Ternus' Foldable iPhone Challenge: Can Apple Deliver Another Era of Growth?

Apple's highly anticipated iPhone launch has arrived, and investors are closely watching John Ternus as he takes the stage for the first time as Apple CEO. The company is introducing a foldable model, which could redefine its flagship product and open up a new premium category.

The stakes are high for Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook on September 1, as he tries to convince Wall Street that Apple can deliver another era of product innovation. The launch also comes against an interesting backdrop for Apple stock, which has mostly struggled on the day new iPhones are revealed.

Historical data shows that Apple's stock fell on five of the eight previous launch days, with the iPhone 12 launch producing the steepest decline. This year, the iPhone Duo, as it will be called, is expected to start at $2,000 and could approach $3,000 for higher-storage versions.

Ternus faces pressure to prove Apple can sustain growth beyond the Cook era, which saw revenue climb towards half a trillion dollars and the stock gain roughly 2,300%. Retail sentiment on Stocktwits remains bearish, with traders speculating about price action on Wednesday.