We recently published a list of 10 Worst Blue Chip Stocks to Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) stands against other worst blue chip stocks to buy.
As per Niamh Brodie-Machura, Co-Chief Investment Officer at Fidelity International, the effect of tariffs is expected to shift lower as and when the deals are made, supply chains adapt, and there is some adjustment in consumption patterns with lower tariffed goods witnessing relatively increased demand. However, there continues to be a period of increased volatility, and investors who plan to add risk should be careful. The environment is more of an opportunity to better position portfolios for resilience amidst uncertainty.
Contrary to expectations, BlackRock, in its release dated April 23, highlighted that international equities outperformed the US equities by 11% in 2025. The US growth stocks fell by 10%, and US value stocks increased by 2%. This transition demonstrates a significant market rotation throughout geography and style as value stocks continue to gain favor over growth stocks. Within the US market, value equities, mainly in defensive sectors such as healthcare, have been performing well, says the asset manager.
BlackRock also added that the narrowing of the earnings gap and the industry’s attractive characteristics, like innovation and the growth of aging populations, have been fueling the performance. Notably, active management strategies are advantageous when it comes to navigating the fluctuating markets.
BlackRock believes that the US large-cap value equities are the only major US index having positive returns YTD through March 31. Among the value equities, its investors are spotting opportunities in defensive sectors. In the current fast-moving political environment, primarily new trade policies, value equities can possess an additional tailwind. This stems from their ability to fetch a greater share of revenue from the US.
Elsewhere, if tariff discussions continue longer than expected or the average tariff rates differ from the current expectations, it is important to make portfolio changes accordingly, says Fiduciary Trust (a privately held wealth management firm). Notably, the capex spending on AI is expected to remain strong, and AI will likely fuel long-term productivity. The firm also opines that changes will be made to bank capital ratio rules, enabling them to enhance lending and/or increase stock buybacks. Both of these measures can improve earnings.
To list the 10 Worst Blue Chip Stocks to Buy, we scanned through the holdings of SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust and chose the ones that declined between 15%-30% on a YTD basis. After getting an extended list of stocks, we selected the ones popular among hedge funds. Finally, the stocks were ranked in ascending order of their hedge fund holdings, as of Q4 2024.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
Is Apple Inc. (AAPL) the Worst Blue Chip Stock to Buy?
A wide view of an Apple store, showing the range of products the company offers.
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 166
% Decline on a YTD Basis: ~18.7%
Wamsi Mohan, an analyst from Bank of America Securities, recently reiterated a “Buy” rating on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s stock. The analyst’s rating is backed by a combination of factors, including its recent fall in stock price on a YTD basis. The analyst has highlighted the company’s stable cash flows and earnings resiliency, together with potential benefits from AI advancements. Furthermore, despite geopolitical worries and tariff risks, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) possesses strategies to mitigate risks, like diversification of the supply chain and adjustment of pricing strategies.
Elsewhere, Citi analyst Atif Malik maintained a “Buy” rating on the company’s stock, setting a price objective of $240.00. This rating is backed by a combination of factors reflecting Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s strategic positioning and future growth potential. One of the key reasons is the company’s proactive approach to diversifying search engine partnerships. This is evident from its discussions with several AI providers for the integration of AI search features into Safari, says the analyst. Furthermore, the integration of AI search providers can offer new revenue-sharing opportunities.
Columbia Threadneedle Investments, an investment management company, published its Q4 2024 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:
“The fund maintained a position in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) throughout the quarter through the release of the company’s new iPhone 16 in September. Company leaders were excited about the release of the new model, as this is the first model that will feature enhanced AI capabilities through the Apple Intelligence features. Sales for the first few weeks in October and November trailed behind year over year sales from the iPhone 15, as availability of Apple Intelligence was not compatible with all iPhone models. Apple announced a partnership with OpenAI that has allowed the integration of ChatGPT into the Apple ecosystem, separate from the core Apple Intelligence features. This partnership highlights continued progress from Apple to introduce AI capabilities into its products and we expect the iPhone 17 to have even more expansive AI capabilities, increasing potential demand for the new model that is on track to be released in 2025.”
Overall, AAPL ranks 1st on our list of worst blue chip stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of AAPL as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued AI stock that is more promising than AAPL but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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