Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Trading Up 0.5% - What's Next?

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL - Get Free Report) shares rose 0.5% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $222.10 and last traded at $222.65. Approximately 6,826,417 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 87% from the average daily volume of 52,305,585 shares. The stock had previously closed at $221.53.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on AAPL shares. Argus raised Apple to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a "buy" rating on shares of Apple in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Oppenheimer lowered shares of Apple from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Apple to $236.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed an "underperform" rating on shares of Apple in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, twenty-one have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Apple currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $245.52.

Apple Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $3.27 trillion, a PE ratio of 34.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 1.18. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $230.70 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $233.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.92.

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Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The iPhone maker reported $2.40 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.36 by $0.04. Apple had a return on equity of 160.83% and a net margin of 24.30%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Apple Inc. will post 7.28 EPS for the current year.

Apple Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 13th. Investors of record on Monday, February 10th were issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.46%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 10th. Apple's dividend payout ratio is currently 15.87%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Apple

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Drystone LLC purchased a new position in Apple in the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Bull Oak Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of Apple by 252.3% during the 3rd quarter. Bull Oak Capital LLC now owns 155 shares of the iPhone maker's stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the period. Life Planning Partners Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Apple during the 4th quarter worth about $47,000. Conquis Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Apple in the 4th quarter valued at about $63,000. Finally, LSV Asset Management acquired a new position in Apple in the fourth quarter valued at about $65,000. 67.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Apple Company Profile

Apple Inc designs, manufactures, and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables, and accessories worldwide. The company offers iPhone, a line of smartphones; Mac, a line of personal computers; iPad, a line of multi-purpose tablets; and wearables, home, and accessories comprising AirPods, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats products, and HomePod.