe iPhone installed base upgrades will take a step up with the launch of iPhone 8,” Suva wrote.
Apple CEO Tim Cook will be among a group of technology executives that will meeting with President-elect Donald Trump Wednesday.
Apple 12-Year Chart:
