Apple’s Foldable Boost and the AI Trade Spreading Farther Than You Think

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By News Trader

If you’ve been watching the AI story unfold, you’ve probably focused on the big names — the ones building the massive models everyone talks about. But here’s what’s really interesting right now: the action is moving outward. AI isn’t just about a handful of companies anymore. It’s seeping into smartphones, chips, databases, and cybersecurity, and the latest round of analyst calls lays that out perfectly.

This week, one upgrade stood out above the rest: Rothschild & Co Redburn lifting Apple from Neutral to Buy, and bumping their price target from $260 all the way to $400 — a solid 53% jump. And it’s not just about the next regular iPhone. It comes down to two big things: Apple’s long-awaited move into foldable phones, and a fresh, more independent approach to AI.

Let’s be honest — Apple Intelligence hasn’t quite lived up to all the hype yet. Reports suggest Apple has been leaning on a customized version of Google’s Gemini to fill some gaps, which leaves them relying on a competitor at a time when the AI race is everything. That’s a spot no company wants to stay in for long.

Redburn’s bet? Apple will pivot toward open-source AI models — possibly including Nvidia’s Nemotron line — in a strategy they call “Fast Follower 2.0.” Instead of trying to build every cutting-edge model from scratch, Apple would focus on weaving capable AI right into their devices and operating systems. It makes sense — but it wouldn’t be without friction. Apple and Nvidia have had a complicated history, and any real partnership would take some serious working through.

Then there’s the foldable iPhone — reportedly set to launch this September. Redburn projects around 14 million units of what may be called the iPhone Ultra in fiscal 2027, at a price point near $2,199. That’s a big number, but Apple has done this before: think back to AirPods and Apple Watch, which captured huge portions of their markets after launch. If they pull it off, the foldable alone could lift Apple’s average selling price by roughly 11% by June 2027.

That said, nothing is guaranteed. Foldables are tricky to build — display creases, hinge durability, and production delays are all real risks. And some shoppers still aren’t sure if they want one. But if anyone can shift that perception, it’s Apple.

Beyond Apple: Where Wall Street is looking next

The rest of the analyst notes paint a really clear picture of how the AI trade is evolving — and how much more selective investors are becoming.

Nvidia remains Wolfe Research’s top pick among AI semiconductor stocks. The story here isn’t just that demand is strong — it’s that the infrastructure buildout is still ramping up, and many big AI projects need more capital than they can easily fund on their own. Nvidia is helping backstop some of that growth, and that could mean plenty of upside still ahead. What matters most now isn’t this quarter’s earnings — it’s what the roadmap looks like for 2027 and 2028.

Analog Devices got a nice upgrade from Bernstein after a blowout quarter — revenue hit $4.02 billion, EPS came in at $3.45, both beating estimates. Automotive led the charge, but industrial, consumer, and communications all looked strong too. The company’s guidance for the coming quarter was even better — and with gross margins pushing toward 74%, the industrial chip recovery looks very real.

MongoDB is heading into its earnings report (September 1) with a lot of optimism. Goldman Sachs is expecting strong growth — 29%+ revenue from their Atlas cloud platform — and signs that developer activity is accelerating. But the bar is high: shares have already climbed more than 40% in a month. Good results might not move the needle much if they’re just what people already expect. The real question is: can they show that AI workloads are turning into real, lasting revenue?

SentinelOne got a more cautious call from Deutsche Bank — downgraded to Hold even as the price target was raised. The stock had rallied nearly 90% from its April lows, and the concern is that investors may have already priced in a massive jump in demand from their AI-powered Mythos platform — one that might not show up quite as fast as people hope. This isn’t about the technology being bad — it’s about expectations running ahead of actual results. Now they need to show real business wins to back up the story.

What it all means for you and me

Put all five together, and one thing becomes really clear: the market still believes in AI — but it’s not buying every AI story anymore.

The easy money phase is over. Now it’s about execution. Companies have to show real products, real customers, and real cash flow — not just a slide deck saying AI will change everything. Apple still has to launch and sell that foldable phone. Nvidia has to turn infrastructure demand into consistent earnings. MongoDB has to deliver on growth. And SentinelOne has to prove their platform is driving business.

As someone who watches these markets closely and trades on what the news and data tell us, this is the kind of environment where staying informed matters most. We’re past the point where “AI” is enough to move a stock — now we get to see who can actually deliver.

Sources 

• Investing.com — “5 big analyst AI moves: Apple upgraded on foldable iPhone push, new AI strategy”, published August 22, 2026 and updated August 23, 2026.[2]
•  Finviz — “Rothschild upgrades Apple to Buy as foldable iPhone and AI strategy drive optimism”, August 17, 2026.

⚠️ Disclaimer: 

This article reflects my own analysis and perspective as a market observer and trader. The information provided is based on publicly available reports and analyst commentary, but does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research a

nd make decisions based on your own risk tolerance.