Apple (AAPL) Stock Gets Slammed 5% on Double Dose of Bad News

TLDR

• Apple stock fell 5% Thursday, its worst trading day since April 2025, erasing all 2026 gains and leaving the stock down 4% for the year
• Bloomberg reported Apple’s AI upgrade to Siri may be delayed until May or later due to issues with in-app voice commands not working reliably
• FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson sent a letter to CEO Tim Cook about potential political bias in Apple News content selection
• The sell-off reflects broader investor concerns about whether AI spending will drive future iPhone upgrades and revenue growth
• Apple has a consensus Moderate Buy rating from 27 analysts with an average price target of $306.89, implying 17.25% upside potential

Apple stock dropped 5% on Thursday in its worst single-day decline since April 2025. The fall wiped out the company’s gains for the year.

Apple Inc., AAPL

The stock now sits roughly 4% lower in 2026. Shares closed at $261.82 after trading in a range between $260.18 and $275.72.

The decline came after Bloomberg reported that Apple’s planned AI upgrade to Siri faces a delay. The rollout has been pushed to May or later instead of the coming weeks.

Siri Issues Mount

In-app voice commands reportedly aren’t working as intended. Siri is unable to reliably process queries or takes too long when it does.

This marks another setback for the virtual assistant. Apple delayed some Siri features back in March 2025, many of which remain unlaunched.

Apple’s privacy policies may be contributing to the challenge. The company is attempting to integrate AI without placing user data at risk by keeping processes on devices or in secure servers.

Apple said it still expects to release the features in 2026. But Wall Street’s reaction showed concern extends beyond a simple product delay.

Investors have been watching Apple’s AI strategy closely. Many tech companies have already launched new AI tools while Apple has moved more slowly.

Even a short delay raised worries that Apple could fall behind competitors. The company’s future growth depends on whether AI features can drive new iPhone upgrades.

Regulatory Scrutiny Adds to Concerns

On the same day, Apple drew regulatory attention. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson sent CEO Tim Cook a letter about Apple News.

Ferguson asked the company to review how its news app selects and presents content. The letter followed reports of potential political bias in the feed.

The development added another layer of uncertainty for investors. It did not directly affect sales but increased regulatory pressure on the company.

Broader Market Sentiment

The sell-off also reflected weakening sentiment toward large technology companies. Many investors now question whether heavy AI spending will pay off soon.

Software stocks have already fallen in recent days. Analysts recently cut their outlook on the U.S. tech sector.

Apple reported strong earnings last month. But markets focus more on future growth than past results.

Thursday’s drop was about more than a delayed feature. The market reacted to concerns that Apple’s AI growth driver may take longer than expected.

The stock has a consensus Moderate Buy rating among 27 Wall Street analysts. That rating includes 17 Buy, nine Hold, and one Sell recommendation issued in the last three months.

The average price target of $306.89 implies 17.25% upside from current levels. Trading volume reached 3.3 million shares compared to an average of 49 million.

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