Apple reported a revenue and income beat for its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday as Wall Road appeared for early indicators of how the brand new iPhone 16 is promoting with Apple Intelligence.
Total iPhone demand continued to be sturdy, with income rising 6% yr over yr to $46.2 billion, beating analyst estimates, although the corporate continued to face headwinds in China. The corporate has confronted heavy competitors from Chinese language firms similar to Huawei, Oppo, and Xiaomi.
The corporate additionally teased some early information factors on iPhone 16 demand, which launched on September 20 towards the top of the quarter.
Whereas the vacation quarter will reveal way more about how the units are promoting, Cook dinner mentioned in an interview with CNBC that iPhone 15 gross sales have been “stronger than 14 within the year-ago quarter, and 16 was stronger than 15.”
Cook dinner additionally mentioned Apple Intelligence — a key set of AI options that the corporate is closely advertising the iPhone 16 on — was a compelling motive for customers to improve. Person adoption of iOS 18.1, which launched within the US on Monday and included the primary Apple Intelligence options, was twice the speed of iOS 17.1 a yr in the past.
The Apple CEO mentioned he is already receiving notes from prospects praising the brand new well being and listening to assist options that lately launched for AirPods Professional 2.
Apple’s iPad, wearables, and companies divisions missed analysts’ income estimates. The companies enterprise, which noticed document income, hit a brand new milestone with a $100 billion run fee.
Gross sales in China, an necessary marketplace for Apple, have been down yr over yr to $15.03 billion. Analysts had estimated $15.8 billion.
“We’re very happy that our energetic put in base of units reached a brand new all-time excessive throughout all merchandise and all geographic segments, because of our excessive ranges of buyer satisfaction and loyalty,” Cook dinner mentioned in a press release accompanying the earnings launch.
Seeking to the vacation quarter, Apple mentioned it anticipated gross sales development within the low to single digits. The corporate is planning to launch new Apple Intelligence options in December. Cook dinner mentioned he is been utilizing early variations of the software program and it is “altering my every day life.”
Cook dinner declined to touch upon the election on an earnings name with analysts. When requested about potential tariffs tied to the election outcomes and any anticipated affect on Apple, which manufactures a lot of its units within the nation, Cook dinner mentioned he would punt on the query. He additionally mentioned he did not need to touch upon the DOJ’s antitrust lawsuit filed in opposition to Apple in March.
“I’ll save that for one more day,” he mentioned.
Talking about AI investments and analysis and improvement spending, CFO Luca Maestri — who was on his ultimate earnings name for Apple earlier than transitioning to a brand new function— mentioned that Apple had been investing closely in R&D over the previous a number of years. The corporate had additionally reallocated a few of its inner sources towards AI, he added.
The “stage of depth towards AI has elevated so much,” the CFO mentioned.
Apple’s inventory was down round 2% in after-hours buying and selling instantly following the analyst name.
And that is wrap!
Apple wraps the decision after a lot dialogue about how its AI efforts will form the upcoming months for the corporate.
The top of the decision additionally concludes CFO Maestri’s participation in future earnings calls.
The inventory was buying and selling down round 2% as the decision ends.
Apple says it is “very completely satisfied” when requested about companies.
The recurring portion of Apple’s companies — suppose subscriptions like Apple TV+ — is rising sooner than the transactional companies, Maestri tells analysts.
Apple’s companies enterprise hit a $100 billion run-rate, a brand new milestone.
Cook dinner is requested about DOJ’s antitrust criticism in opposition to Apple, which was filed in March.
Cook dinner says he does not need to speculate on an ongoing authorized case. “I’ll save that for one more day,” he says.
Analyst asks about AI spending expectations because of Apple Intelligence.
Maestri says Apple has been investing closely in R&D during the last a number of years, and its R&D development has been “vital” over that point.
Apple has additionally reallocated a few of its sources towards AI, he provides.
The “stage of depth towards AI has elevated so much,” Maestri says. You won’t see the complete extent of it due to inner reallocation of Apple’s engineering base throughout the firm, he provides.
Analysts are curious concerning the staggered Apple Intelligence rollout globally and any affect on demand cadence.
Cook dinner and Maestri inform analysts that the rollout of Apple Intelligence will take longer than with previous software program updates that Apple sometimes launches globally, as the corporate mentioned at WWDC.
“It is clearly, as you level out, a unique cadence, if you’ll, than we might usually do,” Cook dinner says in response to an analyst’s query.
“When it comes to the demand curve, what we imagine is that it is a compelling motive for upgrading,” Cook dinner says. “That is each my private expertise and suggestions that I am getting. We’ll see. We’re not projecting past the present quarter, clearly — we simply do not try this.”
Cook dinner is requested concerning the election and potential tariffs, which may affect Apple.
The Apple CEO says he does not need to speculate and that he’ll punt on the query.
Cook dinner talks Apple’s China income.
Cook dinner says China income was comparatively flat yr over yr.
The CEO says a key element is the sequential enchancment in international change. “That helped us out. As , it has been a headwind that we have been reporting for a time frame,” Cook dinner says.
“What else is occurring there’s that the put in base of energetic units reached an all-time excessive,” he says. “We had the High 2 top-selling smartphones in city China,” Cook dinner says, referencing a third-party report. He additionally factors to the extent of latest prospects shopping for Mac and iPad being “nicely over 50%.”
“A number of optimistic indicators there,” Cook dinner provides.
“So far as stimulus, it is a clear focus of the crew there,” Cook dinner says. “However I am not an economist and do not need to ad-lib on the impact of it.”
Cook dinner says he is utilizing future Apple Intelligence options.
Cook dinner says upcoming software program releases for iOS and Apple Intelligence are “altering my every day life.” He says he is excited concerning the well being options — together with the sleep apnea characteristic.
Cook dinner is requested about early iPhone 16 demand and Apple Intelligence.
Apple “could not be extra excited” for its upcoming AI options, Cook dinner says it is a “compelling improve motive.”
Cook dinner mentioned that iOS 18.1, which comes with Apple Intelligence, is being adopted twice as quick as 17.1.
So far as iPhone 16 demand, that is as particular as Cook dinner appears prepared to get.
Apple opens the decision to analyst questions.
Cook dinner and Maestri will now reply questions from Wall Road analysts.
CFO supplies some steering for the vacation quarter.
Apple does not challenge full steering for the next quarter, however Apple’s CFO does present some shade about what the corporate is anticipating for the vacation quarter.
Gross sales to develop within the low- to mid-single digits
Companies income to develop much like what it did in fiscal 2024
Gross margin between 46% and 47%
Tax fee to be round 16%
Macs hit an set up base document this quarter, CFO says.
Amazon
Mac’s put in base reached an all-time excessive, with about half of the shoppers this quarter being new to Macs, Maestri says.
Cook dinner shouts out the ultimate earnings name for Apple’s outgoing CFO, who’s transferring to a brand new function.
On the finish of his ready remarks, Cook dinner takes a second to say that this would be the ultimate earnings name from CFO Luca Maestri, who’s transitioning into a unique function starting in January.
Cook dinner thanks Maestri for “shaping Apple as we all know it at this time.” Maestri will proceed reporting to Cook dinner in a brand new function as head of Apple’s info methods and know-how and real-estate improvement.
His successor within the CFO function will likely be Kevan Parekh.
Cook dinner says he is already getting notes from Apple AirPods Professional 2 customers concerning the new listening to assist characteristic.
Cook dinner says he is already getting suggestions calling the listening to take a look at and listening to assist options on the AirPods Professional 2 “life-changing.”
“We imagine this can make a significant distinction in person’s lives,” Cook dinner says.
Apple Intelligence is bringing a “new period,” Cook dinner says.
“Apple Intelligence marks the start of a brand new chapter for Apple innovation,” Cook dinner says.
The brand new iPhone 16, iPad, and Mac lineups get a shoutout for his or her compatibility with AI.
Cook dinner confirms extra Apple Intelligence options are dropping in December.
Cook dinner says ChatGPT integration, a extra conversational Siri, and extra localized English choices are coming in December. And, extra Apple Intelligence will roll out in “the approaching months.”
Cook dinner begins with ready remarks highlighting income data for the September quarter.
He additionally shouts out an all-time income document in India throughout the quarter.
And we’re off! Apple’s name with analysts begins.
Apple’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings name kicks off with opening remarks from Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner and CFO Luca Maestri. That is anticipated to be Maestri’s final name as he steps down from the CFO function.
Analyst reacts: Apple exhibiting ‘resilience’ amid market headwinds.
Analyst Jacob Bourne at Emarketer, a sister firm to Enterprise Insider, mentioned that Apple’s earnings “show its resilience within the face of market headwinds, with iPhone demand enhancing in China the place premium fashions gross sales surpassed expectations.”
“The staggered rollout of Apple Intelligence may curtail among the system improve cycle’s momentum, however the mixture of strong companies income development and wholesome iPhone 16 demand positions Apple nicely for the vacation season,” Bourne mentioned.
“Apple is prioritizing execution over pace — a technique that might show to be both prudent or probably pricey relying on how rapidly rivals advance their AI capabilities. A key query is whether or not Apple’s cautious AI rollout technique, whereas probably dulling the vacation gross sales potential, may be advantageous by guaranteeing a greater person expertise in the long term.”
Tim Cook dinner provides an early indicator of iPhone 16 gross sales in an interivew.
The Apple CEO tells CNBC that iPhone 15 gross sales have been “stronger than 14 within the year-ago quarter, and 16 was stronger than 15.”
Apple stories 4th-quarter revenue beat, however inventory falls 1% after hours.
Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner.Justin Sullivan/Getty Pictures
Apple inventory dropped about 1% in after-hours buying and selling after the corporate reported a revenue beat in its fiscal fourth quarter.
Listed below are the outcomes:
Fourth Quarter
Income: $94.93 billion vs estimate of $94.36 billion
Merchandise income: $69.96 billion vs estimate of $69.15 billion
iPhone income: $46.22 billion vs estimate of $45.04 billion
Mac income: $7.74 billion vs estimate of $7.74 billion
iPad income: $6.95 billion vs estimate of $7.07 billion
Wearables, dwelling and equipment: $9.04 billion vs estimate of $9.17 billion
Service income: $24.97 billion vs estimate of $25.27 billion
Better China income: $15.03 billion vs estimate of $15.8 billion
Adjusted EPS: $1.64 vs estimate of $1.60
Whole working bills: $14.29 billion vs estimate of $14.35 billion
Gross margin: $43.88 billion vs estimate of $43.44 billion
Money and money equivalents: $29.94 billion vs estimate of $26.04 billion
Value of gross sales: $51.05 billion vs estimate of $50.81 billion
Whole present property: $152.99 billion vs estimate of $145.08 billion
Whole present liabilities: $176.39 billion vs estimate of $139.88 billion
Supply for analyst estimates: Bloomberg
Apple inventory drops 1.34% heading into the corporate’s earnings report.
Markets Insider
Apple inventory traded decrease on Thursday, down 1.34% to $227.13 at 3:01 p.m. Japanese Time.
The inventory decline got here amid a broader sell-off in mega-cap tech shares following earnings stories from Microsoft and Meta Platforms, with shares of each tech corporations down about 5%.
The Nasdaq 100 traded about 2.5% decrease whereas the S&P 500 was down 1.5% Thursday afternoon.
Financial institution of America tells traders to ‘look previous the iPhone 16 noise.’
With some conflicting views on Wall Road about iPhone 16 demand in current weeks, Financial institution of America mentioned traders ought to “look previous the iPhone 16 noise to affect of Apple Intelligence.”
“Opposite to each cycle the place all of the {hardware}/software program performance is kind of static by means of the course of the cycle, we view the cycle as extra dynamic with extra materials software program updates that will increase the worth to the person,” Financial institution of America analyst Wasmi Mohan mentioned in a notice final week.
Mohan mentioned iPhone demand to choose up over the following few months as Apple’s AI options change into extra strong and expects the corporate to promote 80 million iPhone items throughout the vacation season.
Mohan is inspired by a barely increased common promoting worth for iPhones as customers overwhelmingly proceed to gravitate in direction of the dearer Professional fashions.
Financial institution of America charges Apple at “Purchase” with a $256 worth goal.
Goldman sees upcoming AI software program for the iPhone as a power.
Miguel Candela/SOPA Pictures/LightRocket by way of Getty Pictures
Goldman Sachs mentioned it sees “upside to consensus income and EPS pushed by outperformance in iPhone and Companies” in a notice final week.
Goldman analyst Michael Ng expects the corporate to report $1.61 in earnings per share and $94.5 billion in income, which might signify year-over-year development of 6%.
Like different analysts, Ng is targeted on the affect of AI and the entire software program options Apple is about to launch within the subsequent few months.
“Though Apple Intelligence has but to be a requirement driver, we’re inspired by the rollout of Apple Intelligence options with iOS 18.1 (Week of October 28, consists of Writing Instruments, notification summaries, Clear Up in Pictures), iOS 18.2 (at the moment in beta for est. December launch, consists of Genmoji, Picture Playground, ChatGPT), and iOS 18.4 (est. March 2025 launch, extra superior Siri, personalization, on-screen consciousness),” Ng mentioned.
Goldman Sachs charges Apple at “Purchase” with a $275 worth goal.
Wedbush expects iPhone 16 power to catapult Apple to $4 trillion valuation.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives is not budging from him bullish view on Apple heading into the corporate’s monetary outcomes.
He argues that the iPhone is on the verge of a supercycle as customers improve their units to get entry to Apple Intelligence options, and Apple will change into the primary $4 trillion firm in 2025.
“We anticipate a powerful iPhone efficiency for the September quarter and anticipate a comparatively bullish December iPhone demand commentary from Cook dinner & Co. regardless of lots of the bears lately yelling fireplace in a crowded theater on the power of iPhone 16 gross sales,” Ives mentioned in a notice on Sunday.
Ives says that bearish views on Apple fail to understand its put in base of 1.5 billion iPhones that may ultimately must be changed, in addition to the rising Companies enterprise that helps monetize the large person base, and the potential for Apple to be the gatekeeper of AI applied sciences for a big group of customers.
Wedbush charges Apple at “Outperform” with a $300 worth goal.
JPMorgan expects Apple to beat outcomes however supply underwhelming steering.
An Apple Retailer in Towson, Maryland.Andrew Harnik by way of Getty Pictures
JPMorgan expects Apple to report a powerful fourth-quarter earnings report that may possible beat income and revenue estimates however that it’s going to additionally disappoint with weaker-than-expected steering for the vacation quarter.
“Promote-through for iPhone 16 sequence began off slower than iPhone 15, and whereas momentum has improved in current weeks, the magnitude of the development continues to be placing volumes modestly under final yr,” JPMorgan analyst Samik Chatterjee mentioned in a Monday notice.
Like many analysts on Wall Road, Chatterjee is in search of proof that AI options will drive a bump in iPhone gross sales.
JPMorgan charges Apple at “Chubby” with a $265 worth goal.
Apple’s consensus fourth-quarter income estimate is $94.36 billion.
4th quarter
Income estimate: $94.36 billion
Merchandise income estimate: $69.15 billion
IPhone income estimate: $45.04 billion
Mac income estimate: $7.74 billion
IPad income estimate: $7.07 billion
Wearables, dwelling and equipment estimate: $9.17 billion
Service income estimate: $25.27 billion
Better China rev. estimate: $15.8 billion
EPS estimate: $1.60
Adjusted EPS estimate: $1.60
Working money circulate estimate: $34.66 billion
Whole working bills estimate: $14.35 billion
Gross margin estimate: $43.44 billion
Money and money equivalents estimate: $26.04 billion
