>The company reported its earnings Monday afternoon, calling the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009 its “most profitable ever.”
Apple recorded revenue of $9.87 billion and earnings of $1.67 billion, or $1.82 per share. That’s up from the $7.9 billion in revenue and $1.26 per share of a year ago. And that easily fell within the range of what Wall Street was hoping for. Analysts had been expecting earnings per share somewhere between $1.24 and $1.72, and revenue between $8.74 billion and $10.55 billion.
For the fiscal fourth quarter, which ended Sept. 28, revenue would rise to $12.25 billion and earnings to $2.85 billion.
Apple says that it sold more iPhones than ever during the quarter, 7.4 million, representing a 7 percent rise from a year ago.
Apple also moved a lot of Macs during the traditional back-to-school quarter. Apple says it sold 3.05 million Macs, 17 percent more than a year ago.
iPods were, as expected, the company’s weak spot–the 10.2 million sold was 8 percent less than a year ago.
In a statement CEO Steve Jobs crowed about the successful sales period for the Mac and iPhone, but also hinted at what’s in store for next year.
“We are thrilled to have sold more Macs and iPhones than in any previous quarter,” Jobs said. “We’ve got a very strong lineup for the holiday season and some really great new products in the pipeline for 2010.”
Notes:
– CFO Peter Oppenheimer, COO Tim Cook, and Treasurer Gary Wipfler present
– Thrilled with record-breaking results, particularly given economic conditions
– Second-highest revenue ever, highest profit ever
– Macs: Record Mac sales by over 440,000
– Sales growing faster than overall market in 19 of last 20 quarters
– Portable sales up 35% year over year, 74% of Mac product mix
– Back to school performance strong: highest sales ever for U.S. education segment
– Response to Snow Leopard has been tremendous
– Total iPod sales down slightly, but 50% of iPod customers buying first iPod
– iPod touch sales up 100% year-over-year
– MP3 player market share still over 70%
– Strong sales at iTunes Store, customers loving iTunes 9
– iPhone sales: almost 7.4 million in quarter, a new record
– Pleased that iPhone tops J.D. Power business and consumer satisfaction surveys
– iPhone in China begins later this month, great opportunity
– Expanding carrier relationships in U.K. and Canada
– Retail stores: highest revenue, margin, and Mac sales ever
– Retail store revenue $1.87 billion, up from $1.72 billion
– 50% of retail store sales to first-time Mac owners
– Opened or remodeled ~100 stores over the past year
– Total gross margin up to 36.2%: Due to solid Snow Leopard sales, lower iPod transition costs than expected, smaller than expected component costs rise
– Cash and short-term marketable securities total $34 billion
At last the benefits of buying based on VALUE FOR MONEY rather than price is getting through
What Apple are going to achieve in the next 5 years is going to be talked about in business schools around the world for the rest of time.