Analyst Raises iPad Estimates, Ups AAPL Target to $265

BMO analyst Keith Bachman has raised his iPad sales estimates for 2011 to 7.2 million units — a 30.09% increase — and he told clients that his estimates of 2.5 million units for 2010 may prove to be conservative. Based on this as well as increased Mac sales and the effects of an iPhone refresh this Summer, the analyst raised his price target for AAPL to US$265 per share, up from $250.

Fortune reported the research note to clients, and said that Mr. Bachman’s reasoning revolves around several contributing factors. For one thing, he thinks that Apple’s iPad could conceivably capture as much as 11% of the existing Wintel and Linux netbook market. At 40 million units in 2010, that would represent a sizable chunk of unit sales for Apple.

To that end, he noted that cheap netbooks running Microsoft Windows 7 take two minutes to boot up, and that people who pick up or try the iPad will likely consider it substantially more responsive.

He also said that Apple should be able to grab 35% to 40% of the tablet and e-reader market, calling it a cinch. His estimates are that the tablet market will be 17 to 22 million units in 2011 and that the e-reader market will see 5 million units in 2011.

All combined, he sees Apple moving 7.2 million iPads in 2011.

In the early afternoon trading session, shares in Apple Inc. are trading higher at $230.29 per share, higher by $0.92 (+0.40%), on moderate volume.