Merrill Lynch Raises Apple Target Price to $49
Merrill Lynch Raises Apple Target Price to $49
by , 6:50 AM EDT, October 14th, 2004
In what is expected to be the first of many analyst recommendations the day after Apple reported its fiscal fourth-quarter profit more than doubled, Merrill Lynch analyst Steve Milunovich raised his price target on Apple Computer shares on Thursday to US$49 from $44.
Mr. Milunovich raised the earnings estimate for fiscal 2005 to $1.20 a share from 95 cents a share. Apple's strong earnings in the quarter were "entirely in iPods as Mac sales suffered from continued shortages of the G5 chip from IBM," Mr. Milunovich wrote to clients. "Because we believe in the 'halo effect' of iPod, the positive impact on Mac sales may still be coming."
The 'halo effect' is the latest buzz word among investment analysts for consumers who have bought or are interested in the company's line of portable music players only to end up buying a Macintosh personal computer as well. Possibly a contributing factor to the 'halo effect': Tim Cook, Apple's Executive Vice President of World Wide Sales and Operations, told analysts Wednesday that 45% to 50% of CPU buyers at Apple's retail stores are former Windows users or new to the Mac.
Observer Comments
Thu Oct 14, 2004 3:12 pm Subject:
Good news indeed! This will be the first of many analyst recommendations to the upside over the next few days.
I suspect several brokerage firms will add coverage of AAPL before the end of the month.
We are following Apple's finances and stock activity in the Apple Finance Board forum. Please join our discussions.
Comments are currently closed. Please email the author instead.
Recent Headlines - Updated February 13th
- Sat, 4:11 PM
- MacOS KenDensed - MacOS KenDensed: iPad 3 Frenzy, Big-time Apple & Steve Jobs, G-Man
- Fri, 8:10 PM
- News - Apple Sues Motorola Mobility in California Over German Case
- 7:54 PM
- Free on iTunes - OnLive Desktop: Windows & Office on Your iPad
- 7:43 PM
- Product News - Apple Rolls Out MacBook Air Configurations for Education
- 6:35 PM
- Just a Peek - Battle Pocket Bulge With The Hint for iPhone
- 6:01 PM
- Rumor - Apple Reportedly Bringing MacBook Air Styling to Pro Line
- 4:50 PM
- Particle Debris - The Hidden Gotchas of Browser Security
- 3:56 PM
- Apple Stock Watch - Analyst: Paying a Dividend Makes Sense for Apple
- 2:58 PM
- Deal Brothers - iMac 27-inch 2.93GHz Intel Quad-Core i7 processor: $1,999
- 2:45 PM
- In-Depth Review - Theodolite App for iOS is Breathtaking
- 12:52 PM
- Apple Stock Watch - Mizuho Securities Starts Apple Coverage with $635 Target
- 11:35 AM
- Hot Forum Topic - Forum Poll: Are You Planning on Buying a New iPad?
The Mac Observer Reader Specials
TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct
from Strider Software.
Mac RAM Upgrades: MacBook Pro 16GB kits $475, 8GB Kits for $119.99! iMac 16GB RAM Kits (4x 4GB) for $229.99! Mac Pro Memory 32GB Kit for $399.99, 64GB Kit for $889.99! Mac Hard Drives 2TB Seagate SATA II for $249.99! Click Here!
If you're using a Mac, then you've gotta check out Online Poker Mac.
This mac poker and online casino mac site
actually does the unthinkable, it actually rewards!
