Low Expectations for Apple’s iPhone 17 Could Be Helping Boost the Stock. Here’s Why

Apple’s iPhone 17 is turning some heads on Wall Street with signs of surprisingly strong demand, after a lackluster launch.

Shares of the stock added more than 4% to finish Monday’s session around $256, after Wedbush analysts led by longterm Apple (AAPL) bull Dan Ives raised their price target to a new street high of $310 from $270, pointing to signs of better-than-expected demand.

“Heading into this iPhone 17 cycle we were expecting this upgrade cycle to be a good, but not great one,” the analysts told clients in a Sunday note, amid some worries consumers waiting for bigger design changes and delayed AI features could hold back demand.

However, “we are positively surprised,” the analysts said, with their checks indicating the iPhone 17 “tracking 10%-15% ahead of iPhone 16 so far.” The “Street is clearly underestimating this iPhone cycle,” they said, with muted expectations helping fuel enthusiasm for the stock.

The AI ‘Elephant in the Room’

Still, many investors are waiting for more from Apple on its artificial intelligence strategy, Wedbush said, calling it the “elephant in the room.”

“The time is now for Apple to accelerate its AI efforts through outside partnerships,” Wedbush said, expecting the stock could get another big boost if Apple offers more details on AI.

Bank of America analysts, who reiterated a “buy” rating and $270 price target for Apple’s stock Monday, said they expect Apple still has the potential to become an AI leader, despite worries it’s lagged many of its Big Tech peers.

With Monday’s gains, shares of Apple moved back into positive territory for the year. 

This article has been updated since it was first published to reflect more recent stock prices.