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Apple Shares Rise as Strong Holiday iPhone Sales Forecast Eases Supply Concerns

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Apple shares climbed about 2% in premarket trading on Friday after the company’s upbeat holiday quarter forecast reassured investors that strong demand for the iPhone 17 lineup is driving a sales rebound despite ongoing supply delays in China.

The company’s latest projections, announced earlier this week, helped ease concerns about production bottlenecks that had weighed on fourth-quarter performance. The optimism pushed Apple’s market capitalization back above $4 trillion, placing it alongside tech giants Nvidia and Microsoft in the exclusive multi-trillion-dollar club.

Investors also took comfort in Apple’s measured approach to integrating artificial intelligence, with analysts noting that the company’s strategy emphasizes precision over speed. “When you’re really big like Apple, you don’t have to move fast — sometimes you just have to get it right eventually,” said Eric Clark, Chief Investment Officer at Accuvest.

Despite its rally, Apple remains one of the weaker performers among the “Magnificent Seven” group of mega-cap tech stocks this year, trailing Nvidia and Microsoft but showing resilience amid global supply headwinds.

According to LSEG data, Apple’s stock trades at 33.4 times analysts’ earnings forecasts, above Microsoft’s 31.7 and Meta’s 22.3, reflecting investor confidence in the company’s long-term innovation and profitability.

Apple Forecasts Strong Holiday Quarter as iPhone 17 Demand Surges

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e CEO Tim Cook announced forecasts for the company’s upcoming holiday quarter that surpass Wall Street expectations, driven by robust demand for the new iPhone 17 lineup despite ongoing supply challenges. Cook expects iPhone sales to grow by double digits year-over-year and total revenue to rise between 10% and 12% in Apple’s fiscal first quarter of 2026.

The company’s previous quarter saw iPhone sales fall short of projections due to shipping delays and supply constraints, particularly in China, where the launch of the ultra-thin iPhone Air was delayed. However, the shortfall was offset by strong sales in other product categories, such as AirPods featuring AI-powered translation capabilities.

Apple’s quarterly revenue reached $102.47 billion with profits of $1.85 per share, beating Wall Street’s expectations. Shares rose 3.7% in after-hours trading following the announcement.

Cook said supply constraints on several iPhone 17 models persist, but the company is working rapidly to fulfill orders. “It’s a good problem to have,” he remarked, emphasizing Apple’s confidence in returning to growth in China during the next quarter.

The company’s broader strategy focuses on integrating advanced AI features into its ecosystem. While rivals have surged ahead in AI, Cook confirmed that Apple is making “good progress” on major Siri upgrades expected next year. With its new iPhone Air, enhanced Pro models, and strong holiday demand, Apple is poised for one of its most profitable quarters yet.

Shopify Reports Strong Holiday Sales, But Profit Outlook Disappoints

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Shopify (SHOP.TO) experienced its strongest quarterly revenue growth in three years on Tuesday, driven by robust consumer spending and the company’s integration of AI features aimed at supporting its sellers. The Canadian e-commerce giant reported a 31% year-over-year revenue increase, reaching $2.81 billion for the fourth quarter, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $2.73 billion.

The company’s success was fueled by strong holiday sales and the launch of its AI-driven tools, known as ‘Shopify Magic,’ which assist merchants with tasks such as inventory management and image generation. These AI tools are available to all subscription tiers for free, further attracting merchants to the platform.

Despite the strong revenue growth, Shopify’s shares fell approximately 2% in early trading. Investors expressed concerns over the company’s weaker-than-expected profit forecast for the current quarter. The company’s high investments in technology, marketing, and global expansion, coupled with rising cloud and infrastructure hosting costs, have led to concerns about margin growth.

Shopify’s CFO, Jeff Hoffmeister, acknowledged that while these costs may not significantly impact future quarters, the company plans to continue investing heavily in research and development. This expansion strategy includes venturing into new markets, which, while promising, could put pressure on profitability in the short term.

The company’s forecast for gross profit growth in the current quarter—projected to be in the low-twenties percentage range—falls below analysts’ expectations of a 24.2% increase. Additionally, Shopify’s forecast for operating expenses as a percentage of revenue, which is expected to be between 41% and 42%, also exceeded analysts’ expectations, further contributing to investor concerns about potential profitability challenges.