RSSApple reports the best non-holiday quarter in its history
By Angela Gunn | Published April 22, 2009, 4:47 PM
Another Apple earnings report, another vacation from dreary recession news in the Cupertino Reality Field: The company reported on Wednesday its best non-holiday quarter in history this afternoon, with year-to-year sales of iPods and iPhones up 3% and 123% respectively. The company posted Q2 '09 revenue of $8.16 billion and a net profit of $1.21 billion, working out to $1.33 per share.
The company reported 9% year-over-year revenue growth, and an operating margin of 20.4%.
Those spendy little toys are doing rather better than the spendy big ones, as Mac sales were down 3% year-to-year. (Analysts had predicted flat Mac and iPod sales, and as CFO Peter Oppenheimer pointed out it did release the MacBook Air in Janary of last year.) That represents 2.2 million Macs; 11 million iPods were sold, and 3.79 million iPhones. 46% of sales were in international markets. Overall, consumer sales are holding up better than those to professional or educational organizations, especially whe you factor in sales of the low-end $999 MacBook.
The mood on the call was ebullient, as the company expects the one billionth iPhone application download sometime tomorrow. ("Any second now," as Oppenheimer put it.) Cook took a moment to carp at the CDMA mobile-phone standard, stating that Apple prefers to concentrate on "the whole world," meaning nations preferring GSM. That would also mean China; there's no news to tell yet, but the company says it hopes to enter that market within the next year.
Hey, netbook fans and manufacturers? You're all suckers -- for now, anyway. Asked by an analyst what he made of the network market, Tim Cook described them as "a stretch to call a personal computer," citing "cramped keyboards, terrible software, junky hardware, very small screens..." That said? "We have some interesting ideas in this space," and he noted that they're selling. For now, he recommended that purchasers consider instead the iPhone or iPod iTouch [both known for their top-notch keyboards... oh, wait. -- AG].
And Steve Jobs? Back at the end of June. Next question. Also, nothing to say about the Pre (even after all that patent talk last term? asked one analyst, garnering a cautiously worded reply about how Apple "believes" its products to be ahead of all competitors' offerings), and no update on construction of the new headquarters. ("We're spending all our energy on the construction of new products," the company added.)
Looking ahead, the seasonal bite in the financial shorts that tech habitually experiences isn't likely to miss the company entirely, as guidance for Q3 indicates; the company's predicting earnings per share of between 95 cents and $1.
That's interesting news, since it may hint that the rumored June iPhone release isn't in the cards. (The 3.0 operating-system release is still apparently on target for summer.) On the other hand, Cupertino is traditionally conservative in its guidance, and being sly with their Q2 number could entice a journalist, for instance, to speculate wrongly on iPhone ship dates.
Apple was up about 4% in after-hours trading after closing the day at $121.51.
iphone sales are way up b/c of the baby-shaking app
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|I mean seriously, what else would you expect from the greatest company on earth led by the greatest CEO and COO on earth? If you're looking for a business model on how to run a super super super super super super super super super super super successful company, study Apple.
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|Yup, you must be referring to the company whose sales of laptops dropped during the same period as their sales of low-fi AV players and telephones surged.
Those of us who are interested in truly innovative and productive laptops are looking to companies like Lenovo and their W700 for leadership, rather than the dweebs at Apple who are concerned more with what brand of sandal to wear as they listen to volatile low-fi audio tracks.
So despite your increased earnings, you still have folks who would otherwise look at a CAPABLE OSX compatible laptop, looking at more capable alternatives.
Congrats.
Score: -5
|Good products generate big profits. What recession? Hey congrats to Apple.
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|Exactly! Apple's rivals are seething with Mac, iPhone & iPod envy. I'm so glad Apple is committed to staying away from junk hardware like netbooks. Apple is committed to quality and it shows in their awesome products, especially the Mac.
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|Sorry dillweed.
The iPhone IS Apple's netbook.
And neither format does much except provide for exhorbitantly priced net access and phone calls.
Its a shame Apple doesn't do more to actually push computer capabilities on the overpriced underperforming MacBook Pro.
A more capable piece of hardware would go a long way toward also providing real computing power to users who indeed want to adequately take advantage of both OSX and Windows vitualization and do real work.
Oh, but that would involve Apple actually admitting that there is also a legitimate function for Windows along with OSX, and such an obvious fact is anathema to those who still can't face reality on the Apple team - who are just as stupid as the myriad Windows dweebs who simply cannot fathom a use for UNIX - despite their latent longing for the crippled environment with the commands literally lifted from UNIX called DOS..
Score: -4
|"cramped keyboards, terrible software, junky hardware, very small screens..."
The same could be said of both the iPhone and iPod iTouch ....
On my netbook I have not had any problems with the hardware or the software. Its the perfect size for going from class to class and getting work done. Plus, I can actually see what my essays and programs will look like when printed out.
Sure, the hulk would have problems with the keyboard. The hulk can also carry around those behemoth laptops a lot better than I on a day to day basis.
Steve can keep his iShizz to himself.
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|Well folks, there you have it. The portrait of the typical NetBook user.
They use it for simple word processing. But he/she still needs to carry a cell phone for calls.
But they can do word processing!!!
The joke is that you haven't demonstrated the need for a computer! And yet you continue to debate how your glorified PDA that has trouble making phone calls is the cat's meow.
Yup, you're swooft.
And you would do better to be posting on a game forum. Oh wait, their systems require more horsepower than your hot NetToy, be it a 'Book' or phone, can provide as well.
But then, imagine this weeny, as they imagine that it takes The Hulk to drag around a prohibitively heavy 5 pound laptop! 5 pounds!!!!
Life is tough, ain't it, you hunk you!
LOL!
Score: -2
|"That's interesting news, since it may hint that the rumored June iPhone release isn't in the cards. (The 3.0 operating-system release is still apparently on target for summer.) On the other hand, Cupertino is traditionally conservative in its guidance, and being sly with their Q2 number could entice a journalist, for instance, to speculate wrongly on iPhone ship dates."
Or, you know, that it's likely to be launched with days left in the quarter (April, May, June). And more obviously, Apple recognizes iPhone revenue over a two year period rather than all at once.
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|I think many people will go without good food before they'll give up their gadgets.
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|'netbooks are junky' and nobody wants them according to apple...
out of touch much, i have 2, running Windows 7 :D
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|Nope. Its not that "nobody wants them", just those whose only use for a computer extends to surfing the net and little else more demanding.
But then, we already knew that from reading some of your posts.
Score: -3
|That represents 2.2 million Macs; 11 million iPods were sold, and 3.79 iPhones.
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Must be difficult to phone home with a 0.79 iPhone, but being a Apple product, all is possible, I suppose. ;-)
Score: -1
|Well, once I get done slapping it outta the users' hands, there's about four-fifths of the handset not in pieces... ;-) Thanks, Lastjuan (still love that username). Fixing now.
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|Does this mean the recession is over? But it does look like people can buy the toy's vs. the computers.. Oh wait it's not a toy!! I'm going into making iPhone appz to become rich at last!!!1
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|you and every other developer. good luck competing with fahrting appz!
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|I'm not a developer.. just making a point about every dev guy I talk to these days.. in their eye's the Gold rush is ON.. but if I were to make a product it would be a dev tool or video.. make the money form the dev guy's.....
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|The gold rush was a year ago? if you are just getting into development you are quite late to the party.
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