Apple's run sustainable?

As shares of Apple Inc. briefly flirted with the $600 mark this week, the recent run-up is going to force many analysts to rethink their views on the popular stock.

Given the love that Wall Street has typically showered on Apple AAPL -0.08%  , it’s not a big mystery as to what many brokers will choose to do. In the past week, more than a dozen have pumped up their price targets on Apple’s shares, and more are expected to do the same, given that the stock is now well above the targets of several analysts who have maintained buy ratings on the shares.

In other words, don’t expect too many analysts to stick their necks out and downgrade Apple — especially in a year in which investors are expecting not only the first LTE-based iPhone but also an Apple-branded iTV.

“IPhone and iPad expansion are the key catalysts with room for upside as global penetration expands for both products,” wrote Ittai Kidron of Oppenheimer on Friday, who boosted his price target on the stock to $700 from $570.

Apple shares briefly touched $600 on Thursday morning, before falling back. The stock was up fractionally on Friday morning to $588.30 as the company’s new iPad went on sale in 10 countries, including the U.S