Apple presented its new smartphone, the iPhone 17. The event, held on September 9, attracted everyone’s attention but, despite the great enthusiasm, many financial experts of Wall Street, including those of banks such as HSBCthey are cautious. According to them, the sales of the new iPhone may not be as strong as expected, and the iPhone 17 may not be able to grow the company significantly.
HSBC raises doubts about Apple’s sales
But why are HSBC analysts (one of the main international banks) skeptical on the strength of the sales of the iPhone 17?
During the Keynote of 9 September, Apple presented the new iPhone with a thinner design (Air model da 5,6 mm), cameras e screens improved, battery more lasting. However, the technical specifications had already been anticipated by weeks of news escapes. This reduced the WOW effect and transformed the event into a simple confirmation of expectations.
According to analysts, the presentation was impeccable in form, but without real revolutions able to surprise the market e stimulate a strong question. In practice, innovation, although present, was perceived as predictable. And this aspect is crucial, because the company loses one of its most powerful weapons to tow sales.
Prudence regarding the future of Apple
The HSBC reiterated that investors should keep the actions they already own on 14 September and not to buy new ones, since the Apple title is not expected neither in strong growth nor a significant decline in the near future.
The objective price according to analysts is of 220 dollarsor the value that the action could reach in next 12-18 months.
Also the Loop Capital Markets (LLC), investment bank, already before launch, on August 27th had lowered its forecasts of sale, stating that the new iPhone 17 would have sold as expected, about 20% of the total units, instead of 30% estimated at the initially.
The data mentioned by Loop Capital indicate one strategy chiara: Apple focuses on the Pro and Pro Max models, with higher and more generous margins, at the expense of the Air model, more accessible but less profitable.
It is an approach that makes sense from a financial point of view (maximize profit medium for device) but which risks further restricting the audience of consumers.
However, the risk is to transform the iPhone into an increasingly elitist product, reducing the mass diffusion that for years has guaranteed Apple a vast users’ base.
And if the growth of digital services (App Store, Apple Music, Icloud) depends on the amount of devices in circulation, a contraction of the units sold may have important consequences. That is, if the company turns to a more restricted market, it loses the opportunity to sell to a mass audiencewhich can limit general growth.
It is no coincidence that, while Apple is confirmed as one of the Most solid society in the worldanalysts more and more often talk about better opportunities elsewhere, especially among companies related to artificial intelligence. The narrative of Wall Street seems to be the one according to which AAPL remains a title to be held, but it is no longer the most promising bet.
Con target price between $ 220 and $ 226, the growth potential appears limited, especially if compared with emerging companies that ride more explosive trends, such as Ai, semiconductors or robotics.
The iPhone 17 therefore represents a crucial test bench. Not so much for Apple’s survival – a company with beyond 2,500 billion dollars of capitalization It is an ecosystem of enviable products and services – as for its ability to convince the markets that the myth is still alive.
