Apple Stock Price Prediction 2026: Will AAPL Break Above $350 Soon?

Apple Stock Hits All-Time Highs this week, and traders searching NASDAQ: AAPL are paying close attention. Shares touched a fresh all-time high of $344.57 before slipping back a bit.

At the time of writing, AAPL stock sat at $338.19, down 0.56% on the day. Even with the small dip, the Apple stock price action still looks bullish overall.

Traders are now watching two things closely. One is Apple's new leasing plan. The other is Qualcomm's weak fourth-quarter profit news, which has stirred up Apple stock news this week.

What Is Driving Apple Stock Price Right Now?

Apple is preparing to launch a program called Apple Upgrade. It lets customers lease their devices instead of buying them outright.

This kind of plan can help Apple in a few ways. Customers may upgrade more often, and Apple gets steadier, more predictable income over time.

At the same time, Qualcomm dropped some news that shook things up. Qualcomm forecasts weak fourth-quarter profit, and that has weighed on sentiment around NASDAQ: AAPL.

Qualcomm said revenue from Apple products will fall faster than it first expected. CEO Cristiano Amon told Reuters the drop starts in the fourth quarter.

The reason comes down to chips. Apple has spent years building its own modem technology to replace Qualcomm's parts.

Qualcomm now expects its share of components in the next iPhone to fall well below its earlier 20% estimate. Qualcomm shares fell more than 4% in extended trading after the news. Apple shares, though, stayed mostly flat.

What Does Wall Street Expect From Apple's Earnings?

The Apple earnings date lands today, and expectations are high. Analysts are looking for $1.89 per share on revenue of $108.86 billion.

That is a tough bar. Last quarter, Apple posted $2.01 per share and $111.18 billion in revenue, beating forecasts.

Apple has now topped earnings estimates for eight straight quarters. Over the last four reports, it averaged a 0.07% EPS surprise and a 0.03% revenue surprise.

Small beats, sure. But steady ones, and that consistency is part of why Apple Stock keeps drawing buyers into earnings season.

Apple Stock Technical Analysis: Key Levels To Watch

AAPL is holding a bullish structure above its 20-day moving average. The stock recently pushed into the upper Bollinger Band near $345.

That kind of move often brings short-term profit-taking, which is roughly what's happening now. It looks more like a pause than a reversal at this point.

As long as AAPL holds above $334, the broader trend stays intact. A daily close below that level could send the stock down toward $322, where buyers may step back in.

Apple Derivatives Market Snapshot

Trading activity in AAPL derivatives has been busy. tradeXYZ led volume at $62.15 million, with Binance close behind at $54.58 million.

OKX, MEXC, and Bitget added smaller but notable volume too. Over 24 hours, liquidations hit $163.38K, and short positions made up the bulk of that at $150.15K.

Binance traders lean bearish right now, based on long/short account ratios under 1.0. OKX tells a different story, with a 1.14 ratio pointing to slightly bullish positioning.

Put together, it's a mixed picture. Short sellers have taken the bigger hit lately, even as sentiment stays split across platforms.

Final Thoughts

Apple Stock remains in a clear uptrend heading into earnings. The Apple Upgrade program adds a new growth angle, while Qualcomm's warning highlights ongoing supply chain shifts.

Price action still favors the bulls above $334. But earnings on Thursday could easily move the next chapter of this story either way.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results.