There was a time when Apple (AAPL) was a ‘must-own’ stock that dominated market discussion. However, those days are long gone, as Apple is now a stodgy old guard technology company no different than anyone else in the space. While this has allowed AAPL to be a big dividend payer, growth levels have certainly declined. Some are even talking about ‘peak iPhone’ with the prospect of lower sales in the near future for Apple’s signature product. Thus, the earnings number might not matter too much for AAPL this quarter. The company does a great job of managing expectations, and investors are going to be zeroing in on iPhone sales and expectations for future deliveries as the key driver for AAPL stock. Additionally, look for any news about the Watch or the car (though this one isn’t likely) to help set expectations for the longer term in Apple as well. For more information on Apple earnings, make sure to watch our short video for extra insights and a closer look at AAPL’s key charts heading into this report! Want more insights from Zacks? See our latest free report 5 Stocks to Double. Click here to receive this free report now >>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report APPLE INC (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research