Apple's Split Launch Strategy Sparks Concerns Over Short-Term Sales Decline

Apple's decision to split its iPhone launch into two separate events, one in September and another in spring 2027, has sparked concerns from KeyBanc that it may hurt Apple's sales in the short term. According to the investment firm, this strategy could lead investors to focus on the higher prices of the new iPhones, which are predicted to start at $1,249 for the iPhone 18 Pro and $2,199 for the foldable iPhone Ultra.

KeyBanc predicts that Apple will build 80 million iPhones across fiscal Q4 2026 and Q1 2027, down 11 million year over year. However, despite this forecast, KeyBanc has retained its price target of $250 for AAPL stock, which is currently trading at $329.97.

However, some analysts are skeptical about KeyBanc's predictions, pointing out that the firm has a history of being overly pessimistic about Apple's prospects. In fact, KeyBanc has been consistently wrong about Apple's success over the years, yet continues to maintain its bearish stance.