Apple Stock Climbs to Record Levels After Stellar iPhone 17 Launch

Apple shares soared nearly 4% on Monday, closing at a record $262.24, as the company’s latest iPhone 17 series shattered early sales expectations in both the United States and China. According to a new report by Counterpoint Research, iPhone 17 sales outpaced the previous generation by 14% within the first 10 days of launch — a strong signal of consumer enthusiasm despite a cooling global smartphone market.

The iPhone 17 series, unveiled in September, appears to be resonating with consumers for its combination of performance upgrades and steady pricing. The base model features Apple’s new A19 Bionic chip, an improved OLED display with higher brightness, enhanced selfie camera quality, and expanded storage — all offered at the same starting price as last year’s iPhone 16.

Analysts See Strong Upside Ahead

The bullish sentiment from Wall Street grew stronger after Loop Capital upgraded Apple from hold to buy, citing higher-than-expected global demand for the iPhone 17. The firm raised its price target to $315 per share from $226, signaling confidence in Apple’s continued growth through 2027.

“While Wall Street already expects strong performance from the iPhone 17 family, we see even greater upside potential that hasn’t yet been fully priced in,” wrote Loop Capital’s Ananda Baruah in a note to clients.

This comes as analysts forecast that Apple could ship more than 85 million iPhone 17 units globally by year’s end, compared to roughly 74 million iPhone 16 units in the same timeframe last year.

China Market Strengthens Apple’s Outlook

China, one of Apple’s most important markets, has shown a strong rebound in consumer demand. Last week, CEO Tim Cook made a high-profile visit to Beijing, meeting with local government officials and Apple employees. During his trip, Cook attended the official launch of Apple’s new iPhone Air, a lighter and more affordable variant that sold out within minutes, according to local media reports.

This resurgence in Chinese interest comes despite growing competition from domestic brands like Huawei and Xiaomi, signaling that Apple’s premium ecosystem and loyal customer base remain a major competitive advantage.

Evercore analyst Amit Daryanani also issued a bullish note on Sunday, maintaining a buy-equivalent rating on Apple stock and predicting a strong quarterly performance. “We believe Apple is well positioned to outperform expectations for the September quarter,” Daryanani wrote, hinting at possible revenue growth driven by iPhone and wearable sales.

iPhone 17 Series Outperforms in Key Markets

The U.S. and China together account for over 60% of Apple’s total iPhone sales, making their strong early adoption figures particularly significant. Retail partners and carriers in both countries have reported brisk sales, with several iPhone 17 Pro configurations already facing delivery delays of up to three weeks due to high demand.

Counterpoint’s senior analyst Mengmeng Zhang highlighted that the iPhone 17’s success stems from perceived value: “Consumers see this as a no-brainer purchase — it’s faster, better, and more capable, yet priced the same as last year’s model.”

Stock Performance and Market Context

Despite volatility earlier this year, Apple’s stock has gained momentum in recent months. Shares are up about 5% in 2025 overall, though still trailing other mega-cap tech peers such as Nvidia, Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet. However, over the last three months, Apple has rallied more than 24%, signaling renewed investor confidence ahead of the company’s upcoming earnings report.

The latest surge in Apple’s valuation adds nearly $140 billion to its market capitalization, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s most valuable publicly traded companies.

Outlook

As Apple enters the final quarter of 2025, the company appears well-positioned for continued momentum. Strong iPhone 17 sales, increased consumer spending in China, and a favorable analyst outlook all point to a potentially record-breaking holiday season.

Investors and analysts alike will be watching closely as Apple prepares to announce its September-quarter earnings next week — a report that could further cement the company’s comeback narrative and drive the next leg of its stock market rally.