Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) regains the top spot in global smartphones! Wedbush continues to be bullish: supported by four major positive factors, it is expected to rise by 35% this year.

Wedbush maintains its "outperform" rating on Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) and a target price of $350, representing an increase of about 35% from last Friday's closing price, while emphasizing the four key issues that need to be addressed for the stock to reach the target price by 2026. At the same time, according to the preliminary estimates of the market monitoring report by Counterpoint Research, Apple Inc. led the global smartphone market in 2025, with a market share of 20%, a year-on-year growth in shipments of 10%, and ranking first among the top five brands. Samsung ranked second in 2025 with a market share of 19% and a growth rate of 5% year-on-year. Xiaomi maintained third place with a market share of 13%, while Vivo ranked fourth with a 3% year-on-year growth. This is the first time in many years that Apple Inc. has surpassed Samsung, reclaiming the title of the world's largest smartphone manufacturer. According to Counterpoint's data, the last time Apple Inc. topped the global smartphone sales chart was back in 2011. Apple Inc. also led in smartphone shipments in the fourth quarter, accounting for a quarter of global shipments, reaching a record high, followed by Samsung at 17%. Counterpoint Research stated that global smartphone shipments in 2025 increased for the second consecutive year, with a 2% year-on-year growth, mainly due to the improvement in momentum in CKH Holdings' emerging markets. The Wedbush analyst team led by Dan Ives stated, "For Apple Inc. and Cook, this year is of great significance as they will finally lead Apple Inc. into the era of artificial intelligence revolution. The stock price of Apple Inc. has been underperforming this year, with investors worried that this year will once again be a 'wait-and-see' year for Apple Inc.they have been unable to capitalize on the fourth industrial revolution that has already begun. We believe that Wall Street underestimates the growth potential of Apple Inc. in 2026, as we believe Cook and his team will eventually push forward their artificial intelligence strategic roadmap." The analysts added that although Apple Inc. is facing many variables this year, they have proposed four strategic key points that the company needs to execute in 2026, which could increase the share price by about $100 per share. "For Apple Inc., this year is a year of 'proving itself,' and we believe that from the current level, Apple Inc. has significant room for growth, as Apple Inc. remains a core stock in the IVES AI 30 and one of our favorite technology stocks for 2026." Partnership with Alphabet Inc. Class C Gemini Analysts believe that Alphabet's Alphabet Inc. Class C Gemini will become the exclusive partner of Apple Inc.'s artificial intelligence strategy, and Alphabet Inc. Class C's victory over the U.S. Department of Justice certainly paves the way for this goal. The analysts added that with the advancement of the consumer artificial intelligence revolution at Apple Park, Wall Street is eagerly anticipating an official flagship collaboration between the two in the field of artificial intelligence. Timely launch of the all-new upgraded artificial intelligence Siri Analysts stated that developers and consumers are eagerly awaiting the release of the all-new improved Siri in March/April. The analysts pointed out that this personal assistant will be a responsive product from Apple Inc. to machine learning models such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Perplexity. Analysts expect Apple Inc. to launch an artificial intelligence-driven subscription service for its consumer users this summer. Successful sales of iPhone 17, handing over the baton to iPhone 18 According to Counterpoint Research's preliminary estimates of the market monitoring report, Apple Inc. is expected to lead the global smartphone market in 2025, with a market share of 20% and a year-on-year growth in shipments of 10%, ranking first among the top five brands. Senior analyst Varun Mishra commented on Apple Inc.'s performance, stating, "Apple Inc.'s growth in 2025 is attributed to its expanding market share and growing demand in emerging and mid-sized markets, as well as a stronger product portfolio. The iPhone 17 series received significant market recognition in the fourth quarter after a successful launch, while the iPhone 16 continued to maintain excellent sales performance in Japan, India, and Southeast Asia markets. The upgrade cycle during the COVID-19 pandemic has reached a turning point, with millions of users needing to upgrade to new devices, further enhancing Apple Inc.'s double-digit growth momentum." Ives and his team believe that iPhone sales in 2026 are likely to exceed Wall Street's current expectations for Apple Inc. The analysts stated, "We see particularly strong performance in the Chinese market, which should continue to show growth, providing sustained growth momentum for Apple Inc. at the end of the iPhone 17 cycle and with the launch of iPhone 18 in September this year." Analysts believe that the rise in average selling price (ASP) and the eventual launch of a foldable phone (likely to be introduced during the iPhone 18 product cycle in September) will be key factors. Analysts pointed out that due to rising global production costs, the average selling price of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models is expected to increase by about $100, which has become a concerning issue in terms of product gross margin. Tarun Pathak, Director of Research at Counterpoint, commented on the market outlook, stating, "Due to the shortage of DRAM/NAND flash memory and rising component costs, the global smartphone market is expected to slow down in 2026, as chip manufacturers prioritize the development of artificial intelligence data centers over smartphones. The trend of rising smartphone prices has already begun. In this context, we have lowered our shipment expectations for 2026 by 3%. Although supply shortages will put pressure on shipments, Apple Inc. and Samsung may maintain resilience with stronger supply chain capabilities and a focus on the high-end market, while OEM manufacturers focusing on the low-end segment will face greater pressure." Amid speculation, Cook announces he will continue to serve as CEO Ives and his team stated, "There are increasing rumors that CEO Cook will resign within the next year. We disagree with this claim and believe that Cook will continue to serve as CEO of Apple Inc. at least until the end of 2027, as this period is crucial for Apple Inc., as it will formulate and execute its broader artificial intelligence revolution strategy." The analysts pointed out that Apple Inc. has finally begun to take an offensive strategy, bringing in more artificial intelligence talent to enhance the company's intelligent capabilities, including hiring renowned artificial intelligence researcher Amar Subramanya from outside.