Why Morgan Stanley Thinks Apple (AAPL) Shares Could Be Turning the Corner

Mon, Aug 18, 2025, 10:18 AM 2 min read

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the AI Stocks Making Headlines This Week. One of the most notable analyst calls on Friday, August 15, was for Apple Inc. Morgan Stanley reiterated the stock as “Overweight” stating that Apple shares appear to be “turning a corner.”

The optimism comes after stronger-than-expected iPhone sales drove an upward revision in September-quarter production plans.

“We are turning more bullish — forward iPhone unit/revenue growth expectations are still relatively muted, many of the same factors that got us bullish last July remain, we’re past peak tariff risk…”

The firm’s Greater China technology hardware team raised their September quarter iPhone build estimate to 54M units, or flat year-over-year, from previous call for 50Million. The raise has been due to better than expected iPhone sell-through in the June quarter that reduced iPhone channel inventory.

A busy sidewalk filled with people using Apple devices like iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches.

Moreover, iPhone 16, calendar 2025 second half iPhone 17 builds remain unchanged at 80M-85M units, the analysts added.

“We think the Apple story could be turning the corner,” stated the bank, pointing to cited “elongated replacement cycles,” “pent-up iPhone demand,” “structural gross margin tailwinds,” and easing tariff and regulatory headwinds.

The firm has an Overweight rating and $240 price target on the stock.

With institutions “more underweight Apple than any other megacap tech stock” and hedge funds “biased neutral to short,” Morgan Stanley said the company is “one potential AI partnership away from breaking out.”

Apple is a technology company known for its consumer electronics, software, and services.

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