We have had a barrage of
However, just this morning, ITG came out with a report that said they had raised their iPhone shipment estimates by a bit for the March quarter (Apple FQ2) from 50 million units to 50.7 million units. That would put ITG just a hair above Street consensus of 50.2 million units.
On the flip side, Detwiler Fenton came out with a report that said that demand for the Samsung GS7 is strong while the iPhone is weak.
According to the analyst at Detwiler Fenton, "Samsung is struggling to meet carrier orders while Apple is headed for a steep sequential decline." (Seriously? After all the noise regarding a down quarter and Apple's own dismal guidance, that's all he has?)
Finally, you have
Can you say, "heads I win, tails you lose?"
The most important chatter that has seems to have gone relatively unnoticed thus far is that Digitimes has reported that Foxconn Electronics, the giant electronic manufacturing services company has reportedly received licensing rights from Apple to sell Apple products in China. Foxconn is reportedly in the process of expanding its retail business by setting up retail stores across China. (Foxconn has tried to venture into retail before as well)
If what Digitimes states is accurate, this could be a huge game-changer for Apple in terms of growth and profitability going forward and could also put paid to all this nonsense about slow growth and no-growth we have been hearing for what seems like forever now. It could finally be the game changer that investors and Apple are both looking for although I still think Tim Cook has to go as CEO of Apple.
Shares of Apple are up just under around $0.75 to $107.65 per share with the Nasdaq up 34 basis points to 4,960.
(Long aapl, calls, short weeklies)
