Tim Cook just announced he’s stepping down as Apple CEO on September 1, handing the reins to hardware chief John Ternus after 15 years at the helm. Under Cook, the stock returned roughly 1,900% and Apple went from a $350 billion company to $4 trillion. The stock dipped 2.5% on the news.
The timing is loaded. Apple posted record Q1 revenue of $143.8 billion (up 16%) with iPhone sales surging 23%, but the company still faces ~35% tariffs on China-assembled iPhones and has been criticized for falling behind on AI. The foldable iPhone is coming in September, earnings land April 30, and the MacBook Neo is sold out through April.
Is Apple’s best chapter still ahead under new leadership - or is the Cook era peak Apple?
Here's how the community voted
Record Q1 revenue of $143.8B, iPhone up 23%, and services hit $30B (up 14%) on a 2.5B+ device installed base. Q2 guidance calls for 13-16% growth. The business is accelerating, not coasting, and earnings on April 30 could reinforce that.
Ternus is a 25-year Apple veteran who built the hardware pipeline behind iPhone, Mac, and Vision Pro. The foldable iPhone launches in September, the $599 MacBook Neo is already sold out, and a rebuilt Siri powered by Google’s Gemini is coming. The product roadmap has never been fuller.
Analysts rate the stock Moderate Buy with an average target of ~$305, roughly 15% above current levels. Goldman has a Buy rating and expects Q2 EPS of $2.00 vs. consensus of $1.94. Apple has beaten EPS estimates in each of its last four quarters.
IDC forecasts the global smartphone market will decline 13% in 2026, the largest drop on record. iPhone is still 52% of Apple’s revenue, upgrade cycles are stretching beyond 3-4 years, and Apple trades at ~33x forward earnings, 32% above its 10-year median. A lot of growth is already priced in.
Apple has lagged every megacap peer on AI. Siri’s overhaul was delayed repeatedly, the AI chief was replaced, and the rebuilt assistant will run on Google’s Gemini rather than Apple’s own model. A CEO transition during a critical AI catch-up period adds execution risk.
Roughly 90% of iPhones are still assembled in China under a ~35% tariff rate, and China is also Apple’s third-largest market at ~$70B/year where premium share has slid from 20% to ~15% as Huawei gains ground. Tariff uncertainty alone cost Apple $3.3B in 2025.
Record Q1 revenue of $143.8B, iPhone up 23%, and services hit $30B (up 14%) on a 2.5B+ device installed base. Q2 guidance calls for 13-16% growth. The business is accelerating, not coasting, and earnings on April 30 could reinforce that.
Ternus is a 25-year Apple veteran who built the hardware pipeline behind iPhone, Mac, and Vision Pro. The foldable iPhone launches in September, the $599 MacBook Neo is already sold out, and a rebuilt Siri powered by Google’s Gemini is coming. The product roadmap has never been fuller.
Analysts rate the stock Moderate Buy with an average target of ~$305, roughly 15% above current levels. Goldman has a Buy rating and expects Q2 EPS of $2.00 vs. consensus of $1.94. Apple has beaten EPS estimates in each of its last four quarters.
IDC forecasts the global smartphone market will decline 13% in 2026, the largest drop on record. iPhone is still 52% of Apple’s revenue, upgrade cycles are stretching beyond 3-4 years, and Apple trades at ~33x forward earnings, 32% above its 10-year median. A lot of growth is already priced in.
Apple has lagged every megacap peer on AI. Siri’s overhaul was delayed repeatedly, the AI chief was replaced, and the rebuilt assistant will run on Google’s Gemini rather than Apple’s own model. A CEO transition during a critical AI catch-up period adds execution risk.
Roughly 90% of iPhones are still assembled in China under a ~35% tariff rate, and China is also Apple’s third-largest market at ~$70B/year where premium share has slid from 20% to ~15% as Huawei gains ground. Tariff uncertainty alone cost Apple $3.3B in 2025.
This poll has closed. New comments cannot be added.