Apple disappoints with its outlook; Aixtron celebrates an order boom and Power Metallic Mines is poised for a rebound!

Apple: Record Revenue, but Margin Pressure and Costly Memory Chips

The Cupertino-based iPhone group is reporting its customary strong revenue for the period, but Wall Street remains palpably sceptical despite historic highs. The technology group with the bitten apple logo fell short of many market participants' lofty expectations with its outlook for the important Christmas quarter. Group revenue climbed 12% to USD 114.5 billion in the fourth quarter of the 2026 financial year, and earnings per share of USD 2.10 also exceeded consensus estimates. Nevertheless, the share price reacted in a muted fashion and is currently trading at just under EUR 290, as investors increasingly scrutinise future profitability rather than revenue records alone.

Operationally, the iPhone and the Mac division, in particular, drove substantial growth last quarter. Smartphone revenue rose by an impressive 17% to USD 57.6 billion, while Mac computers increased 24% to USD 10.8 billion. The robust core business once again demonstrates the company's enormous market and pricing power in an increasingly challenging global environment. The services segment grew more moderately by 9.8% to USD 31.6 billion, while the iPad and wearables division showed slight weakness. Revenue in the Greater China region also fell slightly short of analysts' high expectations at USD 17.5 billion.

However, the main reason for the weaker share price reaction following the release of the figures lies in the outlook for the coming months and rising component costs. Rising memory chip prices and ongoing investment in AI features for Siri are noticeably weighing on profitability. For the Christmas quarter, Apple expects a gross margin of just 45% to 46%, dampening short-term earnings expectations. With a P/E ratio of almost 50 and a dividend yield of 0.29%, the shares carry a demanding valuation. Apple could therefore also see weaker share prices in the coming days and weeks.

Aixtron: Order boom and analyst upgrades could fire up the turbo again

After a bumpy and volatile phase on the stock market, the semiconductor equipment specialist is making an impressive comeback. The latest share price momentum suggests that hopes of a sustained recovery in the global chip industry are finally gaining tangible support. Driven by sharply rising demand for advanced power electronics and optical components, the shares have regained their appeal among institutional and retail investors alike. Research firms such as Kepler Cheuvreux recently upgraded their rating on the shares from Neutral to Buy, providing fresh momentum for a further rise.

The operational turnaround is also clearly reflected in the financial figures for the latest quarter. In the third quarter of 2026, order intake exploded by 122% to EUR 274.9 million, while EBIT reached a solid EUR 56.7 million. These high order inflows put management in a good starting position for the coming quarters and also demonstrate the strong market position. Although the boom is leading to longer delivery times of up to 12 months, customers are backing their plans with "genuine advance orders". Momentum is growing rapidly, particularly in gallium nitride for efficient power supplies in AI data centres.

Investors are now eagerly awaiting the timely fulfilment of the fullest order books in the company's history. With a share price of around EUR 32.70 and a P/E ratio of 45, Aixtron is not exactly cheap, but already carries a demanding valuation, though it should be fairly valued if this growth momentum continues. The experts' average price target is approximately EUR 43, signalling upside potential of over 25%. Those who can generally handle the greater volatility in the technology sector could find a stock here that should benefit directly from long-term megatrends.

Power Metallic Mines: Strong drilling data and the ongoing PEA could lay the groundwork for the rebound

In the shadow of the major technology indices and away from Apple or Aixtron, the Canadian resources sector is offering some highly exciting, asymmetric entry opportunities. Following an earlier rise from CAD 1.00 to CAD 1.55, Power Metallic Mines shares have more than fully retraced this upward move in recent months. The share price even fell below CAD 1.00 for a time and is currently trading at a key support level at CAD 0.86. From a technical perspective, several indications suggest a stable bottom could form here, laying the foundation for a new upward trend.

If the share price dips slightly again in the short term, strong horizontal support lies in the CAD 0.80 to CAD 0.83 range, and below that in the slightly lower territory between CAD 0.76 and CAD 0.79. From a technical perspective, a rise to CAD 0.95 alone would be sufficient to break above the fairly steep short-term downward trend (marked on the chart). In this scenario, the chart picture could change rapidly and drive the share price dynamically towards CAD 1.30 to CAD 1.40. In the longer term, experienced professional investors and other investors could also recognise GBC AG's ambitious price target of CAD 3.00. From the analysts' perspective, the shares therefore offer significant upside potential.

The latest company announcements from late summer and autumn 2026 in particular underline the positive development of the polymetallic Nisk project in Quebec.

On September 22, 2026, the company reported strong results from the deep development drill hole PML-26-125 in the Lion district, which intersected a very strong 5.70 m grading 14.00% CuEqRec at a vertical depth of just under 800 m and significantly extended the known frontal zones downwards.

Shortly after, on October 5, 2026, management announced the official launch of the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and appointed the renowned engineering firm BBA Inc. as lead consultant for the study, targeted for completion in the first half of 2027.

This combination of high-grade polymetals such as copper, platinum, palladium and nickel; a solid capital base following the CAD 28.2 million financing in June 2026; and prominent major investors such as Robert Friedland and Eric Sprott makes the stock a highly exciting exploration and development play.

Conclusion

Apple remains a profitable technology group but must contend with short-term margin pressure from expensive memory components. Aixtron impresses with a rapid boom in orders and intact growth drivers in the semiconductor segment. Following an intensive consolidation, Power Metallic Mines presents itself as a promising polymetallic stock that could impress with good drilling data, strong institutional backing and potential "catalysts" for 2027.