Goldman Sachs has recently issued a research report on Apple's stock, reaffirming its 'Buy' recommendation and setting a 12-month target price of $279, which implies a potential upside of 6.4%. The investment bank anticipates that in Apple's fiscal fourth-quarter financial results for 2025, slated for release on October 30, both revenue and earnings per share will outperform market forecasts. Additionally, it highlights that the influence of third-party payment methods on the App Store's revenue will be relatively contained.

Driven by the remarkable success of the iPhone 17 series and a shift in product mix towards higher-priced models, iPhone revenue is projected to soar to $50.8 billion, marking a 10% year-over-year increase. China Merchants Securities has also weighed in, stating that iPhone sales have surpassed expectations, heralding the commencement of a three-year period of accelerated innovation. They further note that innovations in end-user AI software and the ecosystem will be key areas to monitor in the coming year.