Apple shares rise as iPhone 18 Pro delivery times shorten

what happened

Apple (AAPL) gained 1.3% on Monday and edged higher overnight after Bank of America reviewed delivery times for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Stocktwits.com reported that waits were shorter than at the same stage of last year’s pre-order cycle, prompting fresh questions about demand for Apple’s latest premium smartphones. BofA kept its ‘Buy’ rating and $370 price target on AAPL.

The bank gathered the data from Apple’s website and carrier sites. It said the supply chain was increasing production of the Pro Max and iPhone Duo, while warning that Apple was moving into a period of more difficult year-over-year comparisons. Market attention is expected to turn to iPhone Duo pre-orders, which open on Oct. 16, ahead of retail availability on Oct. 23. Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max began on Sept. 12, with sales starting Sept. 18.

Nikkei reported last week that Apple had asked suppliers to cut component output for the new Pro models because of weaker-than-expected demand. Apple closed Monday at $340.97, up 1.3%, after reaching an all-time closing high of $345.34 on Sept. 22; its market value was nearing $5 trillion. The company will hold its “Welcome Home” event on Tuesday and is expected to introduce a touchscreen smart-home hub, a refreshed HomePod mini and an updated Apple TV 4K. Retail sentiment for AAPL on Stocktwits stayed ‘bearish’ for a second day; one trader urged holders not to panic-sell and to wait. AAPL was up 25.8% year to date as of the last close.

why it matters

Early demand indicators matter because Apple’s premium-device cycle faces both shorter delivery waits and reports of production changes. The iPhone Duo pre-order data may therefore become a key market signal.

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