Apple will meet or exceed expectations next year because of three catalysts, Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster said Wednesday on CNBC.
"Near-term, we feel good about iPhone. Longer-term in 2013 we think there are going to be several catalysts, so the combination of those get us comfortable," he said on "Fast Money."
Munster, who named Apple his top tech pick for 2013, based his outlook on three factors:
- Expectation of an increased dividend in April.
- Exposure to China Mobile's 500 million subscribers.
- Apple TV.
"We feel good that these catalysts are going to come through," Munster said, acknowledging investor concerns about shrinking margins and a likely tax hike on capital gains.
"That's the opportunity in something like Apple," he said. "There's a lot of analysis done on this, and in order to make real money in it, you've got to step in when everybody else is not stepping in. we believe that this is one of those opportunities."
Trader disclosure: On Dec. 19, 2012, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC's "Fast Money" were owned by the "Fast Money" traders: Dan Nathan is long BAC DEC 9.5 PUTS; Dan Nathan is long RIMM DEC 12 PUTS; Dan Nathan is long MSFT JAN 26/24 1X2 PUT SPREAD; Dan Nathan is long HD JAN 62.5/55 PUT SPREAD; Guy Adami is long C; Guy Adami is long GS; Guy Adami is long INTC; Guy Adami is long AGU; Guy Adami is long MSFT; Guy Adami is long NUE; Guy Adami is long BTU; Karen Finerman is long AAPL PUTS; Karen Finerman is long AAPL; Karen Finerman is long BAC; Karen Finerman is long JPM; Karen Finerman is long JPM CALL SPREADS; Karen Finerman is long WMT; Karen Finerman is long TGT; Karen Finerman is long MSFT; Karen Finerman is long GOOG; Karen Finerman is short SPY; Karen Finerman is short JCP; Karen Finerman is long GNC; Brian Kelly is long GLD; Brian Kelly is long XLB; Brian Kelly is long XLE; Brian Kelly is long VIX; Brian Kelly is long EWP; Brian Kelly is long EWI; Brian Kelly is long EWG; Brian Kelly is long JJG; Brian Kelly is long JJC.
