Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty reported that the firm's recent survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers shows a rising iPhone retention rate, with 92% of iPhone owners who see upgrading their phone in the next 12 months saying they plan to stick to an iPhone, up from the 86% retention rate in last year's survey.

Apple's (AAPL) 92% loyalty rate "dwarfs" that of all other vendors, with its biggest competitor, Samsung (SSNLF), seeing a 77% retention rate, she noted. Huberty, who sees Apple being positioned to gain increasing U.S. smartphone share, raised her price target on Apple to $177 from $161 and keeps an Overweight rating on the stock.