How to Trade Apple After Fiscal Q4 Earnings Performance

January 13, 2026 07:56

Light bulb with candlestick bars inside it against a blue background, text: ‘How to Trade Apple. Trade Idea of the Week’

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is a global technology company whose products are a familiar part of everyday life. From iPhones and Macs to Apple Watches, the company designs consumer electronics that millions rely on daily.  The company also offers digital services such as the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, and Apple TV+, all built to work seamlessly across its devices. 

Apple recently reported its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings. Here’s a closer look at the performance and what analysts are forecasting for the stock.  

This material is for informational purposes only and not financial advice. Consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Stock: Apple Inc. 
Symbol for Invest.MT5 Account: AAPL
Date of Idea: 12 January 2026 
Timeline: 1-12 months
Entry Level: $288.60 
Target Level: $350.00 
Position Size for Invest.MT5 Account: Max 5%
Risk: High
  • The Invest.MT5 account allows you to buy real stocks and shares from some of the largest stock exchanges in the world.
  • Risk Warning: Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results or future performance. All trading is high risk, and you can lose more than you risk on a trade. Never invest more than you can afford to lose as some trades will lose and some trades will win. Start small to understand your own risk tolerance levels or practice on a demo account first to build your knowledge before investing.
  • Trading is not suitable for everyone. Trading is highly speculative and carries a significant risk of loss. While it offers potential opportunities, it also involves high volatility, and leveraged trading can amplify both gains and losses. Retail investors should fully understand these risks before trading.

Trade Apple Inc.

Apple’s Fiscal Q4 Earnings Performance Summary  

Performance Metric Actual Result Expected Result Beat or Miss?
Earnings per Share $1.85  $1.77  Beat
Revenue $102.47 billion  $102.24 billion  Beat

Key Takeaways 

  • Apple delivered strong fiscal fourth-quarter results, with total revenue of $102.5 billion, up 8% year-on-year (YoY).
  • Diluted earnings per share rose to $1.85, an increase of 13% YoY.
  • The company achieved September quarter records for total company revenue, iPhone revenue and EPS, alongside a new all-time high in services revenue. 
  • Segment-wise revenue: 
    • iPhone: $49.03 B (+6.0% YoY)
    • Services: $28.75 B (+14.0% YoY)
    • Mac: $8.73 B (+12.1% YoY)
    • iPad: $6.95 B (flat)
    • Wearables, Home & Accessories: $9.01 B (-0.3% YoY) 
  • Looking ahead to the December quarter, Apple CEO Timothy Cook said in an interview with CNBC, “We expect total company revenue to grow by 10 to 12% year over year. We expect iPhone revenue to grow double digits, year over year, and we expect that that would make the December quarter the best ever in the history of the company.” 
Source: Apple’s Quarterly Results and Press Release 

 

Apple’s 12-Month Analyst Stock Price Forecast 

According to 32 Wall Street analysts, polled by TipRanks, offering a 12-month stock price forecast for Apple over the past 3 months:   

  • Buy Ratings: 19
  • Hold Ratings: 11
  • Sell Ratings: 2 
  • Average Price Target: $299.49
  • High Price Target: $350.00
  • Low Price Target: $230.00
Apple Stock Price Analyst Forecast from Admiral Markets Group Macroscope
Source: Admiral Markets Stock List Macroscope, Apple Inc. Date Captured: 12 January 2026. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. 

 

Trading Strategy Example: Apple Inc. 

The following trading examples are for educational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Investors should conduct independent research before making trading decisions. An example trading idea for the Apple share price could be as follows: 

Entry: Break above the post-earnings high at $288.60 
Target: Just below the highest analyst price target at $350.00 
Risk: Small, maximum 5% of the account 
Timeline: 1-12 months 
TRADE EXAMPLE  
Buy 10 Apple Shares: $2,886.00 (10 * $288.60) 
If Target Reached: $614.00 potential profit [($350.00 - $288.60) * 10] 
If Target Not Reached: Let's say a trader decided to close the trade below their entry price, at the lowest analyst price target at $230.00. This would result in a $586.00 loss [($288.60 - $230.00) * 10]
Invest.MT5 Account Commission: 10 shares * $0.02 per share for US stocks = $0.20 (Triggers Minimum Transaction Fee of $1.00) 

Remember, markets are volatile, and the share price of Apple will fluctuate and may even trend lower. While Apple benefits from a diversified business across products and services, its valuation remains sensitive to factors such as demand for its products, consumer spending trends, and broader market sentiment. Moreover, the stock is trading very close to its all-time high and could also see short-term pullbacks.  

How to Buy Apple Stock in 4 Steps  

  1. Open an account with Admiral Markets and complete the onboarding process to access the dashboard.
  2. Click on Trade or Invest on one of your live or demo accounts to open the web platform.
  3. Search for your stock in the search window at the top.
  4. Input your entry, stop-loss and take profit levels in the trading ticket.
Apple's Monthly Share Price Chart from Admiral Markets Group MT5 WebTrader
Source: Admiral Markets MetaTrader 5 Webtrader. Apple Inc. Monthly chart. Date: August 2015 to January 2026, captured on 12 January 2026. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results or future performance. For illustrative purposes only. 

 

Trade Apple Inc.

 

Do You See the Apple Stock Price Moving Differently? 

If you believe there is a higher chance that the share price of Apple will move lower, you can also trade short using CFDs (Contracts for Difference). However, these have higher associated risks and are not suitable for all investors. Learn more about CFDs in this How to Trade CFDs article.  

INFORMATION ABOUT ANALYTICAL MATERIALS:

The given data provides additional information regarding all analysis, estimates, prognosis, forecasts, market reviews, weekly outlooks or other similar assessments or information (hereinafter “Analysis”) published on the websites of Admiral Markets investment firms operating under the Admiral Markets trademark (hereinafter “Admiral Markets”) Before making any investment decisions please pay close attention to the following:

  • This is a marketing communication. The content is published for informative purposes only and is in no way to be construed as investment advice or recommendation. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research, and that it is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.
  • Any investment decision is made by each client alone whereas Admiral Markets shall not be responsible for any loss or damage arising from any such decision, whether or not based on the content.
  • With view to protecting the interests of our clients and the objectivity of the Analysis, Admiral Markets has established relevant internal procedures for prevention and management of conflicts of interest.
  • The Analysis is prepared by an analyst (hereinafter “Author”). The Author Clarice Mendonsa is a contractor for Admiral Markets. This content is a marketing communication and does not constitute independent financial research.
  • Whilst every reasonable effort is taken to ensure that all sources of the content are reliable and that all information is presented, as much as possible, in an understandable, timely, precise and complete manner, Admiral Markets does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained within the Analysis.
  • Any kind of past or modelled performance of financial instruments indicated within the content should not be construed as an express or implied promise, guarantee or implication by Admiral Markets for any future performance. The value of the financial instrument may both increase and decrease and the preservation of the asset value is not guaranteed.
  • Leveraged products (including contracts for difference) are speculative in nature and may result in losses or profit. Before you start trading, please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved.

Clarice Mendonsa
Clarice Mendonsa Financial Writer, Admiral Markets

Clarice is a financial writer who creates blogs, newsletters, and education materials for Admiral Markets, blending her trading experience and market analysis expertise to deliver insightful content on financial markets.

help-icon Live chat