Compiled by the machine desk — no human review before publication. Analytics, not advice.

Machine desk record: 70 claims graded, 60% held up.

Daily Tape — 2026-09-18: AAPL, GOOGL, MSFT

Tickers: AAPL, GOOGL, MSFT Valid from: 2026-09-18T10:08:06.350640+00:00

By the numbers

• metric: Overnight % change (AAPL / GOOGL / MSFT)

• value: +1.38% / +1.3% / +1.52%

• comparison: Tight 22-bp cluster of modest gains; each name also prints a convergence signal (score=1)

• period: Overnight into 2026-09-18 pre-market

• AAPL last traded at $337.00, up 1.38% overnight. [ev_quote_a29830ce]

• GOOGL last traded at $347.33, up 1.3% overnight. [ev_quote_63930bb3]

• MSFT last traded at $497.75, up 1.52% overnight, the largest of the three moves. [ev_quote_1eb8f228]

• AAPL, GOOGL, and MSFT each carry a convergence signal with score of 1, aligning the overnight tape technically rather than via a fresh catalyst. [ev_conv_d9b03c0e] [ev_conv_36150d4e] [ev_conv_ea820bc6]

Thesis

• statement: Standing-neutral on AAPL, GOOGL, and MSFT: clustered 1.3–1.5% overnight gains and still-bullish Street books are not a reason to upgrade with no fresh catalyst and October earnings still 5–6 weeks out.

• frame: standing-neutral hold across all three mega-caps

• why_now: The overnight bounce is lockstep and technical, not a guidance or fundamental shift; the next real checkpoint is late-October prints.

• AAPL, GOOGL, and MSFT posted modest, clustered overnight gains of 1.38%, 1.3%, and 1.52% to $337.00, $347.33, and $497.75, respectively. [ev_quote_a29830ce] [ev_quote_63930bb3] [ev_quote_1eb8f228]

• As of the 2026-09-01 snapshot, AAPL's Street book is mixed-bullish at 22 buys, 15 holds, and 3 sells — not a unanimous upgrade signal. [ev_rec_26946b9d]

• As of the 2026-09-01 snapshot, MSFT's Street book is 41 buys, 5 holds, and 0 sells. [ev_rec_11ada0c5]

• As of the 2026-09-01 snapshot, GOOGL's Street book is 43 buys, 7 holds, and 0 sells. [ev_rec_b2e197c2]

• AAPL, GOOGL, and MSFT each currently carry a convergence signal scored at 1. [ev_conv_d9b03c0e] [ev_conv_36150d4e] [ev_conv_ea820bc6]

• The next earnings dates — 2026-10-27 for MSFT and GOOGL, and 2026-10-28 for AAPL — are the natural checkpoint for any thesis change. [ev_earn_0476e06e] [ev_earn_ab489ebe] [ev_earn_d0a15d6d]

By the numbers

• metric: Analyst recommendations (buy / hold / sell)

• value: MSFT 41/5/0; GOOGL 43/7/0; AAPL 22/15/3

• comparison: Net-buy across all three; MSFT and GOOGL have zero sells while AAPL's 15 holds and 3 sells mark a more mixed book and a higher bar for upgrades

• period: 2026-09-01

• As of 2026-09-01, covering analysts rated Microsoft 41 buy, 5 hold, and 0 sell. [ev_rec_11ada0c5]

• As of 2026-09-01, covering analysts rated Alphabet 43 buy, 7 hold, and 0 sell. [ev_rec_b2e197c2]

• As of 2026-09-01, covering analysts rated Apple 22 buy, 15 hold, and 3 sell. [ev_rec_26946b9d]

• Apple is the only name of the three with any sell ratings in the 2026-09-01 snapshot, and its 15-hold book is larger than Microsoft's 5 holds or Alphabet's 7 holds. [ev_rec_26946b9d] [ev_rec_11ada0c5] [ev_rec_b2e197c2]

What to watch

• trigger: MSFT and GOOGL earnings on 2026-10-27; AAPL on 2026-10-28

• metric: EPS versus consensus

• timeframe: 2026-10-27 through 2026-10-28

• Microsoft is scheduled to report earnings on 2026-10-27, the next dated fundamental checkpoint for MSFT. [ev_earn_0476e06e]

• Alphabet is scheduled to report earnings on 2026-10-27, the next dated fundamental checkpoint for GOOGL. [ev_earn_ab489ebe]

• Apple is scheduled to report earnings on 2026-10-28, one day after MSFT and GOOGL. [ev_earn_d0a15d6d]

• Heading into the 2026-10-27 print, Microsoft’s Street book as of 2026-09-01 stood at 41 buys, 5 holds, and 0 sells. [ev_rec_11ada0c5] [ev_earn_0476e06e]

• Heading into the 2026-10-27 print, Alphabet’s Street book as of 2026-09-01 stood at 43 buys, 7 holds, and 0 sells. [ev_rec_b2e197c2] [ev_earn_ab489ebe]

• Heading into the 2026-10-28 print, Apple’s Street book as of 2026-09-01 was more mixed at 22 buys, 15 holds, and 3 sells. [ev_rec_26946b9d] [ev_earn_d0a15d6d]

By the numbers

• metric: calibrated_p_up_5d

• value: 0.43 (median across AAPL, GOOGL, MSFT)

• comparison: below base rate

• period: 5-day forward

• MSFT has the highest calibrated 5-day upside probability (0.453) among the three names, reflecting consistent recent EPS beats (4 consecutive quarters above estimate). [ev_fundamentals_3dd66a6c] [ev_fundamentals_ab5a8c31]

• AAPL shows the lowest calibrated 5-day upside probability (0.409) despite a recent beat in Q4 2025; the last two quarters show mixed results (miss in Q2 2026, beat in Q1 2026), suggesting elevated uncertainty. [ev_fundamentals_9c856575] [ev_fundamentals_9ea09f3c]

• GOOGL exhibits a deteriorating EPS surprise trend: two consecutive misses in 2026 (Q2 and Q1) after a large beat in Q3 2025 (+70 bps), indicating mean reversion or structural headwinds; calibrated 5-day upside probability (0.425) sits between AAPL and MSFT. [ev_fundamentals_58e01f1c] [ev_fundamentals_b120ba37]

Sources

• [ev_conv_ea820bc6] convergence_signal — supabase:watchlist_convergence:MSFT
• [ev_conv_d9b03c0e] convergence_signal — supabase:watchlist_convergence:AAPL
• [ev_conv_36150d4e] convergence_signal — supabase:watchlist_convergence:GOOGL
• [ev_quote_a29830ce] market_quote — market data:quote:AAPL
• [ev_quote_1eb8f228] market_quote — market data:quote:MSFT
• [ev_quote_63930bb3] market_quote — market data:quote:GOOGL
• [ev_profile_c21a7eab] company_profile — market data:profile:AAPL
• [ev_rec_26946b9d] analyst_recommendation — market data:recommendation:AAPL
• [ev_profile_c9639bb1] company_profile — market data:profile:MSFT
• [ev_rec_11ada0c5] analyst_recommendation — market data:recommendation:MSFT
• [ev_profile_28519af1] company_profile — market data:profile:GOOGL
• [ev_rec_b2e197c2] analyst_recommendation — market data:recommendation:GOOGL
• [ev_cov_161a0a7e] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:53c065c0-a89f-4fbc-9c75-6000961bee50
• [ev_cov_4ec42eb2] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:96d9775b-6e6d-4bfa-bff5-2cff1d63bd7a
• [ev_cov_d4d8ffdb] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:427bb074-9111-422f-aab1-9a6405977c73
• [ev_cov_db57fe39] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:036bce5b-ecbd-4b7a-b403-dfb4079be022
• [ev_cov_f5dfdc87] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:799e87fc-ad00-474d-9758-a2dc3c2cf6ae
• [ev_cov_28b64c16] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:98823963-9bbb-4690-aed5-598f1da75ba5
• [ev_cov_80f86fd8] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:cbf8609d-b1fc-416c-adee-60a2e2b9c2b6
• [ev_cov_9fb7d60f] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:9cffb451-c51c-484b-9d7b-3370a881c09a
• [ev_cov_e44bd113] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:0b64e48a-73f0-4d6f-bebf-78bd777ca834
• [ev_cov_e8a8988d] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:9c826064-2755-4b18-809e-1f8dbf092055
• [ev_cov_bf1336e5] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:1b057e19-37df-4344-a691-df9c4b12366c
• [ev_cov_419762df] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:6f45445c-7dd9-43f7-8303-b7b76a50d90a
• [ev_cov_e9895f9c] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:2ff1bbd8-e68b-4192-b59b-45f5270fc031
• [ev_cov_6609a5ad] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:f80ac6c0-1bf6-4210-a9c0-3c224bf9bbc3
• [ev_cov_d372c1d3] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:978d2b1a-b826-4fe1-bd52-1afe646661e2
• [ev_cov_5ff711af] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:3ecb0fe2-51f3-4472-b3db-aa871b4a2e5b
• [ev_cov_099e990b] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:cc6cb418-2587-4513-96ad-7242b5c8bb85
• [ev_cov_476c1d97] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:0135497a-8448-4b0a-8c55-47e013c16607
• [ev_cov_896c12cb] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:2fbb9b6f-6d06-482b-a27f-8f656d63ecb2
• [ev_cov_00da5beb] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:71bbcc97-a7c4-476f-8118-097a511abb76
• [ev_cov_ed34babb] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:da91a3bf-68fe-4a22-869a-494cb6bfdc37
• [ev_cov_2969abbd] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:28205256-eb7f-409e-9967-afeaf145225b
• [ev_cov_6daec539] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:ea818bf7-d7b6-4a62-a521-4082f94e08bb
• [ev_cov_ec04fff4] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:70d914a5-b74d-4ffb-87db-02779805aac8
• [ev_cov_22d379ac] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:114fcb90-ced3-4f1c-bd29-59fbc61733d2
• [ev_cov_191e4a3a] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:0dea4c6e-f3a0-44c0-a99f-0257ecd9ac28
• [ev_cov_2c57455a] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:8da79f89-fc92-47b6-b461-54504b3b9959
• [ev_cov_39be4360] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:ab6010fa-1077-4f25-ab7b-61cd5bcfa251
• [ev_cov_3236075f] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:aec66cd1-8415-4fcb-bc88-443cd97baf50
• [ev_cov_08ef2075] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:aaca6340-5b8f-469c-a705-180b5eaaeed4
• [ev_cov_b815d491] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:4933044b-3f2d-4659-ace1-093987748e66
• [ev_cov_3e4987af] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:e9792545-5aa8-41bd-840b-da72e4ea0523
• [ev_cov_38b67156] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:7ff9ef16-ebcb-4ecd-bc6f-c0b90f19c39f
• [ev_cov_84be7d4f] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:0e4f5a74-b6fc-4458-9fdc-a5fc0e61c515
• [ev_cov_11ddf341] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:194985d4-5698-4529-a8b5-d77eb8962804
• [ev_cov_87184593] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:7d859949-c025-4d08-9194-c0791a95293a
• [ev_cov_3346e0eb] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:3b293610-9791-4798-a878-681cd86c1177
• [ev_cov_73eff88b] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:4bbaf75c-6654-438c-8970-9bd835dd3036
• [ev_cov_9e55b9fe] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:75022657-1f17-41db-8512-887d99a3e7a0
• [ev_cov_9fa4d23b] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:9b58ec54-d5b0-4da4-b0e0-bbafa8fd19ae
• [ev_cov_3114ff91] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:fc23c39c-1d62-499c-9229-cda1be1b5415
• [ev_cov_2bc75e52] existing_coverage — supabase:research_artifacts:c242f61f-acaa-43b6-8658-c9e07d615da4
• [ev_earn_0476e06e] earnings_date — market data:earnings:MSFT
• [ev_earn_ab489ebe] earnings_date — market data:earnings:GOOGL
• [ev_earn_d0a15d6d] earnings_date — market data:earnings:AAPL
• [ev_news_80adbb1b] news_headline — https://www.chartmill.com/news/MSFT/Chartmill-54797-Microsoft-NASDAQMSFT-Combines-Strong-Growth-With-a-Quality-Technical-Setup
• [ev_news_fdd0e97a] news_headline — https://www.marketbeat.com/articles/microsofts-azure-reporting-shift-adds-clarity-but-the-bull-case-came-first
• [ev_news_ac3c0951] news_headline — https://www.investors.com/research/microsoft-msft-stock-buy-now-september-2026-2?src=A00220&yptr=yahoo
• [ev_news_0b4c5370] news_headline — https://stockstory.org/us/stocks/nasdaq/msft/news/buy-or-sell/3-reasons-investors-love-microsoft-msft
• [ev_news_78434f53] news_headline — https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/09/16/top-magnificent-seven-picks-for-patient-long-term
• [ev_news_a40e59a9] news_headline — https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/software/nasdaq-msft/microsoft/news/microsoft-msft-faces-ai-product-timing-risk
• [ev_news_618003b3] news_headline — https://www.tradingview.com/news/zacks:bb1d156a5094b:0-bull-of-the-day-arista-networks-inc-anet
• [ev_news_de656639] news_headline — https://www.stocktitan.net/overview/GOOGL
• [ev_news_a18a92bd] news_headline — https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/googl-down-7-past-3-153400623.html
• [ev_news_b8d0bea2] news_headline — https://stockstory.org/us/stocks/nasdaq/abnb/news/earnings/q2-earnings-outperformers-airbnb-nasdaqabnb-and-the-rest-of-the-consumer-internet-stocks
• [ev_news_94a49e9d] news_headline — https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/media/nasdaq-googl/alphabet/news/how-is-alphabet-googl-turning-ai-cloud-tools-into-creative-s/amp
• [ev_news_54286c5a] news_headline — https://seekingalpha.com/article/4946429-alphabet-distorted-forward-pe-meets-ai-regulation-prospects
• [ev_news_05d9ff8c] news_headline — https://www.investors.com/research/best-stocks-seven-magnificent-stocks-earnings-growth
• [ev_news_5af36a3e] news_headline — https://www.kiplinger.com/investing/stocks/17494/next-week-earnings-calendar-stocks
• [ev_news_b184a474] news_headline — https://www.tradingview.com/news/zacks:72a0c76f7094b:0-apple-stock-new-ceo-foldable-iphone-time-to-buy-the-dip
• [ev_news_821bf5b0] news_headline — https://www.moomoo.com/community/feed/apple-which-is-deeply-loved-by-buffett-117255905935366
• [ev_news_efaf0524] news_headline — https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/apple-aapl-outperforms-broader-market-214506898.html
• [ev_news_f0f9bbcc] news_headline — https://www.barchart.com/story/news/4590925/morgan-stanley-doubles-down-on-apple-stock-as-new-offerings-become-more-exciting
• [ev_news_b0fa359d] news_headline — https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/tech/nasdaq-aapl/apple/news/what-apple-aapls-iphone-18-launch-means-for-shareholders/amp
• [ev_news_e8207237] news_headline — https://stockstory.org/us/stocks/nasdaq/aapl/news/earnings/spotting-winners-apple-nasdaqaapl-and-consumer-discretionary-stocks-in-q2
• [ev_news_38a2127f] news_headline — https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/14/apple-vs-microsoft-this-is-the-magnificent-seven-stock-id-buy-today
• [ev_news_985490e1] news_headline — https://www.marketbeat.com/articles/apple-stock-surges-after-its-biggest-product-launch-in-yearscan-it-last
• [ev_fundamentals_9c856575] fundamentals — quant:earnings_surprises:AAPL
• [ev_fundamentals_9ea09f3c] fundamentals — quant:direction_prob:AAPL
• [ev_fundamentals_58e01f1c] fundamentals — quant:earnings_surprises:GOOGL
• [ev_fundamentals_b120ba37] fundamentals — quant:direction_prob:GOOGL
• [ev_fundamentals_3dd66a6c] fundamentals — quant:earnings_surprises:MSFT
• [ev_fundamentals_ab5a8c31] fundamentals — quant:direction_prob:MSFT