Sales of Apple's (AAPL) iPhone 5 May See Larger than Expected Q1, Q2 Sales Drop - Analyst

Apple, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) shares are lower along with the broader market Thursday, though bearish comments from Macquarie aren't helping things out either.

Analyst Daniel Chang commented that iPhone 5 demand might be weaker than expected heading into the first- and second-quarters of calendar 2013. Chang cited supplier Hon Hai (Foxconn), which led him to cut his rating on the ODM from Outperform to Neutral.

In addition, Chang lowered his iPhone 5 sales estimate from 48 million units to 44 million in Q113, from 28 million to $26 million in Q213, and sees 22 million selling in Q313. Notably, he sees the largest shipment drop in Q213.

From a broader perspective, Chang thinks Apple's "less innovativve and differentiated functionality" will curb iPhone market share growth with peers catching up in the first-half of 2013.

Shares of Apple are off about 1.6 percent on the session.

Notably, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said iPhone 5 demand was as strong as ever today, though he didn't go into forward-looking statements.

For an analyst ratings summary and ratings history on Apple click here. For more ratings news on Apple click here.

Shares of Apple closed at $539.00 yesterday.

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