The news
Apple says that its revenues in the first quarter of its present financial year were a record $7.1 billion and generated a record net profit of $1 billion - equivalent to $1.14 per diluted share.
During that fiscal 2007 first quarter ending Dec 30, 2006, the company reports shipping over 21 million iPods - half as many again as in the same period last year - and more than 1.6 million Mac computers, an increase of 28 per cent.
Profits were were helped not just by the growth of sales but also by an increase in the company's gross margin. This rose from 27.2 per cent to 31.2 per cent - a figure that few competitors in the world of computing or consumer electronics could even dream about.
Sales from outside the USA accounted for 42 per cent of the quarter's revenue but we'd expect overseas sales to be higher in the following quarters - the States had two big gift-buying periods leading up to the end of the year, Thanksgiving, as well as Christmas.
Not surprisingly, the company is predicting rather less impressive sales and profits for the current quarter.
According to Apple's chief financial office Peter Oppenheimer, it's expecting the second fiscal quarter of 2007 to produce revenues of $4.8 to $4.9 billion and earnings per diluted share to be $.54 to $.56. That's equivalent, HEXUS estimates, to a net profit approaching $500 million.
Apple chief Steve Jobs is bullish about future prospects, saying, "We’ve just kicked off what is going to be a very strong new product year for Apple by launching Apple TV and the revolutionary iPhone". Check out this HEXUS.lifestyle.headline for details on the new products that Apple recently unveiled.
Thoughts on the money-machine that is Apple Inc (the company having recently dropped the word 'Computer' from its name to better reflect its diversification into consumer electronics)?
Well, check out Apple's press release on page two, listen to the conference call about the results if you have a mind to (it's 55-minutes long and requires QuickTime), then share with us in the HEXUS.community.
HEXUS.links
HEXUS.community :: discussion thread about this articleHEXUS.lifestyle.headline :: Apple shows iPhone & HD network media player, changes name
HEXUS.lifestyle.headline :: Apple sued by Cisco over use of iPhone name
HEXUS.lifestyle.headline :: Cisco may lose iPhone rights in Europe
HEXUS.lifestyle.opinions :: Apple movie downloads (US only) & network media player (yawn) - commentary on September "special event"
HEXUS.lifestyle.headline :: Apple falls foul of Greenpeace for not being green enough
HEXUS.lifestyle.headline :: Macworld San Francisco kicks off with launch of Roxio Toast 8
HEXUS.lifestyle.headline :: Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac coming - but not right now
External.links
Apple UK - home pageApple USA - home page
Apple - financial results conference call
Apple - QuickTime download
