Apple’s stock valuation level, market expectations, and target price as of March 06, 2025

Apple’s stock valuation level, market expectations, and target price as of March 06, 2025: Apple Stock Valuation Level Apple Inc. (AAPL) is currently one of the most valuable companies globally, with a market capitalization exceeding $3.5 trillion USD as reported in late February 2025. Its valuation is often assessed through key metrics such as the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio, which stands at approximately 35.7x based on recent data. This is higher than the global tech industry average of 21.7x, suggesting that Apple trades at a premium compared to its peers. This elevated P/E reflects strong investor confidence in Apple’s future growth, particularly driven by its ecosystem and services segment, though some analysts argue it may indicate overvaluation relative to intrinsic value estimates (e.g., one analysis pegs intrinsic value at $163.14 USD versus a market price of around $241.84 USD, suggesting a 33% overvaluation under certain models). Market Expectations Market expectations for […]

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Palantir Stock Rises After Two-Day Slump. Where Wall Street Thinks the Shares Go Next.

Friday looks set to be a crucial day for Palantir Technologies’ after its two-day 15% slump as investors assess whether the weakness is a blip, or something more sustained. The shares are pointing 1.1% higher ahead of the open so the damage seems to have paused for now. It’s still the third-best performer in the S&P 500 this year, climbing 40% so far in 2025. Two things in particular spooked investors earlier this week — CEO Alex Karp’s new plan to sell up to $1.2 billion worth of shares and reports that the Trump administration has warned the U.S. Department of Defense about budget cuts. The data analytics company has a number of military contracts for the use of its artificial intelligence technology. Both of those things, in the context of Palantir’s impressive rally and lofty valuation, have been cause for concern and raised questions over whether a period of

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Salesforce’s Q4 Results Likely to Top ‘Low Bar,’ Oppenheimer Says

Salesforce (CRM) is in a slightly stronger “operating environment” in Q4 with stock valuation at reasonable levels, given its growth prospects and cash generation, Oppenheimer said in an earnings preview Friday. The cloud-based software company is expected to deliver positive Q4 results that should “exceed a low bar” and constructive updates on Agentforce, although guidance may fall short of some investors’ estimates, Oppenheimer said. The company is due to report Q4 results on Wednesday. Oppenheimer analysts said they project revenue of about $10 billion for Q4 and predict $2.60 in earnings per share for the quarter. Investor sentiment on Salesforce turned more cautious this year due to a sales leadership transition that may affect the company’s go-to-market approach in 2025, as well as the uncertain timing of revenue from Agentforce, the investment firm said. The upcoming departure of Salesforce’s president and COO was unexpected, raising worries about possible sales restructuring

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Walmart’s Fiscal Q4 Results ‘Solid’ Despite Flipkart Sale Timing Shift, Deutsche Bank Says

Walmart (WMT) reported “solid” fiscal Q4 results despite the change in schedule of Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale as China and Canada units’ performance remained strong, Deutsche Bank said in a note Friday. The company’s Q4 same store sales and total sales in China jumped 23.1% and 27.7%, respectively, while Canada posted 5.8% same store sales growth and 5.5% increase in net sales, according to the note. “SSS, by our calculation, accelerated to +8.3% vs. +6.1% in Q3, driven by successful festive events across markets and robust general merchandise growth,” Deutsche Bank said. The retail giant’s fiscal 2025 guidance had “some noise,” with a bigger-than-anticipated 80 basis points profitability growth drag from Vizio, the note said, adding that Walmart’s initial 2025 earnings before interest and taxes growth range of 5% to 7% is “solid.” Deutsche Bank lowered Walmart’s price target to $113 from $115, and maintained a buy rating on

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Walmart Continues Market Share Gains Despite Slower Q4 Growth, UBS Says

Walmart (WMT) continues to gain market share and expand its alternative revenue streams despite a slight slowdown in sales growth during Q4, UBS Securities said in a report emailed Friday. Walmart (WMT) reported fiscal Q4 adjusted earnings Thursday of $0.66 per diluted share, up from $0.60 a year ago, with revenue rising to $180.55 billion from $173.39 billion. The retail giant reported a 4.6% increase in US comparable sales, though eCommerce growth moderated to 20% from 22% in recent quarters. Walmart still exceeded the mid-point of its EPS guidance by about 11%, reinforcing investor confidence in its long-term strategy, UBS said. The company’s transformation efforts, including growth in advertising, marketplace sales, and store-fulfilled delivery, are driving profitability, with alternative revenue streams adding over $250 million to operating income and global advertising revenue rising 29% in Q4, UBS said. Walmart projected 2025 EPS between $2.50 and $2.60, below the consensus estimate

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Walmart to See Sustained Gross Margin Expansion as Share Gains Continue, BofA Says

Walmart’s (WMT) long-term profitability is improving, supported by gains from high-margin digital advertising and seller fees in its third-party marketplace online channel, BofA Securities said Friday in a report. The retail store chain is also experiencing broad-based market share gains, offering “strong value and digital convenience,” the report said after the company posted a “strong” fiscal Q4. BofA reiterated its buy recommendation on the stock and $120 price target. The firm trimmed its earnings per share estimates for fiscal years 2026 to 2028 in line with Walmart’s long-term algorithm. In fiscal 2026, BofA expects EPS of $2.65, down from $2.70, with 2027 at $2.90, down from $3, and 2028 at $3.10, down from $3.30. Walmart’s gross margin expansion is expected to continue “as growth in higher-margin ancillary businesses including digital advertising, 3P Marketplace and Fulfillment Services help offset sales mix headwinds,” BofA said.

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UnitedHealth Refutes WSJ Report on New DOJ Probe; Stock Tumbles Intraday

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) on Friday refuted claims by The Wall Street Journal that the US Department of Justice had launched an investigation into the health insurer’s Medicare billing practices. The Journal reported Friday, citing sources, that the DOJ was looking into UnitedHealth’s protocol for recording diagnoses that prompt additional payments to its Medicare Advantage, or MA, plans. The Journal said that the new civil fraud investigation was launched in recent months. Prior WSJ reports show that Medicare paid the company “billions of dollars” for dubious diagnoses, according to the latest report by the Journal. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General is also involved in the latest probe, the Journal reported Friday. UnitedHealth’s shares were down 8.9% in afternoon trade. “We are not aware of the ‘launch’ of any ‘new’ activity as reported by the Journal,” the company said in a statement. “Any suggestion that our

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Comcast Is a Complicated Company. Its Stock Presents a Clear and Simple Opportunity.

Comcast has a discounted stock, a lucrative business, and a restive shareholder base. That’s a good setup for investors. Plenty could go right for the cable and entertainment conglomerate, including a corporate breakup, with Comcast’s low valuation offering downside protection. The company has attractive assets that are valued at a fraction of its replacement cost. Comcast controls the largest broadband footprint in the U.S. with 31.8 million subscribers. It owns NBC, Universal Pictures, Universal theme parks, European satellite TV operator Sky, the Peacock streaming service, and cable properties including CNBC, MSNBC, USA Networks, and Bravo. The Philadelphia-based company even owns the hometown Flyers of the National Hockey League. Barron’s Jack Hough earlier this year called Comcast ” America’s most complicated company,” and that highlights the simplification opportunity. The shares, at about $36, are down 40% from their 2021 peak of $61 and badly trailed the S&P 500 index over the

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TJX Stock May Be T.J. Maxx’s Best Bargain

After two good years for the industry, the off-price retailer could be set for a great one in 2025. By Teresa Rivas TJX Cos. has seen its stock double in the past five years, and it could be poised to continue this run. Off-price retailers have been gaining market share for years, boosted by inflation-weary consumers hunting for bargains. As the industry leader, TJX — which operates T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods, and Marshalls stores — buys excess inventory from other retailers and manufacturers, sells it at deep discounts, and commands some of the best merchandise along with well-heeled shoppers. That has pushed the stock’s valuation to close to its highest level since the pandemic. Despite its recent strength, there are still plenty of catalysts that could lift the stock even higher. The retail industry looks a lot like it did in 2022, when strong demand led stores to overorder, only to

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UnitedHealth Stock Falls on Report DOJ Investigating Its Medicare Billing

UnitedHealth Group stock tumbled in premarket trading Friday following a report that said the Justice Department had launched a civil fraud investigation into the company’s Medicare billing practices. The stock fell 8.8% to $458 in premarket trading. The DOJ probe aims to examine the healthcare company’s practices for documenting diagnoses that trigger extra payments to its Medicare Advantage plans, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Under the current system, the federal government pays insurers a fixed amount each month to oversee enrollees’ Medicare benefits. These payments can increase when patients have certain diagnoses. An official Medicare booklet notes that each Medicare Advantage plan “can charge different out-of-pocket costs and have different rules for how you get services.” Barron’s has reached out to the Justice Department and UnitedHealth for comment. News of the investigation comes months after the DOJ moved to block UnitedHealth’s acquisition of home

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Reasons to Stay Bullish on Walmart

Walmart’s high-flying stock slipped Thursday, falling more than 5% after the company reported earnings. But there were also some positive signs in the results. The retailer beat Wall Street’s expectations on both the top and bottom line, but guidance for the current fiscal year didn’t quite clear analysts’ high bar. Walmart expects net sales to grow 3% to 4%, and operating income to rise 5% to 7%, excluding some one-off costs. However, there is good reason to think Walmart’s guidance is conservative. That’s partly because high-margin sources of revenue are still growing at a healthy clip and have room to grow. At Walmart U.S., advertising revenue grew 24% in the quarter ended Jan. 31 compared with a year earlier. That marks the 10th straight quarter of 20%-plus growth since the retailer started disclosing that metric. Membership income from the Walmart+ paid subscription program rose by a double-digit percentage. Revenue from

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Walmart Stock Is Dropping. Earnings Were Strong but Guidance Missed

$Walmart (WMT.US)$ topped expectations for the fiscal fourth quarter, but the stock was dropping in premarket trading Thursday after the world’s largest retailer’s guidance fell short. Walmart’s revenue for the quarter ended Jan. 31 rose 4.1% year over year to $180.6 billion, just about topping expectations for $180 billion, according to FactSet. Adjusted earnings per share for the quarter were 66 cents, narrowly coming in ahead of predictions for 65 cents. “We have momentum driven by our low prices, a growing assortment, and an eCommerce business driven by faster delivery times,” CEO Doug McMillon said in the earnings release. “We’re gaining market share, our top line is healthy, and we’re in great shape with inventory.” Yet shares were roughly 8% lower at $95.72 ahead of the opening bell Thursday because Walmart’s outlook for fiscal 2026, the year ending next January, missed the mark. For the full year, Walmart sees net sales

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