Tag Archives: AAPL

SpaceX, Elon Musk’s Rocket and Satellite Company, Reportedly Leans Toward Nasdaq Listing, Aiming for “Quick Inclusion” in Nasdaq-100

Leave a reply

According to four sources familiar with the matter, SpaceX, the rocket and satellite company owned by Elon Musk, is inclined to list on the Nasdaq, which could become the largest IPO in history. Two of the sources indicated that SpaceX wants to be quickly included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (Nasdaq:NDX) and considers this a necessary condition for listing on the tech-heavy exchange. They also emphasized that SpaceX’s listing plans are still subject to changes.

Other sources mentioned that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is also vying for the listing, but as of now, neither exchange has received a final decision from SpaceX. It was previously reported that SpaceX might launch its IPO as early as June this year.

The Nasdaq-100 Index, compiled by Nasdaq (Nasdaq:NDAQ), is regarded by large institutional investors as a benchmark for top blue-chip stocks and is a global indicator of performance for many of the world’s largest public companies, including tech giants such as (NASDAQ:NVDA), (NASDAQ:AAPL), and (NASDAQ:AMZN). The index rose about 21% last year and has seen a slight pullback so far this year.

Last month, the Nasdaq introduced a new rule that could shorten the time for large-cap companies newly listed on the exchange to be included in the Nasdaq-100 Index.

This amendment is aimed at attracting high-valued private companies like SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI to list on Nasdaq. The rule has yet to be finalized and may take several months before it comes into effect.

Under the proposed “quick inclusion” rule, if a newly listed company’s market capitalization ranks within the top 40 of the Nasdaq-100’s current constituent stocks, it could be added to the index within less than a month. One source revealed that SpaceX’s IPO valuation target is about $1.75 trillion, and based on the current stock price, the company would become the sixth-largest U.S. company by market value after its listing.

Currently, newly listed companies typically have to wait up to a year before meeting the inclusion criteria for major indexes like the S&P 500 or Nasdaq-100. They must first prove their stability to attract substantial institutional investor buying.

Advantages of Index Inclusion

Being added to blue-chip indexes such as the Nasdaq-100 or S&P 500 makes it easier for companies to attract funding from large institutional investors. These institutions typically build large positions in index funds, which helps broaden the shareholder base and gradually increase stock liquidity.

While the NYSE also tracks similar indexes for the largest 100 U.S. stocks, the market’s focus is lower compared to Nasdaq, making inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 particularly important for large-cap IPOs.

For company management and early investors, stronger liquidity helps reduce the impact of large sell-offs on the stock price after the IPO lock-up period (usually 90 to 180 days). However, this does not entirely avoid the pressure on stock prices caused by large-scale insider selling.

As of the time of writing, SpaceX has not commented on the matter.

In February, it was reported that SpaceX’s advisory team had been in talks with major index providers such as Nasdaq regarding the possibility of early inclusion in core indexes.

SpaceX’s potential IPO is expected to be one of the most anticipated offerings in recent years. Currently, several well-known venture-backed companies and startups, including OpenAI and Anthropic, are also preparing for their public listings.

Apple Unveils MacBook Air with M5 Chip, Double Storage, and Upgraded AI Capabilities

Leave a reply

Apple today launched the new MacBook Air powered by the M5 chip, featuring enhanced CPU and GPU performance, with a neural accelerator embedded in each core to boost on-device AI processing capabilities. The base storage has been doubled to 512GB, with a maximum capacity of 4TB, and the custom N1 chip supports Wi-Fi 7. Battery life remains at 18 hours, with official sales beginning on March 11.

Apple officially released the new generation MacBook Air, integrating the latest M5 chip, doubled base storage, and an upgraded wireless connectivity solution into the thin aluminum body, further solidifying its position as the best-selling laptop globally.

The new MacBook Air is powered by the M5 chip, which comes with a faster CPU and next-gen GPU. Each GPU core contains a neural accelerator for efficient processing of AI-related workloads. Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus, stated that the M5 chip significantly speeds up daily productivity, creative work, and AI tasks, calling it “the ideal choice for users who prioritize a balance of performance and portability.”

The new MacBook Air will begin preorders on March 4, with official sales launching on March 11. It will be available in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, as well as four colors: Sky Blue, Midnight, Starlight, and Silver.

Double the Storage, Wi-Fi 7 Support, and 18-Hour Battery Life

In this update, Apple has doubled the base storage of the MacBook Air from 256GB to 512GB, with a maximum configuration of up to 4TB, and has incorporated faster SSD technology. Regarding wireless connectivity, Apple’s custom N1 wireless chip brings support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, offering significant improvements in data transfer speed and connection stability compared to the previous generation.

Other hardware specifications remain consistent with the previous model, including the Liquid Retina display, a 12MP Center Stage camera, an audio system supporting spatial audio, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports capable of connecting up to two external displays. The battery life remains impressive, lasting up to 18 hours.

Enhanced AI Capabilities: Deep Integration with Apple Intelligence

Apple positions the M5 chip as the core driver of AI acceleration. The neural accelerator embedded in each GPU core enables the MacBook Air to run AI models and inference tasks more efficiently on-device. Together with macOS Tahoe and the Apple Intelligence platform, Apple aims to offer on-device AI capabilities for college students, creative professionals, and business users, further expanding its presence in the smart device ecosystem.

In its statement, Apple emphasized that the MacBook Air is currently the most popular laptop among business users, and the updated specifications aim to strengthen its competitive edge in this core user group while also enhancing its appeal to creative professionals and students.

Apple’s Eight-Week Losing Streak! Amid Storage Cost Concerns and Approaching Earnings, Goldman Sachs Contradicts Market Sentiment: “Buy the Dip Before Jan 29”

Leave a reply

Amid investor concerns over rising hardware costs, Apple (AAPL) shares have declined for eight consecutive weeks.

At the close of U.S. markets on Friday, Apple’s stock edged down 0.12%, bringing its weekly loss to nearly 4%. This marks its longest losing streak since May 2022.

(Apple stock price has dropped to levels last seen in mid-October)

Apple’s share price has retreated approximately 13.8% from its 52-week high of $288 set in December last year to around $248 currently. Furthermore, compared to the other members of the “Magnificent Seven” tech giants, Apple has seen particularly significant capital outflows since July.

(Net capital inflow trends for the Magnificent Seven)

The core trigger for this sell-off pressure originates from supply chain warnings. Recent pessimistic guidance from chip giant Intel sparked market fears regarding skyrocketing costs for storage components. Due to a surge in demand for AI hardware, memory chip prices are undergoing a sharp increase, leading to widespread concern that this will severely erode the gross margins of consumer electronics giants, including Apple.

However, despite the subdued market sentiment, Wall Street Insights notes that Goldman Sachs has maintained its “Buy” rating on Apple. The firm suggests that investors should ignore short-term noise and “buy the dip” ahead of the company’s fiscal 2026 first-quarter earnings report on January 29.

Goldman Sachs believes that a robust iPhone replacement cycle and the implementation of AI features will bolster performance beyond expectations.

Surging Storage Costs Spark Margin Fears

The market’s pessimistic outlook on Apple’s recent performance is primarily driven by the rapid rise in memory chip prices.

According to Wall Street Insights, Intel CFO David Zinsner admitted after the earnings release that while the company has secured supply for the first half of the year, storage pricing could become a challenge in the second half.

Data from Counterpoint Research has further fueled these concerns, forecasting that storage component costs will surge by 40% to 50% this quarter—driven by AI hardware demand—following a similar spike in the fourth quarter of 2025.

This trend poses a direct threat to Apple. IDC research indicates that storage components account for approximately 10% to 15% of the total Bill of Materials (BOM) for high-end smartphones like the iPhone. Benchmark analyst Cody Acree noted:

“Rising component costs, particularly those related to memory prices, could have unknown negative impacts on shipment volumes and revenue potential.”

Additionally, as memory manufacturers such as Micron(MU) and SanDisk(SAND) shift capacity toward more lucrative AI data center components, supply for traditional DRAM and NAND used in smartphones and PCs has tightened.

UBS analyst David Vogt warned in a report that while Apple’s supply agreements might mitigate the impact in the March quarter, risks will significantly increase in the June and September quarters as production for the next-generation iPhone ramps up.

Vogt estimates that memory chip shortages could hit Apple’s gross margin by 50 to 100 basis points. Based on this, UBS maintains a “Neutral” rating on Apple with a price target of $280.

Goldman Sachs’ View: Retracement is a Buying Opportunity

Despite inflationary pressures on the cost side, Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Ng argues that now is the optimal time to buy Apple stock.

Goldman has set a price target of $320 for Apple and expects the company to deliver an outstanding performance in the upcoming earnings report.

The firm forecasts that Apple’s revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 will reach $137.4 billion, an 11% year-over-year increase. The iPhone business is expected to be the primary growth engine, with revenue projected to rise 13% year-over-year to $78 billion. This growth is driven by two main factors:

  1. Volume Growth: A projected 5% year-over-year increase in shipments, notably bolstered by a 26% surge in shipments in China, reflecting a strong recovery in a key market.
  2. Average Selling Price (ASP): An 8% year-over-year increase, indicating robust demand for high-end models.

Furthermore, Goldman Sachs emphasized the support for the stock price from the future product pipeline. The report noted that with demand for the iPhone 17 series expected to outperform its predecessor, and the anticipated launch of a foldable iPhone (iPhone Fold), Apple is shifting toward a “two-updates-per-year” release cycle.

Combined with upgrades to iOS and Siri, as well as the partnership with Google Gemini, the iPhone’s position as the preferred hardware gateway for the AI era will be further consolidated, thereby extending the upgrade super-cycle.

Wall Street Consensus and Valuation Outlook

From a valuation perspective, Apple currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of approximately 30x. While slightly above the industry average, analysts generally consider this premium justified given the stability of its earnings growth.

Goldman Sachs expects Apple’s first-quarter earnings per share (EPS) to reach $2.66, consistent with market consensus, while maintaining a steady gross margin of 47.7%.

Overall, Wall Street remains bullish on Apple. Out of 42 analysts covering the stock, 21 give it a “Strong Buy” rating. Evercore ISI reaffirmed an “Outperform” rating and a $330 price target, projecting a 17% year-over-year increase in iPhone sales.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives provided a street-high price target of $350, describing 2026 as a “milestone year” for the full deployment of Apple’s AI strategic roadmap.

As the January 29 earnings date approaches, the market is waiting with bated breath to see if Apple can reshape its growth narrative through strong AI terminal demand, even under the shadow of rising storage costs.