Analysts Maintain Holds On Apple Inc. Following iPad Launch

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) on Thursday unveiled its next-generation 9.7 inch iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 3, a 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K while updating customers and investors on its Watch and Apple Pay initiative.

Credit Suisse: Apple Will Sustain Competitive Advantage, Doubts Over iPad Deliveries

Kulbinder Garcha of Credit Suisse wrote on Friday that Apple's new and improved product offering will help the company sustain a competitive advantage across all compute markets: smartphones, tablets and PCs.

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Garcha isn't fully convinced Apple will see growth in its iPad deliveries, despite upgraded and new models. The analyst believes that Apple's iPad volume will fall 3 percent to 4 percent in fiscal 2014 and 2015.

"While we believe the upgrade is decent, we remain of the view that the vast range of low priced competitors (while inferior) are likely continue to drive the shift to $100 or below price points," Garcha wrote. The analyst adds that Apple's market share in the tablet market may fall to around 20 percent from over 32 percent a year ago.

Shares are reiterated with a Neutral rating and $110 price target.

Deutsche Bank: Apple's Announcement ‘Generally In Line' With Expectations

Sherri Scribner of Deutsche Bank wrote on Friday that Apple's new and improved production innovation offered little surprises and was "generally in line" with expectations.

Scribner states that Apple's $2,499 iMac is "competitively priced" as Dell is the only other company with a similar display but Dell charges the same $2,499 for just the monitor.

According to Scribner, shares of Apple currently reflect strong iPhone, iPad and Mac sales. As such, the analyst expects shares to be range bound for the time being.

Shares are reiterated with a Hold rating and $102 price target.

Jefferies: Apple Making ‘Progress' In Its Ecosystem

Sundeep Bajikar of Jefferies wrote that Apple is taking the right steps to improve its enterprise ecosystem following its recent partnership with IBM.

"We like Apple's partnership with IBM to advance iOS adoption by providing native apps tailored for specific verticals," Bajikar wrote. The analyst adds that Apple's iOS ecosystem could target up to 42 million new users across retail, healthcare, banking, travel and transportation, telecommunications and insurance.

Despite the optimism, Bajikar notes that shares of Apple may have "limited upside" as the Street may be pricing the stock with the assumption the company will earn $8 or more per share in fiscal 2015. Bajikar currently expects Apple to earn $7.69 per share in the year.

Shares are reiterated with a Hold rating and $110 price target.