In a twist for a quarter that carried some disappointment — which usually favors the professionals — the independent analysts shamed the Wall Street pros Thursday, taking 11 of the top 12 spots.

Read More Best and worst Apple analysts: fiscal Q4 2023

Apple beat the Street's oddly cautious estimates on the top and bottom lines, with strong Services (up 16%), boffo EPS (up 13.2%) and better-than expected iPhone sales (up 2.78%), but traders — or at least the ones on CNBC — were laser-focused on the fact that revenues fell for the fourth quarter in a row. 

Read More Apple's mixed Q4 2023 in five easy pieces

"In a bid to lure an outside investor, CEO Bob Iger has said Disney wants to keep ESPN and will try to create a streaming app for it by either forming a joint venture or finding a buyer for a minority stake in the network."

Read More Apple seen as bidder for ESPN streaming rights