Analysts Rev Up Apple to Buy as Foldable iPhone Nears

Rothschild & Co Redburn has upgraded Apple to Buy from Neutral, citing the company's planned entry into the foldable smartphone market and a shift in its AI strategy. Analysts led by Timm Schulze-Melander argue that adopting open-source AI models, potentially in partnership with Nvidia, could strengthen Apple's position and reduce its dependence on Google.

The upgrade is also driven by Apple's expected launch of a foldable iPhone in September, which Redburn forecasts will sell 14 million units in fiscal 2027. The analysts expect the device to add 11% to iPhone average selling prices by June 2027.