Apple Is One Red Day Away From a Streak It Hasn’t Seen Since 1991… Can Tim Cook Steady the Ship?

Apple shares are creeping toward a milestone the company hasn’t hit in more than 30 years… and yeah, investors are starting to get uncomfortable.

Apple slipped as much as 1.1% on Friday, which puts the stock on pace for its eighth straight down day. If it falls again, Apple would match its longest losing streak since 1991 (data compiled by Bloomberg). That’s not something you see often with a stock that’s usually this steady.

To be fair, Apple’s had rough stretches before. It’s seen eight-day losing streaks in 2025, 2022, 2016, and even way back in 1998. But nine in a row would be different… and pretty rare for a company that’s long been treated as one of the market’s safest tech bets.

So what’s going on?

A lot of it comes down to nerves about where Apple goes next, especially as tech moves fast and AI starts to dominate the conversation. While other Mag 7 names have been loudly rolling out AI products and infrastructure, some investors feel Apple hasn’t clearly explained how AI will really move the needle for iPhones, services, or everything else they sell.

That concern has shown up in the stock’s performance. Earlier this month, Alphabet briefly passed Apple in market value, leaving Apple behind Nvidia at the top. It didn’t last long, but it sent a message: right now, the market is rewarding companies seen as AI leaders.

There are other issues in the mix too. iPhone demand in China has been softer, component costs (especially memory) have been climbing, and there’s still some uncertainty around margins. None of that screams crisis, but together it’s been enough to cool enthusiasm, even though Apple’s overall financials are still strong for a company its size.

Not everyone thinks this slide is a big deal. Firms like Evercore ISI have stayed relatively positive, arguing that the market may be getting a little too pessimistic. Some analysts think upcoming earnings could calm things down if Apple delivers solid numbers and decent guidance.

Which is why Apple’s fiscal first-quarter 2026 earnings, due later this month, matter so much. Investors will be watching iPhone pricing and demand, China sales, services growth, and (maybe most importantly) whether Apple gives a clearer picture of its AI plans.

For now, shareholders are waiting and hoping Tim Cook pulls another steady-hand performance and reminds everyone why Apple has survived plenty of scares before.

At the time of publishing this article, Stocks.News holds positions in Apple and Alphabet as mentioned in the article.