Stock Update (NASDAQ:AAPL): Apple urges US to form encryption panel

[AAP] – Apple Inc has called for the creation of a government commission or panel of experts on encryption to help resolve the standoff over national security and data privacy. “Apple would gladly participate in such an effort,” the company said on Monday in a post on its website entitled “Answers to your questions about Apple and security”. The standoff began last week when the technology company refused a US government demand to unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters. Read more on this. Apple Inc. (AAPL) , with a current value of $533.17B, began trading this morning at $96.25. During today’s session, AAPL traded between $95.92 to $96.75 with the price of the stock fluctuating between $92.00 to $134.54 over the last 52 weeks. AAPL shares are currently priced at 10.58x this year’s forecasted earnings, which makes them relatively expensive compared to the industry ’s 5.51x earnings multiple. And for passive income investors, the company pays shareholders $2.08 per share annually in dividends, yielding 2.17%. According to a consensus of 37 analysts, the earnings estimate of $2.00 per share would be $0.33 worse than the year-ago quarter and a $0.46 sequential decrease. What we find to be interesting is that the full-year EPS estimate of $9.08 is a $0.14 worse when compared to the previous year’s annual results. The quarterly earnings estimate is predicated on a consensus revenue forecast of $52.04 Billion. If reported, that would be a 10.29% decrease over the year-ago quarter. More recently, BofA/Merrill upgraded AAPL from Neutral to Buy (Jan 12, 2016). Previously, Mizuho upgraded AAPL from Neutral to Buy. The average price target for AAPL shares by the analysts covering it is $135.92, which is 41.22% above where the stock opened. See more in (NASDAQ:AAPL) Similar Articles: Market Update (NASDAQ:AAPL): Apple says debate over encryption should be decided by Congress Stock Update: Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) – Now Samsung is following Apple by allowing mobile ad blockers for the first time Stock Update: Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) – How Apple could lose its place as world’s biggest company