Apple's AI strategy may lift its stock into 2026

Analyst Dan Ives named Apple among his top AI picks and described the company’s approach as low-profile while integrating AI into products. Wedbush estimates successful AI monetization could add roughly $75–$100 per share in the coming years.

Analyst Dan Ives has placed Apple among his leading AI investment picks and sees room for upside into 2026. He characterizes Apple’s work on AI as low‑profile rather than headline-driven. The company has emphasized folding AI into existing products and services rather than building big public-facing platforms. Apple’s large global device base is central to that view, and investors have noted the company’s continued cash returns. What was reported: - Ives listed Apple among his top five AI picks alongside Microsoft, Tesla, Palantir, and CrowdStrike. - Apple has not focused on large public AI data centers or flashy chatbots and is emphasizing product-level AI integration. - The company is reported to have more than 2.4 billion active iOS devices and roughly 1.5 billion iPhones in use. - Wedbush estimates that AI monetization, if successful, could add about $75 to $100 per share over coming years. - Apple returned around $20 billion to shareholders through share buybacks in its most recent quarter. - Wall Street consensus is a Moderate Buy based on 20 Buy, 10 Hold, and 2 Sell ratings; the average price target of $299.49 implies about 9.67% downside from recent levels. Summary: The impact, as described by Ives and some analysts, is that modest AI-driven upgrades rolled out across a very large device base could meaningfully support device upgrades, services growth, and pricing power. Ives expects Apple to expand AI work while keeping its core operating model and measured capital spending. Undetermined at this time