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Stocks to watch on Friday: LCID, META, AAPL, COST

wpadmin — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:43:21 +0000

Stock index futures rose on Friday as investors prepared for a busy morning of economic data and assessed the PCE and GDP reports.

Here are the four stocks to watch on the day:

Lucid Group (LCID) rose 1.1% in premarket trade following several key announcements at its Investor Day event. The electric vehicle maker revealed that its upcoming midsize platform will underpin three new electric vehicles aimed at the core of the EV market, with a starting price around $50,000 to compete directly with Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y. Management also indicated it sees a path to being cash flow positive by the late decade.

Meta (META) slipped 1.2% before the opening bell after reports that its new foundational AI model has fallen short of rivals on internal tests. The New York Times reported that the model, which the company has been developing for months, underperformed leading AI systems from Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic in reasoning, coding, and writing benchmarks. Separately, the company has paused part of its internet expansion efforts across Africa as the war in the Middle East freezes activity in the region.

Apple (AAPL) edged up 0.29% in premarket trade after announcing it will lower App Store commission fees in mainland China beginning Sunday. The iPhone maker said the commission rate for standard in-app purchase and paid app transactions will drop to 25% from the current 30%, marking a win for Chinese app developers following discussions with the country’s regulator.

Costco (COST) ticked up 0.13% before the opening bell following positive commentary from Chief Financial Officer Gary Millerchip at the UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference. Millerchip said the retailer sees a consumer who remains willing to spend when the value is clear, even as shoppers navigate uncertainty around tariffs, gas prices, and the broader economy.

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Apple cuts App Store commission fees in China to 25%

wpadmin — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:28:53 +0000

Apple (AAPL) will lower the commission fees it collects from its App Store in mainland China starting from Sunday, marking a win for Chinese app developers, following discussions with the country’s regulator.

“The commission rate for standard Apple In-App Purchase and paid app transactions will be 25%,” the iPhone maker announced. The current rate is 30%.

“The commission rate for qualifying Apple In-App Purchase transactions under the App Store Small Business Program and Mini Apps Partner Program, and for auto-renewals of Apple In-App Purchase subscriptions after the first year, will be 12%,” it added. “Currently, the rate is 15%.”

Apple (AAPL) said it is “committed to terms that remain fair and transparent to all developers, and to always offering competitive App Store rates to developers distributing apps in China that are no higher than overall rates in other markets.”

The company’s commission fees — known as the “Apple Tax” — sparked regulatory scrutiny around the world. Apple (AAPL) in 2024 reduced these fees to as low as 10% in the European Union following regulatory pressure.

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India plans phone export incentives in a boost for Apple, Samsung: report

wpadmin — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:48:58 +0000

India is drafting a new set of smartphone manufacturing incentives that would link government subsidies to exports and broader use of domestically made parts, in a move that could benefit Apple (AAPL), Samsung Electronics (SSNLF), and their suppliers, Reuters reported, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

The scheme — effectively a second phase of India’s flagship phone manufacturing program — will start rewarding companies for shipping devices abroad, the report added.

Unlike the current Production-Linked Incentive, or PLI, program, which ends March 31 and is mainly focused on incremental local output, the new plan explicitly ties benefits to exports and localization, according to the report.

The proposal framework, size of the incentives, and the overall budget are still being finalized and could change during the inter-ministerial consultations, the report noted.

The incentive revamp underscores the iPhone maker’s growing importance to India’s electronics objective. Apple’s contract manufacturers account for about three-fourths of the country’s smartphone exports, helping transform India into one of the world’s fastest-growing handset export hubs. The company intends to ship most U.S.-bound iPhones from India by year-end, the report added.

Major contract manufacturers for Apple in India include Foxconn (FXCOF) — which is formally known as Hon Hai Precision (HNHAF) (HNHPF) — Tata Electronics, and Pegatron.

With roughly every smartphone sold in India now assembled domestically, officials think the initial incentive program has largely met its objective of satisfying local demand. Policymakers are now moving focus to higher value addition as the next stage of the strategy beyond just assembly, the report noted.

The Indian government is also looking to ask Chinese smartphone brands such as Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi — all of which mainly make in India for the local market — to use the country as an export base, the report added.

Tying benefits to overseas shipments in its flagship PLI policy is seen as a way to embed India more deeply in the global supply chains. This comes at a time when companies are thinking of diversifying their manufacturing footprint to tackle geopolitical risks.

A second vital feature being discussed is heavy indexation to localization. Incentives are likely to be tiered based on the extent of domestic value addition in each device rather than simple assembly. Manufacturers may get additional benefits for sourcing parts like camera modules, display assemblies, and other sub-parts from Indian suppliers, the report added.

Devices which meet higher localization thresholds and are exported may receive the maximum subsidy, as per the report.

Apple’s expansion in India has been constrained by a thin supplier base that can meet its quality standards, higher logistics costs, and the challenge of matching China’s scale and efficiency, the report added.

India has successfully attracted large-scale assembly for brands including Apple and Samsung, but high-value components — like semiconductors and advanced modules — continue to be imported from countries including China, South Korea, and Taiwan, the report noted.

The new incentives are expected to align with India’s Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, which intends to promote domestic production of parts and sub-assemblies.

Since the current PLI program for smartphone assembly ends this month, companies have been looking for clarity for months on the new version of the incentive program to make plans for India exports, the report added.

Apple and Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Seeking Alpha.

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Apple likely to ship 4-5M MacBook Neos this year, expand tech giant’s brand: analysts

wpadmin — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:13:31 +0000

Apple’s (AAPL) MacBook Neo, which was unveiled last week, became officially available for purchase on Wednesday. And given the early reception towards the low-cost device, industry analysts believe it may just be the start of a deeper push for the tech giant.

TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the next version of the MacBook Neo, which he dubs the Neo 2, may not feature touch support, despite his belief that it was originally expected to do so.

And while the MacBook Neo only went into “small-volume production” in December (with mass production three months later than expected), shipments this year may only be around 4.5M to 5M, Kuo added. “For a single laptop model, that’s still a very strong number,” Kuo wrote in a blog post.

However, he believes that Neo shipments should see steady momentum this year for two reasons: back-to-school and holiday shopping, as well as the competition likely being unable to compete on price by the end of the first-half of the year, due to memory prices. “As a result, more laptop models may start raising prices from 2Q26 to reflect higher memory costs, making it harder to compete with Neo,” Kuo added.

Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani said the MacBook Neo, which starts at $599 (or $499 for education), helped “fill the gap” in Apple’s MacBook portfolio, allowing it to strongly go after the education market, where Google (GOOG) (GOOGL) Chromebooks and Microsoft (MSFT) Surface devices are popular.

“[The] MacBook Neo launch firmly positions Apple in the mid-range PC market, where it’ll see greater competition from traditional PC OEMs,” Daryanani wrote in a note to clients. “In addition, Neo reinforces Apple’s flywheel effect by bringing more price-sensitive consumers into the Mac ecosystem, deepening cross-device engagement through iPhone integration features like Handoff that could ultimately drive incremental hardware and services monetization.”

J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee agreed and said he thinks the Neo will allow Apple to “significantly” increase its computer market share, going after Chromebooks and Windows devices.

“We believe MacBook Neo positions Apple to significantly ramp market share, given higher volumes typically associated with the lower price segment of the market,” Chatterjee explained. “Additionally, MacBook Neo leverages A18 Pro, the chipset that powered iPhone 16 Pros and already has a well-established supply chain – helping smooth execution on delivering the new product.”

(This story has been updated with additional information.)

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TikTok introduces ‘Play Full Song’ feature through linking with Apple Music

wpadmin — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:33:43 +0000

TikTok is delving deeper into music. The platform on Wednesday announced a “Play Full Song” feature as part of its tie-up with Apple Music (AAPL) to let users listen to a particular song completely that was used in making the short video clip.

The feature notably will link the two apps and allow users to keep scrolling videos while music discovered continues to play.

“Tapping into the music you love should feel effortless,” said Apple Music’s Ole Obermann. “With Play Full Song, Apple Music subscribers can move easily from discovering a track on TikTok to listening to it in full instantly, without breaking the flow.”

A new “Listening Party” feature was also announced by the platforms, where people can listen to their favorite artist’s music in real-time and socialize with them in chat.

ByteDance had previously poured its efforts into standalone music projects like TikTok Music, but that app was shut down in November 2024 as the company decided to partner with streaming services rather than compete with them.

Albeit TikTok is not a music app, the platform continues to play an important role in popularizing songs, both old and new, through viral trends in which Gen Z and millennial audiences participate heavily.

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Apple’s ‘game changer’ MacBook Neo gets rave reviews on pricing and design

wpadmin — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:31:32 +0000

Apple’s (AAPL) new $599 MacBook Neo, which will be available in stores from Wednesday, saw positive reviews on pricing, design, and performance.

“It’s meant to be a new kind of Mac for a new generation—perhaps an attempt to recapture a generation that’s only been exposed to iPads and Chromebooks,” said Luke Larsen at Wired.

Larsen noted that at $599, the MacBook Neo is Apple’s first budget laptop, adding that for the most part, Apple cut corners in the right places and made a MacBook that its intended buyers will adore.

Last week, Apple unveiled the 13-inch, 2.7-pound MacBook Neo, powered by the A18 Pro processor, which first appeared in the iPhone 16 Pro. It comes in four colors: silver, indigo, blush, and citrus, and contains a 1080p webcam and a headphone jack. The base model does not have a Touch ID, but the higher-end models will have the feature. Neo is aimed at competing with low-cost Google (GOOG) (GOOGL) Chromebooks and the Microsoft (MSFT) Surface.

Neo is a “game changer” for the laptop industry, according to Chris Welch at Bloomberg News.

“The Neo and its A18 Pro are capable enough to edit RAW images in Adobe Inc.’s Lightroom. They can handle cutting short 4K videos in apps like iMovie or CapCut without stumbling,” said Welch.

Welch noted that even for consumers who stick to more casual computing, Neo’s aluminum build, crisp screen, and well-balanced speakers are going to make this a “no-brainer purchase for millions.”

However, Welch said that to reach such a mass-market price, Apple has done a “substantial amount of cost cutting.” These include: the standard $599 MacBook Neo does not have a Touch ID but the higher-tier $699 Neo will; regular trackpad; no backlit keyboard; slow USB-C ports; no MagSafe charging; 60 hertz display; and no anti-reflective display coating.

“The point is that in a pinch, Apple’s low-cost MacBook can handle its share of work without slowing to a crawl or feeling torturous to deal with. How many $600 Windows laptops can you say that about?” Welch added.

Matt Elliott at CNET said that Neo is the perfect first laptop for kids and is by far the most affordable MacBook, yet it still offers the same premium design and durability as Apple’s pricier MacBooks.

“I hope next year’s Neo includes Touch ID in the base model and adds MagSafe charging, but right out of the gate, the first-gen Neo is the most well-rounded $600 laptop around,” said Elliott.

Elliott noted that MacBook Neo drops the entry point of an Apple laptop by $500, as the M5 MacBook Air starts at $1,099.

Students can get Apple’s $100 education discount with the Neo in the U.S., which can further lower the price.

“Like MacBook Air and Pro models, the Neo has a sturdy, all-aluminum body. It feels just as rigid as a MacBook Air or Pro with the same luxurious look. The Neo doesn’t cheapen the MacBook brand,” said Elliott.

“From a hardware perspective, MacBook Neo is rock solid. It has the same build quality you’d expect from an Apple-made laptop. It’s not plastic, but rather the classic Apple aluminum build quality. The only real difference is that the Apple logo on the back isn’t shiny, and there isn’t a notch on the display,” said Chance Miller at 9to5Mac.

Miller noted that one of the demos at Apple’s experience in New York City last week was a direct comparison to an HP (HPQ) laptop in MacBook Neo’s price range. The goal was to compare things such as display quality and speakers to those of a similarly priced PC.

Miller said that he saw a difference in build quality. “As the Apple representative demoed the HP laptop, it creaked and rattled with every press of the trackpad or keyboard. MacBook Neo, meanwhile, was silent,” he added.

Regarding performance, Miller said that there are not “any oddities” that come with using a Mac powered by an iPhone chip from a software perspective. “I’d go as far as to wager that most people who buy a MacBook Neo won’t even realize it’s using an iPhone-class processor. It’s the same macOS experience you’d get if you were using any other Mac.”

In benchmarks, MacBook Neo performs exactly as one would expect an A18 Pro device to perform, according to Miller.

In single-core benchmarking, the MacBook Neo is about 10% faster than the base M3 MacBook Air and 13% slower than the base M5 MacBook Air. Meanwhile, in multi-core performance, the MacBook Neo is around 4% faster than the M1 MacBook Air but 49% slower than the M5 MacBook Air, Miller noted.

“I think even Apple knows that MacBook Neo’s target audience isn’t existing Mac users. Apple’s marketing page for MacBook Neo says “love at first Mac,” for instance, alongside information on using Migration Assistant to move from PC to Mac. Apple even touts that MacBook Neo has “free antivirus protections” built in — a clear acknowledgment of how PC users think,” said Miller.

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Apple’s MacBook Neo price stands out as higher memory, CPU costs drive up notebooks: TrendForce

wpadmin — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:25:47 +0000

The surging costs of memory, combined with a recent increase in prices for CPUs, especially those for entry-level laptops, could prompt retail price increases as high as 40% for mainstream notebooks, according to an analysis by TrendForce.

“TrendForce estimates that to preserve existing margin structures for both notebook brands and distribution channels, the retail price of a mainstream notebook with an original MSRP of US$900 could rise by nearly 40%,” they said in a Tuesday report.

This possible price spike stands at odds with Apple’s (AAPL) newly released, low-cost MacBook Neo, which launched last week starting at $599. It is powered by the A18 Pro chip built on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing’s (TSM) advanced 3 nm process.

DRAM and SSD typically account for 15% of a mainstream notebook’s bill of materials, TrendForce said. However, after several consecutive quarters of price increases, it is expected to account for 30%. The higher prices stem from staggering AI data center demand, which is absorbing much of the memory production and supply chain.

At the same time, some CPUs are also seeing higher prices. Intel (INTC) recently increased the price on some of its entry-level and older-generation notebook CPUs by 15%, TrendForce said. Intel also plans to increase its CPU prices for mainstream and mid-to-high-end platforms during the second quarter of 2026.

“As demand for AI-related computing workloads continues to grow, upstream advanced process and packaging capacity has increasingly been prioritized for high-performance computing products, crowding out supply for some entry-level and lower-end CPUs,” TrendForce noted. “This shift has begun to limit supply for certain entry-level and lower-end CPUs, leading to tighter availability for Intel’s entry-level notebook platforms.”

However, the report noted that tier-one brands, such as Apple, have an advantage due to long-term contracts and larger purchasing volumes, which help them secure more stable prices despite market volatility.

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Apple now makes 1 in 4 iPhones in India as manufacturing pivot gains pace – report

wpadmin — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 08:25:50 +0000

Apple (AAPL) reportedly boosted iPhone production in India by about 53% in 2025, assembling roughly 55M devices, up from 36M a year earlier, as the company continues shifting manufacturing away from China to reduce tariff exposure.

India now accounts for about a quarter of Apple’s iPhone output, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Apple has accelerated its expansion in India in recent years, supported by production-linked incentives introduced by PM Narendra Modi to boost local manufacturing.

The subsidies have helped offset some of the structural cost disadvantages that manufacturers face in India, including the lack of a China-like robust supply chain and logistics challenges.

In 2025, shipments from China, where Apple still produces most of its iPhones, faced pressure from U.S. tariffs tied to the ongoing trade tensions between the two countries. This has also pushed Apple and suppliers to move more devices destined for the American market to alternative locations, with India emerging as a key manufacturing hub.

Despite the shift, assembling electronics in India still costs more than in countries such as China and Vietnam, prompting companies including Apple (AAPL), Samsung Electronics (SSNLF), and others to seek additional government support. India’s current smartphone production incentives are set to expire on March 31, and companies are in talks with New Delhi about extending subsidies to remain competitive.

Apple (AAPL) currently assembles the iPhone 17 series in India, including Pro and Pro Max models, while suppliers such as Foxconn Technology Group, Tata Electronics, and Pegatron also produce earlier models like the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 for domestic sales and exports.

The ramp-up underscores Apple’s strategy to build India as a second major iPhone manufacturing base, while expanding local suppliers producing components such as lithium-ion cells, device enclosures, and accessories, including AirPods.

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Apple delays release of new smart home device as it continues Siri upgrade: report

wpadmin — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:36:24 +0000

Apple (AAPL) has delayed the release of its new smart home display until sometime later this year, as the company intends to complete its upgrade to Siri before launching the new product, according to Bloomberg.

The device, code-named J490, was originally slated

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Trending stocks this week as Wall Street slips amid Middle East conflict

wpadmin — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 14:07:13 +0000

Wall Street finished the week lower as escalating conflict in the Middle East fueled volatility across commodity markets.

Oil prices surged during the week, lifting shares of oil and gas producers, refiners, and energy infrastructure companies. West Texas Intermediate crude oil (CL1:COM) climbed to a high of about $92.61 per barrel, while Brent crude (CO1:COM) rose above $94.55.

Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury yields moved higher after the ISM Manufacturing Prices Index came in stronger than expected in February, adding to concerns about persistent inflation.

For the week, the S&P (SP500) lost -2.0%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (COMP:IND) dipped -1.2%, and the blue-chip Dow (DJI) fell -3.0%.

Here’s what caught investor attention this week:

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B) reported that its cash and short-term Treasury holdings surged to a record $373.3B. This was up 12% from the previous year. The firm also said it is repurchasing shares of its class A and class B common stock, with CEO Greg Abel buying shares worth $15.3M.

Apple (AAPL) debuted several new products as part of a multi-day rollout of hardware announcements. This included the MacBook Neo, a new, budget-friendly laptop starting at about $599.

South Korea’s main stock index, the KOSPI, plunged more than 7% on Tuesday, with technology giants Samsung Electronics (SSNLF) and SK Hynix (HXSC.F) among the biggest decliners. The rout was tied to broad global risk aversion, as the conflict in Iran ratcheted up concerns about energy prices and the long-term geopolitical environment.

Billionaire Leo KoGuan, best known for the large Tesla stake, posted this week that he bought 1M shares of Nvidia (NVDA), reaffirming his bullish stance on artificial intelligence and the semiconductor maker’s central role in the AI ecosystem.

Optical networking firms Lumentum (LITE) and Coherent (COHR) were in focus on Monday after Nvidia (NVDA) disclosed expanded partnerships and investments into both companies. In addition, Nvidia is investing $2B into each of these companies for R&D support and capacity buildout.

MongoDB (MDB) shares tumbled roughly 22% after its earnings report, as the company issued a weaker-than-expected outlook. Investors were concerned about slowing growth and cautious customer spending, which overshadowed otherwise solid quarterly results.

Shares of Coinbase Global (COIN) and Galaxy Digital (GLXY) jumped sharply Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly signaled support for the crypto industry’s push for regulatory clarity and urged banks and lawmakers to “make a good deal” with the crypto sector. This represented renewed backing for the stalled Clarity Act and related market-structure legislation.

Moderna (MRNA) shares jumped about 16% on Wednesday to reach a record high after the company announced it had reached a settlement in a patent dispute tied to COVID-19 vaccine technology. The agreement removed a significant legal overhang, boosting investor confidence and sending the stock sharply higher.

The Trade Desk (TTD) shares jumped in Thursday’s trading after The Information reported OpenAI (OPENAI) has held early talks to partner with the firm to help it sell advertising.

Cruise stocks sold off amid rising oil prices tied to Middle East tensions, with Carnival Corporation (CCL) dropping -10%, Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) -5%, and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) -11% over the week. Beyond macro pressures, Norwegian also issued mixed guidance, projecting 2026 adjusted EPS of about $2.38 vs. $2.58 consensus.

Marvell Technology (MRVL) shares jumped after the semiconductor company reported fourth-quarter results and guidance that topped Wall Street’s estimates. For the period ending Jan. 31, Marvell said it earned an adjusted $0.80 per share as revenue jumped 22% year-over-year to $2.22B. Analysts had expected the company to earn an adjusted $0.79 per share on $2.21B in revenue.