Submission + - Apple doomed: IPhone, Mac sales boost Apple profit (sfgate.com)
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/19/BUJN1A7PS8.DTL#ixzz0UReRfgOq
[flamebait on] it's not Windows/PC/do-it-your-self enough, it's not Open enough, it's not Unix/Linux enough, it's not technically cutting edge enough, it's not Betamax... [flamebait off]
This is not about the technology, but is about how it works for the end user, and Apple has tried hard to be good at that.
And it's maiking money in a down economy at the same time.
More from the linked article:
"Revenue jumped by 25 percent to $9.87 billion with profit of $1.67 billion ($1.82 per diluted share) in the quarter ending Sept. 26. During the same quarter last year, Apple reported revenue of $7.9 billion and income of $1.14 billion ($1.26).
The results blew past the expectations of analysts, who had predicted revenue of $9.2 billion ($1.42).
For the year, Apple reported revenue growth of 12 percent and net income growth of 18 percent. Apple posted annual revenue of $36.5 billion and net income of $5.7 billion compared with $32.5 billion in revenue and $4.8 billion in income a year earlier.
The Cupertino company's surge came courtesy of record growth for Mac computers and iPhones. Helped by its strongest back-to-school season ever and the launch of its Snow Leopard operating system, Apple sold 3.05 million Macs, a 17 percent jump over last year. IPhone sales also hit a quarterly record, with 7.4 million sold, representing a 7 percent year-over-year increase.
Despite the launch of a new iPod Nano with video recording last month, Apple sold 10.2 million iPod units, an 8 percent decline compared with last year. Apple has said previously that iPod sales are expected to slow as more cell phones include MP3 capability.
"We are thrilled to have sold more Macs and iPhones than in any previous quarter," Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement. "We've got a very strong lineup for the holiday season and some really great new products in the pipeline for 2010."
For the coming quarter, Apple predicted revenue of $11.3 billion to $11.6 billion and earnings of $1.70 to $1.78 per share.
Analyst Brian Marshall with Broadpoint AmTech Research said the results solidify Apple's reputation as the gold standard among technology companies, achieving huge growth while its peers struggle.
"I think it's all about the way the company continues to perform," Marshall said. "It's really flawless execution, continuing to fuel their ecosystem and doing a great job from a cost perspective."
In after-hours trading, Apple shares shot up more than 6 percent."