Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) has long attracted students and tech-minded users with its ergonomic approach to computing and communications. Its popularity soared in the 1990s, and even the Tom Hanks movie Forrest Gump referenced its high-growth stock.
Back in 2018, Apple made financial history by becoming the first U.S. company to reach a $1 trillion market cap. Millions of iPhones, MacBooks, iPods, and other Apple products have developed fiercely loyal followings, especially in creative fields like music and video production, graphic design, and many other industries.
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- Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is one of the Magnificent 7 tech stocks and the first U.S. company to reach a $1 trillion market cap.
- With its AI offering expected to be a huge driver of sales and growth prospects for its wearables and services businesses, 24/7 Wall St. projects strong upside for Apple stock through 2030.
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As one of the Magnificent 7 tech stocks, Apple has been a solid industry leader since its late founder, Steve Jobs, passed the helm to then-COO Tim Cook in 2011. The company has since been a ubiquitous success story, with even the notoriously Luddite-prone Warren Buffett buying its stock for a time.
However, investors are much more concerned with future stock performance over the next one, five, to 10 years. While most Wall Street analysts calculate 12-month forward projections, it is clear that nobody has a consistent crystal ball, and plenty of unforeseen circumstances can render even near-term projections irrelevant. 24/7 Wall St. aims to present some farther-looking insights based on Apple’s own numbers, along with business and market development information that may be of help to our readers’ own research.
Apple’s Past Performance
Despite new products, developments in artificial intelligence, and an enviably strong balance sheet, Apple has been dealing with some challenges of late. Some of the top ones from the long list include:
- The U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, alleging it blocks “super” apps, suppresses mobile cloud streaming services, blocks cross-platform messaging apps, limits third-party digital wallets, and limits how well third-party smartwatches work on its platforms. In late June, Apple lost a bid to dismiss that lawsuit.
- Though iPhone 17 demand is strong. Huawei and other competitors continue to gain a greater share of the Chinese smartphone market, while Apple’s share continues to shrink there.
- The prospect of tariffs on hardware manufactured in China could squeeze profit margins.
- And Apple is perceived as being significantly behind competitors like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI in the generative AI space.
Other developments over the past few years:
- 2020 saw Apple end its chip relationship with Intel to go into in-house design with its M1 chip and subsequent M2 chip, made in collaboration with Samsung.
- Apple Wallet launched an installment plan payment platform in 2023 in the wake of high inflation as a means to help customers finance Apple product purchases.
- In February 2024, a federal judge ruled in Apple’s favor and dismissed an antitrust lawsuit that claimed that it had illegally monopolized the United States market on heart rate apps for the Apple Watch.
- Apple’s lawsuit with Epic Games over antitrust practices was ruled in its favor, but it revealed Apple’s predatory marketing practices to the general public.
- Earlier this year, Apple committed to investing over $500 billion in the United States over the next four years.
- Apple Intelligence and a Liquid Glass design were unveiled at the WWDC 2025 conference in June. A new chief operating officer assumed the reins in July, and Apple has expanded its global retail footprint.
- Apple unveiled its M5 chip and included it in iPads, MacBooks, and other products.
| Fiscal Year (Sept) | Price | Revenues | Net Income |
| 2015 | $27.58 | $233.72 B | $53.39 B |
| 2016 | $28.26 | $215.64 B | $45.69 B |
| 2017 | $38.53 | $229.23 B | $48.35 B |
| 2018 | $56.44 | $265.60 B | $59.53 B |
| 2019 | $55.99 | $260.17 B | $55.26 B |
| 2020 | $115.81 | $274.52 B | $57.41 B |
| 2021 | $141.50 | $365.82 B | $94.68 B |
| 2022 | $138.20 | $394.24 B | $99.80 B |
| 2023 | $171.21 | $383.29 B | $97.00 B |
| 2024 | $250.42 | $391.04 B | $93.70 B |
Key Drivers for the Stock
Free software update Apple Intelligence is expected to be a huge driver of sales for the next half-decade. The processing power requirements for AI use will drive users to upgrade to the latest M5 chip or other equipped iPhones, MacBooks, and other devices.
Apple’s wearables segment, with significant emphasis on Vision Pro, Apple Watch, and AirPods, may receive a huge marketing push in the coming years. All these products are slated for substantial updates and act as key growth drivers for the company.
Apple services, already past the 1 billion subscription milestone, should continue to grow, thanks to new content like the popular Severance and The Studio, as well as flexible virtual credit card installment payments for Apple Wallet, and iCloud storage for AI projects.
Stock Price Prediction for 2025
The consensus recommendation of 48 Wall Street analysts who follow the stock is to buy shares, with four of them having Strong Buy ratings. The mean 12-month price target on Apple stock has risen to $280.46, but would be a gain of 4.0% from the current price. 24/7 Wall St.’s projected price for 2025 is $259.40, or almost a 4% pullback.
We believe that mounting global regulatory and legal pressure, as well as weak sales and geopolitical risks, will slow, but not reverse, developments with Apple Intelligence, services, and wearables toward greater popularity. Nevertheless, the company should be able to gain momentum heading into the 2025 Christmas season.
Apple’s Outlook for the Next Few Years
Apple’s historical P/E ratio for the past decade is 20.72, so we have conservatively calculated the price numbers with a 20 P/E.
| EPS | P/E Multiple | Price | |
| 2025 | $12.97 | 20 | $259.40 |
| 2026 | $13.34 | 20 | $266.80 |
| 2027 | $15.72 | 20 | $314.40 |
| 2028 | $18.05 | 20 | $361.00 |
| 2029 | $20.59 | 20 | $411.80 |
| 2030 | $23.93 | 20 | $478.60 |
24/7 Wall St. projects a 2026 price of $266.80. This would be marginally lower than the current share price. The initial Apple Intelligence campaign that started in 2024 and continued through 2025 may have run its course. iPhone sales, which still comprised over half of Apple’s total revenues, as of 2024, as well as iPad MacBook sales, will continue, but likely slow down until the next campaign cycle. Toward the end of 2026, we think the company will finally resolve its Masimo Apple Watch app lawsuit, as well as its U.S. government labor and DOJ issues, which should help in 2027.
In 2027, Apple TV+ original content should build on the popularity of Severance and Ted Lasso with both new TV series and feature films. With top-notch talent, like Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, and many others starring in Apple TV+ original programming, subscription growth should offer a boost to revenues. Additional products, like AirPods and HomePods, should also see sales growth commensurate with other media-related subscription upswings. We project a 2027 price of $314.40.
2028 is a year of “what-ifs.” On the bullish side, we think that Apple will continue on the trajectory established in 2027 with new programming for Apple TV+ and ancillary media device sales.
However, some geopolitical analysts in the U.S. Department of Defense believe that China may be prepared to annex Taiwan by the end of 2027. Apple is dependent on Taiwan Semiconductor for its M4 and other chips.
With Huawei successfully dominating the Chinese smartphone market, an invasion of Taiwan could cripple MacBook Air and Pro production, as well as other devices that Apple does not already assemble in Vietnam or other nations. The resulting events would severely affect Apple’s operations, forcing it to concentrate on the U.S. domestic and European markets. We project a 2028 price of $361.00, based on China staying its hand. Otherwise, the target price would be half of that if an invasion were to commence.
Apple’s wearables—which include its Vision Pro VR devices, Apple Watch, and others—should see a jump in popularity in 2029. The latest iterations of these devices, equipped with Apple Intelligence, will likely get collaborative marketing deals with celebrities and fashion designers for mass marketing campaigns. Our projected 2029 price is $411.80.
The Share Price in 2030
By 2030, Apple Intelligence could be fully integrated with all Apple devices and services in its ecosystem, as well as with IoT devices outside the Apple Universe. It would likely feature new updates and added premium features available by subscription. The latest Apple Intelligence iteration will likely demand even greater computing power and speed, conveniently available only with the latest iPhone, iPad, and Mac equipped with an even more powerful processor. Intense marketing to demonstrate the lifestyle convenience available for those who are “all-in” with the Apple Digital Universe will drive sales across the board.
24/7 Wall St. predicts a stock price of $478.60 in 2030, which represents more than 77% upside potential. Here is another look at how it gets there:
| Price Target | Upside Potential | |
| 2025 | $259.40 | −3.8% |
| 2026 | $266.80 | −1.1% |
| 2027 | $314.40 | 16.5% |
| 2028 | $361.00 | 33.8% |
| 2029 | $411.80 | 52.6% |
| 2030 | $478.60 | 77.4% |
Here’s What’s in the iPhone 17
The image featured for this article is © 24/7 Wall St.