Apple ($AAPL) Set to Report its Second-Quarter Results

Apple is ( AAPL ) facing low expectations as it prepares to report its second-quarter results, with its reputation as a market leader being refuted this year. The company's reputation for outperforming in all market conditions has been refuted, as it sharply lags peers with better growth, a clearer AI narrative, and a cheaper price tag. However, there may be less room for disappointment with a lowered bar, especially with a massive buyback announcement likely. Analysts expect Apple to add another $90 billion to its repurchase program, suggesting it will follow Alphabet Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc. among the big-tech names that have announced huge buybacks this year. Apple ( AAPL ) has already spent more than $650 billion buying back its own stock since 2012.

The buybacks have been a way for Apple ( AAPL ) to support earnings, with revenue expected to fall almost 5% this quarter, representing its weakest rate in more than a year. Overall tech revenue is expected to rise 8.6% this quarter, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. The growth trends largely reflect the Greater China region, which accounted for nearly 19% of Apple's 2023 revenue. The stock is down 10% this year, compared with a gain of 3.9% for the Nasdaq 100 Index.

Analysts are largely cautious, with the consensus for Apple's full-year revenue dropping 2.2% over the past quarter and the view for its net earnings being down 0.8%. Fewer than 60% of the analysts tracked by Bloomberg recommend buying the stock, a ratio well below that of another megacap tech. Google paid Apple $20 billion in 2022 alone to be the default search engine on its Safari web browser, according to unredacted documents that surfaced on the eve of closing arguments Thursday that will wrap up the Justice Department's landmark antitrust trial.