Technology

Can Apple Shares Get Back to All-Time High of $134.54 Soon?

Douglas A. McIntyre

Published: September 8, 2016 11:05 am

Last Updated: January 13, 2020 3:48 am

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) hit an intraday high of $134.54 on May 18, 2015. It was coming off record sales of iPhones and the hope that it would dominate that field for decades to come. Then along came Samsung and several other companies. In early May this year, Apple’ stock fell to $89. Apple won’t make it back. Too many things are set against it.

The reaction to Apple’s iPhone 7 launch was muted, at least as measured by the share price. That was anticipated. The phone has some improvements, but none that would push it well ahead of the features in Samsung’s Galaxy S7. There are unlikely to be lines stretched for miles from Apple stores, or wireless carrier stores, when the phone becomes available.

Perhaps as important, evidence increasingly shows that Apple’s loose grip on the Chinese market is slipping. Not only is Samsung a behemoth there. China-based Oppo, Huawei and Xiaomi have exploited their home court advantage as well. The iPhone 7 features are unlikely to shake the growth these three have posted. Apple CEO Tim Cook has stated on more than one occasion that Greater China, as Apple calls it, is absolutely critical to the company’s success. In the most recent quarter, Apple’s revenue in the region actually dropped from the previous year.

This all leaves Apple one final chance to increase its share price sharply. Sales of the iPhone 7 need to be spectacular in the first few days it is available and then throughout the holiday season. If they are not, and Apple posts weak numbers in the next two quarterly reports, shares are more likely to drop than soar.