Apple Stock Higher Despite Store Closings, Purchase Limits

Apple is limiting iPhone purchases to two per customer

In response to the economic impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the supply chains, Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) announced iPhone purchases from its online stores will limit customers to purchasing two handsets per person. Apple recently closed all of its brick-and-mortar stores outside of China and was handed a hefty fine -- over $1 billion -- by French antitrust regulators. Despite this, Apple stock is up 1.6%, last seen trading at $248.75.

Apple stock has spent the last five days consolidating below the $260 level after falling to a four-month low last week, bringing its year-to-date deficit to 16.6%. Thanks to today, AAPL has reclaimed its 200-day moving average, a trendline of support that was breached earlier this week.

Analysts continue to be bullish on the security. Of the 26 reporting firms, 20 are rating the security as a "buy" or better. Additionally, five analysts recommend a "hold" position, while one lone analyst says a "strong sell" is the right move. Echoing this is the equity's consensus 12-month price target of $320.99 which is a nifty 31.13% premium to its current levels.

In the options pits, AAPL stock's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) sits at 0.84, which ranks in the 10th percentile of its annual range. In other words, short-term options players have rarely been more call-heavy in the last 12 months. Additionally, Apple has been more volatile than expected during the past 12 months. This is based on its Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) of 99 (out of 100.)