アップルが過去最高業績　ｉＰｈｏｎｅなど好調

　【ニューヨーク共同】米電子機器大手アップルが18日発表した2010年７〜９月期決算は、売上高が前年同期比67％増の203億4300万ドル（約１兆6500億円）、純利益は70％増の43億800万ドルでいずれも過去最高を更新した。

　新型携帯電話のｉＰｈｏｎｅ（アイフォーン）４や、多機能携帯端末のｉＰａｄ（アイパッド）が売れ行きを伸ばしており、アップルの好調さが浮き彫りになった。

　スティーブ・ジョブズ最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）は声明で「過去最高の売り上げと利益に驚いている」とコメントした。

　７〜９月期では、旧型を含むｉＰｈｏｎｅ全体の販売が、前年同期比91％増の1410万２千台に達した。ｉＰａｄの販売は418万８千台だった。2010/10/19 06:41 【共同通信】


Apple trumps forecasts again but iPad disappoints

By Gabriel Madway
SAN FRANCISCO | Mon Oct 18, 2010 5:39pm EDT
(Reuters) - Apple Inc easily surpassed profit and revenue forecasts again but supply bottlenecks curbed iPad sales to below Wall Street's bullish targets, sending its shares more than 6 percent lower.

Weaker-than-projected gross margins and iPad shipments disappointed investors who had expected more from a company that had smashed Wall Street's targets in each of the past eight quarters.

Some analysts said sales of the iPad, which began only in April, should ramp up in the current quarter as the company resolves hitches in the supply chain.

"iPads were low, but I also think they had a lot of production problems getting that off the ground. So I don't think that really is a good demand indicator for iPad," said analyst Jane Snorek of First American Funds.

"Ipad demand is red hot and they can sell as much as they can make."

Gross margins in the fiscal fourth quarter came to 36.9 percent, a tad below Wall Street's average forecast of 38.2 percent.

Apple sold 4.2 million iPads in its second quarter on the market, below Wall Street's expectations. Some analysts had projected shipments of closer to or even more than 5 million for the tablet computer launched only in April, but others had warned that supply constraints had held back sales.

The company on Monday reported a net profit of $4.31 billion, or $4.64 a share, in the fiscal fourth-quarter ended September 25, up from $2.53 billion, or $2.77 cents a share, in the year-ago period.

That was better than the average analyst estimate of $4.08 a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

"It's an incredible phenomenon -- not only did they beat our heightened expectations but they've blown past forecasts, and it's primarily driven by the iPhone," said BGC's Colin Gillis.

Revenue surged 67 percent to $20.3 billion, ahead of Wall Street's target of $18.9 billion.

The company forecast current-quarter earnings of $4.80 a share on revenue of $23 billion.

Shares of Cupertino, California-based Apple slid more than 6 percent to $297.80 in extended trading, after a brief trading halt. They closed at $318.00 on Nasdaq.

(Writing by Edwin Chan; Editing by Richard Chang)



Apple's Profit Surges 70% on iPhone

By IAN SHERR And JOHN KELL

Apple Inc.'s quarterly earnings soared 70% as iPhone sales nearly doubled and the company sold a record number of Macintosh computers, but sales of its iPad tablet came in below expectations.

Shares of Apple, which reached a record high of $319 during the regular session Monday, dropped 5% in after-market trading, to $301.76.

For the quarter ended Sept. 25, Apple reported a profit of $4.31 billion, or $4.64 a share, up from $2.53 billion, or $2.77 a share, a year earlier. Revenue jumped 67% to $20.34 billion, with 43% coming from the U.S.

The company sold 14.1 million iPhone units in the quarter, 91% more than a year ago, at an average price of $610. The latest iPhone became available June 24, and Apple has moved quickly to roll it out across the globe.

Apple said it sold 4.2 million iPads in the quarter. Analysts were expecting about 4.8 million iPads to be sold for the quarter. It sold 3.3 million iPads in the previous quarter.

Chief Executive Steve Jobs said Apple's smartphone sales "handily" beat the 12.1 million sold by rival Research in Motion Ltd. in its most recent quarter and noted that Apple still has "a few surprises left for the remainder of this calendar year."

In a conference call, Mr. Jobs dismissed a new crop of tablet computers from rivals, saying the devices, most of which have smaller screens than the iPad, will flop. He added the company had sold more than 250,000 of its Apple TV device.

The Cupertino, Calif., consumer-electronics giant handily surpassed analyst estimates for revenue and profit. Still, its gross margin of nearly 37% missed the average analyst expectations of 38.1%, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters.

"I'm a little surprised on the margin front," Gleacher & Co. analyst Brian Marshall said, suggesting margins may have been affected by iPad manufacturing issues. Once Apple is able to tweak production, he added, it should produce a better margin.

Apple sold 3.9 million Macintosh computers in the latest quarter, up 27% from a year earlier. The company sold 9.1 million iPod media players, falling 11%. Sales have slowed for the iPod, although the unit has likely benefited from higher average selling prices, as more customers gravitate toward the iPod touch.

Apple expects earnings of $4.80 a share for the December quarter on revenue of $23 billion. Analysts were expecting profit of $5.03 a share on revenue of $22.35 billion, according to FactSet estimates.

Write to John Kell at john.kell@dowjones.com