- Rosenblatt shares its concerns and convictions over two significant U.S. Big Tech stocks ahead of their earnings results.
- Rosenblatt analyst Barton Crockett’s checks of industry data ahead of Apple Inc’s AAPL 3Q22 earnings report reflect a company’s out-performing peers, boding well in a challenging environment, suggesting his slightly above FactSet consensus estimates are beatable.
- Apple’s big moves during the quarter in sports (deal to be the lead broadcaster of Major League Soccer, and reportedly in the lead to pick up Sunday NFL Ticket) seem brand-driven and disruptive, raising questions of how the economics work, which perhaps suggests confidence in Cupertino.
- He had a Neutral rating with a price target of $168 on Apple.
- Rosenblatt analyst Blair Abernethy marginally slashed his Microsoft Corp MSFT estimates due to Windows OEM headwinds and Euro decline and trimmed his target price to $330 (from $349) on higher interest rates and multiple comparable compression. He maintained a Buy rating.
- Abernethy believes enterprise IT spending, Digital Transformation activity, and the cloud shift remained strong in the quarter.
- He expects FY22E revenue growth but believes forex could add further headwinds in FY23.