Citigroup's Atif Malik initiated research coverage of Apple late Thursday with a buy recommendation and a $240 price target, the highest on Wall Street among more than 30 analysts who cover the iPhone maker, according to FactSet. Apple rose another 0.2% postmarket Thursday after closing at a record $189.59 and approaching a $3 trillion market capitalization. Malik's price target implies further appreciation of another 27% on top of the 46% advance the stock has already scored in the first half of 2023. Apple already exceeds Wall Street's consensus price target of $187.19, according to FactSet. The prior Street-high price objective was Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives' $220, FactSet shows.

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Persons: Citigroup's Atif Malik, Malik, Dan Ives, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Apple, Wall, Citigroup, Wedbush Securities