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Apple just delivered another earnings beat, shares are hovering near all-time highs around $290, and now Wall Street’s loudest bull is doubling down.
Wedbush’s Daniel Ives – consistently Apple’s most bullish analyst – is out with a bold call: 37% upside to his $350 price target.
Is this the catalyst that finally sends AAPL to new stratosphere levels in 2026, or is the Street-high target getting ahead of reality? Let’s break it down with the data.”
The Bull Case According to Dan Ives
- Current Price: ~$287–$292
- Ives’ Target: $350
- Implied Upside: Approximately 37%
- Rating: Outperform (reiterated)
Ives argues 2026 is the year Apple finally enters the AI revolution at scale. Key drivers he highlights:
- Strong iPhone 17 momentum, especially in China
- Services growth acceleration
- AI features starting to meaningfully move the needle
- Massive installed base ready for upgrades and new monetization
This isn’t hype from a newbie – Ives has been one of the most accurate voices on Apple for years.
Why the Optimism Feels Warranted Right Now
Apple’s latest quarter showed real strength:
- Record March quarter revenue
- iPhone sales rebounding
- Services hitting new highs with strong margins
- $100 billion+ share repurchase authorization signaling confidence
Plus, record iPhone upgrade intentions (37% in recent surveys) point to a potentially super-cycle with the iPhone 17 and eventual foldable devices.
Wall Street consensus target sits lower (~$300–$310), but the highest calls like Ives’ and others around $335+ reflect belief in Apple’s ecosystem moat and long-term optionality in AI, foldables, and enterprise.
The Bear Case – Why Not Everyone Is Convinced
Even bulls acknowledge challenges:
- High valuation (forward P/E elevated vs. historical averages)
- Competition in AI from OpenAI, Google, and hardware peers
- China macro and geopolitical risks
- Need to prove AI features drive meaningful hardware upgrades
If growth slows or AI monetization disappoints at WWDC or beyond, the premium multiple could compress.
Investment Takeaways for Smart Money
Bull Scenario (Ives’ View): Apple executes on AI + services + product cycle → $350+ becomes realistic as market cap pushes toward $4.5T–$5T territory.
Base Case: Steady 10–15% annual returns driven by buybacks, services, and modest growth – still attractive for a mega-cap compounder.
Risk-Managed Approach:
- Dollar-cost average on dips
- Watch WWDC 2026 closely for AI roadmap clarity
- Pair with broader tech exposure for diversification
Our Channel View: Apple remains a core long-term holding for quality growth portfolios. Ives’ 37% call is aggressive but directionally points to meaningful upside if execution stays strong. The bar is high, but history shows betting against Apple’s ecosystem has been a painful trade.
What do you think? Is $350 in the cards for AAPL this cycle, or is the bull case getting too frothy? Drop your price target and reasoning in the comments – especially if you’re an investor or allocator.
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Stay disciplined. Stay alpha. I’ll see you in the next one.