Analyst Says Apple (AAPL) iPhone 17 Will Not Result in Super Cycle, Thinks Stock Valuation Not Justified

We recently published 10 Stocks Moving on Buzzing News as Analyst Issues Strong Warning About AI Valuations. Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the stocks moving on buzzing news.

Stephanie Link, the Chief Investment Strategist, Head of Investment Solutions and Portfolio Manager at Hightower Advisors, said in a recent program on CNBC that she believes iPhone 17 will not spur a “super cycle” for Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL). The analyst also believes the stock’s valuation is not justified. Here is what she said:

“And I don’t think the (iPhone) 17 is going to be a super cycle. I really don’t. I think 18 could be, because they don’t even have AI in yet. I still don’t think it’s going to lift the growth rate—it’s not going to lift the 8% growth rate.”

The analyst said Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) does not deserve a premium multiple with its current growth rate.

Pixabay/Public Domain A UBS survey shows that the iPhone upgrade cycle has reached 35 months in the US. A separate report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners says about 63% of iPhone users keep their smartphones for more than two years. Apple is losing its pricing edge as it has to put a cap on its price tags to compete in key markets like China. Samsung, Xiaomi and other companies can launch advanced hardware and software features to compete with Apple and keep the company under pressure in Asia.

Mar Vista U.S. Quality Strategy stated the following regarding Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter:

“Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares rebounded in Q3 2025 as investor concerns over both tariffs and the early adoption of its generative AI product, Apple Intelligence, eased. Attention shifted instead to the favorable resolution of Alphabet’s DOJ trial, seen as a positive for both Apple and Alphabet, and to healthy initial demand for the fall launch of the iPhone 17.

1. We continue to view Apple as a competitively advantaged business, anchored by the strength of its ecosystem. With over 2 billion active devices and more than 1 billion paying subscribers, Apple benefits from a loyal customer base and a growing stream of high-margin, recurring services revenue. This stable cash flow enables continued investment in innovation, even during periods of cyclical softness. We believe Apple remains well positioned to lead in the emerging category of AI-enabled edge devices.”

While we acknowledge the potential of AAPL as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.