[7/13/2005, 10:17pm EDT: The following article is being brought to the top to highlight an amazing journalistic misstep made by Bloomberg News earlier today. The original article as posted on MacDailyNews exactly 12 hours ago at 10:17am EDT in italics.]
“Apple Computer Inc.’s iPod shipments probably dropped in the third quarter from the second, the first decline in more than two years and a sign the surge in demand for the music players may be waning,” Bloomberg reports. “Apple, which made its name selling Macintosh computers, will say today iPod shipments dropped to 5.29 million in the three months ended in June from 5.31 million in the second, according to a Bloomberg News survey of eight analysts. Sales of the iPod, which generated almost one third of Apple’s $3.24 billion in revenue, are up sixfold from 860,000 a year earlier.”
Bloomberg reports, “The drop in iPod shipments reflects a lack of new models and disappointing appetite for the shuffle player, a low-cost model unveiled by Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs in January.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: What drop in iPod shipments? Is this a time warp? Is the market closed already?
We surveyed eight analysts once: they told us Apple Computer would be dead in a year. That was 10 years ago. How about we wait for the actual results from Apple due at market close today before making proclamations, okay?
MacDailyNews Take Update: Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2005 third quarter ended June 25, 2005, reporting the highest revenue and earnings in the Company’s history. Apple posted a net quarterly profit of $320 million, or $.37 per diluted share, and revenue of $3.52 billion. These results compare to a net profit of $61 million, or $.08 per diluted share, and revenue of $2.01 billion in the year-ago quarter, and represent revenue growth of 75 percent and net profit growth of 425 percent. Apple shipped 1,182,000 Macintosh units and 6,155,000 iPods during the quarter, representing 35 percent growth in Macs and 616 percent growth in iPods over the year-ago quarter.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Wall Street wants to see Apple grow iPod unit sales – July 13, 2005
Comprehensive survey shows ‘iPod Halo Effect’ is increasing Apple Mac sales, market share – July 12, 2005
Smartmoney.com article sounds stupid about Apple’s ‘iPod Halo Effect’ – July 12, 2005
SG Cowen survey shows evidence of a significant iPod halo effect boosting Apple Mac sales – July 12, 2005
Analysts expect Apple to post $3.33 billion in revenue for Q3-2005 on July 13 – July 07, 2005
Merrill Lynch: Mac sales ‘appear robust,’ expects futher evidence of ‘iPod Halo Effect’ – July 07, 2005
BofA raises Apple earnings estimates, forecasts 5.4 million iPods, 28-percent Mac growth for quarter – July 07, 2005
TheStreet.com dubiously concludes that iPod demand has slowed, could impact Apple earnings – July 06, 2005
J.P. Morgan raises Apple estimates based on ‘more optimistic’ Mac shipments – July 05, 2005
First Albany raises Apple earnings, sales, iPod forecasts, cuts Mac mini forecast – July 05, 2005
Apple to webcast third quarter 2005 financial results conference call on July 13 – July 05, 2005
RealMoney: Apple’s iPod Halo Effect ‘quite profound,’ Macs taking good market share from Wintel – June 27, 2005
Morgan Stanley: Apple’s ‘iPod Halo Effect’ is ‘roughly double what the market expects’ – March 18, 2005