For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – January 31, 2022 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Apple Inc. (AAPL Quick QuoteAAPL - Free Report) , Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK Quick QuoteXLK - Free Report) , Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT Quick QuoteVGT - Free Report) , MSCI Information Technology Index ETF (FTEC Quick QuoteFTEC - Free Report) and iShares US Technology ETF (IYW Quick QuoteIYW - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
Apple Posts All-Time High Quarterly Revenues: ETFs to Buy
After the closing bell yesterday, Apple Inc. came up with robust first-quarter fiscal 2022 results. The tech giant beat the estimates on both the top and bottom lines and posted all-time record quarterly revenues.
Driven by solid results, Apple shares rose about 5% in after-hours trading on elevated volume, erasing half their losses made so far this year. Investors could tap Apple’s success with the ETFs, with the largest allocation to the tech titan. Funds such as Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund, Vanguard Information Technology ETF, MSCI Information Technology Index ETF and iShares US Technology ETF have Apple as the top firm with a double-digit allocation and sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).
Apple Results in Focus
Earnings per share came in at $2.10, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.89 and higher than the year-ago earnings of $1.68. Revenues increased 11% year over year to a record $123.9 billion and edged past the estimate of $118.6 billion (see: all the Technology ETFs here).
The iPhone maker has well navigated the supply-chain challenges such as factory shutdowns and shipping delays brought on by the pandemic and benefited from a flood of new products, including the iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 7 and updated Macs. Additionally, the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital tools for communication, learning and entertainment, powering Apple to blowout sales.
iPhone sales jumped 9% to $71.63 billion while services revenues, comprising iTunes, Apple Music, iCloud, Apple Pay and Apple Care, soared 24% year over year to a record $19.5 billion. Revenues from Wearables, Home and Accessories, which include Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod, Apple TV and Beats headphones, spiked 13% to $14.7 billion. iPad sales dropped 14% to $7.2 billion while Mac sales increased 25% to $10.9 billion.
Apple has become the world’s first $3 trillion publicly-traded company early this year but a tech slump has pushed its shares down by more than 11%. It continues to explore new markets such as automated cars and virtual reality.
Apple has many projects in the pipeline. It plans to release computerized glasses featuring augmented reality technology in 2022, and is developing a virtual reality headset as well. Apple is also working on a self-driving electric vehicle that could be on the market as soon as in 2025 (read: Apple Hits $3T Market Cap for The First Time: ETFs to Buy).
The year 2022 could be bigger in terms of new products. Apple is planning its widest array of launches ever, including a new iPhone SE and an iPad Air with 5G as early as this spring, per Bloomberg.
Apple now has 785 million paid subscribers on its platform, up from the 745 million it reported a quarter ago.
ETFs to Buy
Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund
Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund targets the broad technology sector and follows the Technology Select Sector Index. It holds about 76 securities in its basket, with Apple making up for 24.1% share. Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund has key holdings in software, technology hardware, storage peripherals, semiconductors semiconductor equipment and IT services.
Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund is the most popular and heavily traded ETF, with AUM of $44.7 billion and an average daily volume of 13.8 million shares. The fund charges 12 bps in fees per year (read: 5 Cheap ETFs to Play Amid Tech Stocks' Worst Start Since 2016).
Vanguard Information Technology ETF
Vanguard Information Technology ETF manages about $48.8 billion in its asset base and provides exposure to 362 technology stocks. It currently tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Information Technology 25/50 Index. Here, Apple accounts for a 21.6% share.
Vanguard Information Technology ETF has an expense ratio of 0.10% while volume is solid at nearly 911,000 shares.
MSCI Information Technology Index ETF
MSCI Information Technology Index ETF is home to 368 technology stocks with AUM of $6.2 billion. It follows the MSCI USA IMI Information Technology Index. Apple accounts for 21.5% allocation.
MSCI Information Technology Index ETF has an expense ratio of 0.08% while volume is solid at 362,000 shares a day.
iShares US Technology ETF  
iShares Dow Jones US Technology ETF tracks the Russell 1000 Technology RIC 22.5/45 Capped Index, giving investors exposure to 154 U.S. electronics, computer software and hardware, and informational technology companies. Apple makes up 18.5% of the assets.
iShares Dow Jones US Technology ETF has AUM of $8.2 billion and charges 41 bps in fees and expenses. Volume is good as it exchanges nearly 709,000 shares a day (read: Why These Tech ETFs Are Bargain Buys).
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