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AAPL out-performs most bullish analyst predictions with its record numbers

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Apple not only announced record profits for Q4 results and smashed through its own revenue guidance, but out-performed even the most bullish of analyst estimates with earnings of $42.123B. The highest analyst estimate in yesterday’s Fortune roundup was for $41.8B.

The consensus analyst expectation for earnings per share was $1.32, against the actual 20% climb to $1.42, aided by Apple’s stock buyback program, which now totals $68B of the $90B target announced by Apple … 

iPhone sales were 39.272M against analyst consensus of 37.89m, Mac 5.52M against estimates of 4.83M and iPod 2.62M versus expectations of 2.32M.

iPad was the only disappointment, falling further than analysts had expected, at 12.316M against estimates of 13.17M.

Analysts responded in upbeat fashion, in an early Fortune roundup.

Morgan Stanley’s Katy Huberty said that there was still “considerable pent-up demand” for upgrades from the iPhone 4S and older models, and that Apple Pay may drive further iPhone 6 demand.

BTIG’s Walter Piecyk noted the boost in average selling price (likely driven by buyers opting for the improved 64GB middle tiers, as well as by the iPhone 6 Plus), and said that “the strength in iPhone and Macs more than offset the stagnation in iPads.”

RBC’s Amit Daryanani noted the consistently good news on profit margins: “AAPL has seen gross-margins at or above the high-end of their guide for 6-quarters in a row.”

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Comments

  1. mpias3785 - 9 years ago

    Oh NO! Apple made huge amounts of money! They’re DOOOOOMED!

  2. 89p13 - 9 years ago

    And a nice dividend – which will just buy more of this “doomed” company. ;)

    Keep up selling those “terrible products” – and I’ll keep investing.

    • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

      If Cnet runs this story, just watch for all the doom and gloom in the comments section.

      • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

        It seems that Cnet is like a fight club for fandroids and iSheep. I try to stay away but like the occasional traffic accident, sometimes I just can’t help but drop in and look.

        I’d bet dollars to donuts that there’d be people finding reasons to hate Handoff and Mail Drop, two of 10.10’s greatest features.

  3. patstar5 - 9 years ago

    Can anyone help me? I installed os x Yosemite on my mid 2010 MacBook pro with Intel core 2 duo and 250gb hdd. Well I started it up and everything was super super slow. Usually it takes 3-5 minutes to start up (which is sadly normal) but I tried Web browsing and updating apps and it was slow! I wanted to throw it across the room. Anyway, I restarted into the recovery partition and repaired disk permissions. I then clicked repaired disk, it said it was unable to do it. So is my hdd done for? It told me to wipe and do something else. I backed up to time machine before I installed Yosemite so I have a backup. What should I do? I could buy an ssd but they are so expensive, I could get a 500gb hdd for less than $100. I don’t want to spend money for a new mac just yet, my windows convertible has been working just fine, it’s my Mac that always has problems. Also, any place that will install it for me? Last time I opened up my MacBook it was to upgrade ram, well the ram was the wrong type and I think static electricity fried something because my screen wouldn’t work so that was $350 repair at Apple store. I did order one of those bands that are suppose to ground you. I would still need tools if I repair it myself… I tried fixing my IPad 2 digitizer but I can’t take lcd off since I stripped 3 screws…
    So can anyone suggest anything about what to do with my Mac? Also, how do you remove 3 stripped screw from an iPad 2?

    • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

      If you don’t have a bootable backup yet, get one. You can find 1 TB externals for $50-60. Time machine is ok, but useless in an emergency. Also get a utility that can scan for bad blocks I’d recommend Scannerz for the price, but there isn’t a Yosemite compatible version yet.

      Right now I’d try a net boot (command-option r) while booting. Run Disk Utility and completely erase the drive. Partition it as MSDOS and then repartition it as HFS+ (Journaled). This will fix any problems with the partition map and recreate the EFI and Recovery partitions. Reinstall the OS (I had to install 10.8 first, then Yosemite). Then use Migration Assistant to recover all your files from the Time Machine backup. If that helps, great, if not, start looking for an SSD. And don’t count on Time Machine as your only backup. There are better programs available and you can create a bootable backup in a pinch using Disk Utility.

      See ifixit.com for the tools and replacement screws to fix your iPad, though you’re on your own dealing with the stripped screws.

      • patstar5 - 9 years ago

        I can’t reformat the disk like you said, install os x and restore from time machine backup?

      • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

        You can. Try that first. Just remember to use the GUID partition map when you repartition as HFS+.

      • al0963 - 9 years ago

        Damn you are one knowledgeable dude! Thanks for helping people like that!

      • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

        I’m just a magnet for bugs. If I didn’t make use of every penny I spent on Applecare and search high and low for solutions to my problems, I’d be surrounded by broken computers. :-) Plus I’ve been doing this a long time and eventually it sticks. Besides, what good would I be if I didn’t pass it on? A lot of people have helped me and I’m just paying it forward.

    • Lee (@leemahi) - 9 years ago

      I would save your money on a hard drive and whatever cash you got, sell your pro, and get a late 2014 MacBook Air. Then stop downloading fake stuff on the Internet that would give you viruses. Use torrents.

      • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

        That’s a good idea too. I had a 2009 3.06GHz C2D MBP. I bought a 1.8 GHz core i7 MBA back in 2011 and it ran rings around the MBP. I did NOT expect that!! But don’t forget a bootable backup.

    • Alex (@Metascover) - 9 years ago

      “which is sadly normal”
      no, it’s not

      “and it was slow!”
      your computer has a problem

      “I wanted to throw it across the room”
      why didn’t you?

      “So is my hdd done for?”
      “What should I do?”
      Do you need people to tell you everything that you need to do in life?

      “Also, any place that will install it for me?”
      seriously?

      “well the ram was the wrong type ”
      you should have checked before

      “I think static electricity fried something because my screen wouldn’t work”
      that’s your fault

      “I did order one of those bands that are suppose to ground you”
      what are you talking about?

      “So can anyone suggest anything about what to do with my Mac? Also, how do you remove 3 stripped screw from an iPad 2?”
      How about you go into an actual forum that talks about this stuff instead?

  4. Computer_Whiz123 - 9 years ago

    Wow! Should have bought apple stock a long time ago…

  5. Alex (@Metascover) - 9 years ago

    Notice how all the trolls magically disappear every time that the financial reports come out, to then reappear a few days after?

    Been said already, but I can’t stop saying that all the time : apple is doomed, clearly.

    • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

      NO, NO, NO! The iPhone 6+ is stealing the iPad’s market!!!! Apple is DOOOOOMED!! And their stock is up too… DOOOOM!

      Enough caps and exclamation points? Too many?

    • al0963 - 9 years ago

      They are like roaches when it’s clean they won’t come out and as soon as they see left overs boom they are all over the place

  6. where is herb? no where to be seen?

  7. drtyrell969 - 9 years ago

    What analysts understand is the cost of this profit. Apple has “expanded” its geographical reach. That means that profits will mathematically increase regardless. However, once expansion is complete, Apple will have to maintain this growth over competitors who are also expanding. It’s a game that is very short lived.

  8. al0963 - 9 years ago

    BOOM in your face you idiots, and you too trolls

Author

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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