Apple’s new Chief Executive Officer John Ternus is preparing for his first earnings call as the company’s top executive, with investors looking for clarity on product demand, artificial intelligence and the impact of rising memory chip costs.
Ternus took over from Tim Cook in September 2026. His first earnings call comes at a time when Apple is navigating higher component costs and introducing several new products, including its first foldable smartphone, a smart home hub and touchscreen laptops. These products began shipping during the company’s current fiscal first quarter.
Investors are expected to focus on Apple’s outlook for the holiday quarter, Ternus’ views on AI and the company’s ability to manage rising memory expenses. Analysts expect higher memory chip costs to weigh on quarterly profit growth, potentially bringing it to its weakest level in six quarters.
According to LSEG data cited by Reuters, analysts expect Apple’s revenue to increase nearly 11% to $113.39 billion for the July-September period, which represents the company’s fiscal fourth quarter. Net profit is expected to rise around 6% to $29.04 billion.
The services business is forecast to grow almost 10% to $31.56 billion, marking its slowest growth in more than three years. iPhone revenue is projected to increase approximately 15% to $56.54 billion, compared with growth of around 22% in the previous three months.
The performance of Apple’s new foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, will also attract attention. The device was launched on October 23 and starts at $1,999 in the United States. Some customers have reported cracks and lines along the inner display’s central fold, prompting Apple to offer replacements.
Despite these reports, initial demand has been strong. Online orders sold out within minutes, while estimates from Bank of America put average delivery waits at 79 days, with shipments extending into January. IDC analyst Nabila Popal expects demand to continue exceeding supply despite the reported screen issues.
Apple’s artificial intelligence strategy is another important subject for investors. The company has taken a different approach from rivals that are committing significant resources to building AI infrastructure. Its shares have risen approximately 27% this year, outperforming several major technology companies as investors assess the costs associated with the AI investment race.
Ternus’ first earnings call will provide an early indication of how he plans to address product expansion, AI development and rising component costs as Apple enters the important holiday sales period.
