Apple: Citigroup Maintains Buy Rating, Raises PT to $245 from $240

Apple: Citigroup Maintains Buy Rating, Raises PT to $245 from $240

Citigroup has maintained its "Buy" rating on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) while raising the price target (PT) to $245 from $240. This represents a potential upside of 20.30% from the current price. The move comes after Apple's impressive Q2 results, which saw earnings per share (EPS) of $1.57, beating analysts' expectations by $0.14, and revenue growing by 9.6% year-over-year to $94.04 billion [1].

The financial giant has outperformed the broader market, with its stock soaring 45.5% over the past 52 weeks and 36.1% year-to-date (YTD), surpassing the S&P 500 Index's 17% gains and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLF) 20.2% returns over the same period [1]. The stock gained 3.7% following the Q2 results announcement, reflecting investors' confidence in the company's performance.

Analysts at Citigroup have reiterated their "Outperform" rating on Apple, raising the price target to $245.00, a 20.30% potential upside from the current price [4]. This move is in line with the overall consensus among analysts, who have given the stock a "Moderate Buy" rating, with twelve "Strong Buys," five "Moderate Buys," and six "Holds" [1]. The mean price target of $237.25 represents a modest 5.3% premium to current price levels [1].

Apple's solid earnings surprise history, with the company surpassing Street's bottom-line estimates in each of the past four quarters, has contributed to the positive analyst sentiment [1]. Additionally, the company's strong liquidity ratios, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18 and current and quick ratios both above 1, indicate its ability to manage its financial obligations [3].

For the full fiscal 2025, analysts expect Apple to deliver an EPS of $7.28, up 7.28% year-over-year [1]. The company's commitment to returning value to shareholders through quarterly dividends and share repurchases further supports its bullish outlook.

In summary, Apple's strong financial performance and positive analyst sentiment have led to a raise in its price target, maintaining a "Buy" rating. The company's ability to navigate macro uncertainties and deliver robust financial results positions it well for future growth.

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wall-street-analysts-target-price-081149603.html
[2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/citigroup-raises-jacobs-solutions-price-target-166-00-maintains-buy-rating-2507/
[3] https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/C/forecast/
[4] https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/apple-nasdaqaapl-price-target-raised-to-24500-at-citigroup-2025-08-01/