Apple's Rally Pressures New CEO John Ternus to Deliver on Foldable iPhone Launch
Apple Inc.'s stock has surged by 15% since June, driven largely by anticipation for the upcoming foldable iPhone launch. The new CEO, John Ternus—who took over from Tim Cook in September—is under pressure to deliver strong results as Apple prepares its most anticipated product event in years. With a projected starting price of $2,300–$2,500 and expected sales contributing 16% of iPhone revenue for the quarter, the foldable phone is seen as critical to maintaining growth momentum. Apple's stock remains down about 7% from its July high despite strong performance relative to other tech giants. The company faces challenges including rising memory costs and investor skepticism around pricing strategies that could impact sales volume or profit margins. Analysts are closely watching whether Apple can raise prices without deterring customers, as this will likely influence the market's reaction. The product launch is expected to drive a significant portion of revenue in fiscal 2026, with analysts forecasting a 15% year-over-year increase. While past iPhone launches have sometimes led to short-term stock declines, Apple has historically seen an average gain of 10% over the six months following new device unveilings.
Topics: Apple CEO transition foldable iPhone stock performance