Apple Earnings Preview: AAPL Falls 3% Ahead of $113.4B Quarter

Apple and Palantir both report fiscal results after the close today, with earnings calls set for 5 PM ET. Apple's shares traded at $338.32, down 3.04% on the session, in a range of $335.84 to $343.78, as of 21:37 UTC today. MarketBeat consensus puts Apple's fiscal fourth-quarter revenue at $113.40 billion, up 10.7% from $102.47 billion a year ago, with EPS of $1.99 versus $1.85.

Context — Why Apple and Palantir Earnings Matter Today

Apple enters the print with a sizable annual gain to defend. The stock closed 2025 at $271.86 and has added $66.14, or 24.3%, year to date, excluding dividends. That leaves little room for a soft December-quarter guide.

The setup mirrors a broader pattern this cycle: revenue growth is running ahead of earnings growth. Apple's expected 10.7% top-line gain compares with a 7.6% EPS increase, which puts operating margin and the Services mix under scrutiny.

The year-ago September quarter gives the cleanest read on what is at stake. Apple reported iPhone revenue of $49.03 billion, Services revenue of $28.75 billion and Greater China revenue of $14.49 billion in that period. Each line now serves as a barometer when results cross the wires.

Palantir's catalyst chain is different. Consensus revenue of $2.18 billion sits roughly $16 million above the top of management's own guidance range of $2.160 billion to $2.164 billion. Simply hitting guidance would miss the analyst bar, which shifts the entire event onto forward guidance.

The macro backdrop is not in the report, but the live data shows Apple under same-day selling pressure into the print. The 3.04% decline is the immediate context for how traders are positioned ahead of 5 PM ET.

Data — The Numbers Buyers and Sellers Are Watching

Apple's expected EPS of $1.99 compares with $1.85 a year ago, a 7.6% increase. Revenue of $113.40 billion compares with $102.47 billion, a 10.7% increase. The gap between those two rates is the margin story in one line.

Metric	Year-ago	Consensus	Change
Apple EPS	$1.85	$1.99	+7.6%
Apple revenue	$102.47B	$113.40B	+10.7%
Palantir adj. EPS	$0.21	$0.41	+95.2%
Palantir revenue	$1.181B	$2.18B	+84.6%

Palantir's adjusted EPS comparison requires care. The company reported GAAP EPS of $0.18 in the year-ago quarter, while adjusted EPS was $0.21. The $0.41 consensus is measured against that adjusted figure, not the GAAP number.

For additional Palantir comparisons, U.S. commercial revenue was $397 million, U.S. government revenue was $486 million and the adjusted operating margin was 51% a year ago. Those three lines show how broadly growth is developing and how much is reaching operating profit.

On price, Palantir closed 2025 at $177.75 and trades at $180.82, up $3.07, or 1.727%, for the year. Despite the sharp expected jump in earnings and revenue, the stock sits only modestly above its year-end close.

Analysis — What the Setup Means for Traders

Apple's technical picture leans toward sellers into the print. The price trades below its 200-hour moving average at $340.23 and its 100-hour moving average at $344.34. Staying below those levels keeps sellers in play at least in the short term.

On the downside, the rising 100-day moving average sits at $321.92, about 4.7% from the current level. That average was last tested on June 25, when the price was much lower at $275.56. A retest would put longer-term holders to the test.

Palantir's setup is similarly tilted. The stock moved back below its converged 100- and 200-hour moving averages on Friday, handing sellers more control, and that momentum continued today with the price down $3.17 at $180.85. Those averages cluster near $195.

A sustained move above $195 would shift the bias back toward buyers and open the door toward the October high of $212.94, which is also the all-time high. Until then, sellers retain the technical advantage. The 100-day moving average at $162.92 is the next support target, roughly 9.9% below the current price.

The counter-argument for both names is that technicals into an earnings print are frequently invalidated by the release itself. A strong December guide from Apple or a raised Palantir outlook would reprice the setup regardless of where the hourly averages sit.

Positioning is the tell. Apple carries a 24.3% year-to-date gain that longs must defend, while Palantir's 1.727% gain despite expected 84.6% revenue growth suggests the market has already priced a demanding bar.

Outlook — What to Watch After the Close

Apple's December holiday-quarter guidance is the primary catalyst, followed by any commentary on Services momentum and Greater China demand. The 100-day moving average at $321.92 is the key support level, with the 200-hour and 100-hour averages at $340.23 and $344.34 as resistance to reclaim.

Palantir's forward guidance is the second catalyst. Its existing full-year outlook calls for revenue of $8.150 billion to $8.158 billion, U.S. commercial revenue above $3.424 billion and adjusted free cash flow of $4.5 billion to $4.7 billion. Traders will watch whether those targets move higher.

For Palantir, the $195 moving-average cluster is the level that would flip the bias toward buyers, with $162.92 as downside support. The stock's year low of $106.37 on June 25 and the subsequent rally to $212.94 frame the size of this year's swings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time do Apple and Palantir report earnings today?

Both companies report after the close today, with earnings calls scheduled for 5 PM ET. Apple's shares were trading at $338.32, down 3.04% on the day, in a range of $335.84 to $343.78, as of 21:37 UTC today. Palantir was at $180.82, up 1.727% for the year. The results will land after U.S. equity markets have closed for the session.

Why is Palantir's revenue bar above its own guidance?

Palantir guided to revenue of $2.160 billion to $2.164 billion, but MarketBeat consensus sits at $2.18 billion, roughly $16 million above the top of that range. That means meeting management's own guidance would fall short of the analyst estimate. The gap puts the emphasis on forward guidance rather than the reported quarter itself, since the company would need to beat its own range to satisfy consensus.

What technical levels matter most for Apple and Palantir?

For Apple, the 200-hour moving average at $340.23 and 100-hour at $344.34 are resistance, with the rising 100-day at $321.92 as support about 4.7% below. For Palantir, the converged 100- and 200-hour averages near $195 are the level that would shift bias to buyers, with the 100-day at $162.92 as the next support roughly 9.9% below the current price.

Bottom Line

Apple must defend a 24.3% annual gain while Palantir needs to beat its own guidance to satisfy consensus.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. CFD trading carries high risk of capital loss.