New York, February 18, 2026, 08:49 EST — Premarket
- Apple shares edged up roughly 0.2% before the bell, building on strong gains from the previous session.
- Wedbush stuck with its outperform call and kept the $350 target, arguing worries over AI delays are overblown.
- Apple’s March 4 event, plus the annual meeting set for Feb. 24, are on investors’ radar as they look for more direction on what’s next.
Apple edged up 0.16% to $264.29 ahead of the opening bell Wednesday, after picking up 3.17% the previous session and closing at $263.88. (Public)
Analysts weighed in, shifting sentiment. On Tuesday, Dan Ives at Wedbush called the pullback “unwarranted,” adding that both developers and consumers are “waiting patiently” for a revamped Siri—framing it as “Apple’s answer to ChatGPT and Perplexity.” Wedbush kept its outperform call and stood by the $350 price target. (Investing.com Australia)
The stock drew renewed attention after a fresh headline. Berkshire Hathaway trimmed its Apple position by 4% in the fourth quarter, according to a quarterly 13F filed with the U.S. SEC, though Apple still topped its portfolio at $62 billion as the year wrapped up. (Reuters)
March 4 is on the radar as well. That’s when Apple plans a “special Apple experience” in New York, kicking off at 9 a.m. ET. The Verge noted the company is also pulling together press events in London and Shanghai. Details about what’s coming? The invitation left it vague. (The Verge)
Recent performance has been solid. Back in late January, Apple projected March-quarter revenue would climb 13% to 16% following a record-setting holiday period. CEO Tim Cook described iPhone demand to Reuters as “staggering.” Apple also inked a deal with Alphabet’s Google to integrate Gemini into Siri, and confirmed its $1.6 billion purchase of AI startup Q.ai. (Reuters)
Macro factors are playing a part as well. On Wednesday, U.S. stock index futures pushed higher, led by gains in tech, with traders eyeing the Federal Reserve’s most recent policy meeting minutes for any hints on rates. (Reuters)
Apple’s battle centers on evidence and timing. It doesn’t need to match the cloud giants’ data center budgets, but it does need to show the street that its upcoming AI features won’t derail launches—and can still drive iPhone users to upgrade.
Another delay, or a March event that sidesteps key issues, could knock the stock down again. Berkshire’s recent reduction has some investors uneasy about further selling from major holders, despite the still-massive stake.
Apple’s annual meeting is set for next week, with the company confirming a virtual event for Feb. 24 at 8 a.m. PT. More information is up at Apple.
