Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is trending today after Brian White of Drexel Hamilton commented that he believes the company’s most expensive version of the iPhone 8 will likely be delayed. The analyst said to CNBC, ‘First off, our smartphone contact believes the 3-D sensing technology and OLED displays will only be offered with the 5.8-inch iPhone 8. However, our contact strongly believes the 5.8-inch iPhone will be delayed by several weeks due to challenges around the 3-D sensing technology but still in time for the December holidays’. White’s views coincide with an earlier DigiTimes report that also speculated on potential delays due in part to technical issues concerning curved OLED panels and 3D sensors.
With that said, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares have brushed off the news as apparently the potential delays may only affect one model of the iPhone 8 and not the 4.7 and 5.5 inch types. Secondly, many investors believe the delays will only heighten the hype surrounding the new premium version of the iPhone, which could paradoxically increase sales in the long run. Apple customers are also generally loyal to the brand, and are likely to wait for the new version rather than switching to Android or Windows.
What Does The Smart Money Sentiment Say?
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In terms of individual fund activity, Warren Buffett‘s Berkshire Hathaway increased its stake by 277% quarter-over-quarter to 57.3 million shares at the end of December, good for 4.48% of Berkshire’s 13F portfolio at the time. Ken Fisher‘s Fisher Asset Management also raised its stake, this time by 2%, to 11.5 million shares at the end of 2016. All in all, 113 top funds owned shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) at the end of the fourth quarter, down 32 funds from the previous quarter.
The Bottom Line
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is in the spotlight due to a Wall Street analyst speculating that Apple’s most expensive version of the iPhone 8 could launch a little later than usual. For more reading, check out ‘Apple’s iPhone isn’t one of ’em – 7 Smartphones with Quick Charge‘.
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