Story perspectives

Apple Q2 Forecast $110B, iPhone Sales +22%, New CEO

4/29/2026

Summary

Apple Reports Q2

Apple will report its fiscal Q2 results on Thursday, April 30, 2026, with new CEO John Ternus on the call.
Analysts forecast Q2 revenue of $109.66 billion, iPhone sales of $57.21 billion (up 22%), and a gross margin of 48.4%.
Apple launched the $599 MacBook Neo in March to tap a $20-billion-per-year market.
Jay Woods said investors will watch how the leadership change influences product innovation and AI strategy.

Summary

Cook Steps Down

Tim Cook (Apple chief executive officer) will leave the role on September 1, 2026, and become chairman.
Tim Cook assumed the Apple CEO position in August 2011, two months before Steve Jobs (Apple co-founder) died.
Satya Nadella (Microsoft chief executive officer) became CEO in February 2014 after Steve Ballmer (former Microsoft CEO) stepped down.
The article notes that the Apple-Microsoft rivalry has faded, with Google, Meta and Amazon now equally influential.

Summary

Ternus Remains Silent

John Ternus, Apple’s new CEO, has made no public statements or major interviews.
The muted consumer response has signaled uncertainty about Apple’s direction.
Apple’s two-year failure to become an AI leader has dominated headlines and drawn scrutiny.
A longtime fan’s continued use of an iPhone 13 Pro Max and Apple Watch Series 7 after almost five years suggests slower upgrade cycles among loyal customers.

Summary

Cook Meets Whitehouse

Apple CEO Tim Cook attended a White House gathering on April 28 2026 as King Charles III prepared to address Congress.
Earlier that week, Cook met Commerce Secretary Lutnick at the Department of Commerce to discuss policy.
Cook disclosed a $1 million donation to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2025 inaugural fund and reiterated Apple’s $600 billion U.S. investment pledge.
Trump described Cook’s outreach as “very nice,” noted a long relationship, and offered assistance.

History

Historical Context

Apple’s 1997 revival began when interim CEO Steve Jobs secured the $400 million purchase of NeXT, ending CEO Gil Amelio’s tenure after his 1996 appointment and one-third staff reduction. The deal restored a viable OS and set a pattern of leadership overhauls that resurfaced in 2026 with John Ternus succeeding Tim Cook, echoing past turnaround strategies.

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Apple Reports Q2

Apple will report its fiscal Q2 results on Thursday, April 30, 2026, with new CEO John Ternus on the call.
Analysts forecast Q2 revenue of $109.66 billion, iPhone sales of $57.21 billion (up 22%), and a gross margin of 48.4%.
Apple launched the $599 MacBook Neo in March to tap a $20-billion-per-year market.
Jay Woods said investors will watch how the leadership change influences product innovation and AI strategy.

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