Who’s Right? Analysts Spar Over Impact of Galaxy S4 on Apple

Analysts from two premier investment firms offer their conflicting perspectives of the impact on Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) from Samsung’s (SSNLF.PK) new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4.

Ben Reitzes of Barclays Capital attended Samsung’s Galaxy S4 launch event at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday and believes that “Samsung’s momentum is a major issue for Apple,” as reported by Barron’s. Reitzes also states that “we need to see Apple expand its iPhone market this year in a big way – and improve its platform.”

Although Reitzes believes that “Apple is currently making moves that include international expansion, new iPhones and eventually a bigger screened phone in 2014,” he would still like to see “advances to the ecosystem” and “potential innovations around payments” to allow Apple to “rebound in terms of share.” Reitzes predicts that part of Apple’s international expansion will involve the launch of “a lower cost (but high quality) iPhone 5 with a plastic case” for emerging markets.

According to Barron’s, Ben Reitzes has an “Overweight rating on Apple shares and a $530 price target.”

Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White disagrees with Reitzes’ analysis, stating via Barron’s that “we view the Galaxy S4 as a refresh but NOT a game changer.” He points to the slight differences between the Galaxy S3 model and the Galaxy S4 model as evidence that Samsung is playing a “shell game.”