Investing.com - Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares have slid almost 10% year-to-date, grappling with numerous challenges. Investors are pinning their hopes on some positive news when the company discloses its fiscal second-quarter results later this week.
Apple's stock fell 1.8% to close at 170.3 on Tuesday, a far cry from its all-time high of 199.62 on Dec. 14.
Market analysts predict Apple will report earnings of $1.50 a share on $90.32 billion in sales for the March quarter, a decline from the $1.52 per share on $94.8 billion in sales reported in the same period last year.
Stay ahead of the curve with InvestingPro! Unlock access to AI-powered ProPicks, ProTips and more!
Investors will be particularly interested in iPhone sales, given reports of weak demand, particularly in China. However, the company's services sector is projected to be a highlight of the March quarter. iPhone sales will also be under scrutiny. The company broke a streak of disappointing iPhone surprises in its latest release, with the beat amounting to roughly $1 billion.
Apple's capital return plans, typically updated each year with its March-quarter report, will also be under scrutiny.
Key events on the horizon for Apple include a May 7 product launch, likely featuring new iPad tablets, and the kick-off of its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10. The conference is expected to unveil Apple's plans for generative artificial intelligence.