Analysts see vast opportunity in Apple’s Mac story

“Now might be a good time to put the Apple back into the investor’s cart,” Duncan Martell reports for Reuters. “Apple Computer Inc., rejuvenated by its invention of the market-leading iPod more than four years ago, on Wednesday posted a 48 percent surge in quarterly net income, fueled in large part by surging notebook computer sales.”

Martell reports, “Revenue from the sales of MacBook and MacBook pro notebooks jumped 61 percent to $1.16 billion from the year-ago quarter, a faster pace of growth than the 35 percent rise in sales of iPod digital music players to $1.50 billion. ‘It shows the importance of the notebook line in their business and the diversity of their product set,’ analyst Shannon Cross of Cross Research said of the rapid notebook growth. ‘People are looking more at the Mac story and that’s where the vast opportunity really lies.'”

“With more than 75 percent of the U.S. market for digital music players, there’s limited room for growth in iPod market share. So to keep growing Apple needs to ensure that consumers who don’t yet have a digital music player buy an iPod,” Martell reports.

“Where there is vastly more room for growth is in its ‘original’ business, selling the Macintosh computers that are known for their sleek industrial design, ease of use, and robust package of software that comes included with each computer,” Martell reports.

“Apple ended the second quarter with 4.8 percent of the U.S. notebook and desktop computer market, up from a 4.4 percent share a year ago, according to IDC figures. That’s still well below the 34 percent share that Dell Inc. commands and the 20 percent that Hewlett-Packard has chalked up,” Martell reports.

“Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer cited market research firm NPD’s figures that showed Apple doubling its U.S. notebook market share as measured by units to 12 percent in June from 6 percent in January,” Martell reports. “‘We are increasingly optimistic about the potential for Mac to gain meaningful share in the back-to-school and holiday seasons while Microsoft Vista remains unavailable until January,’ wrote Merrill Lynch analyst Richard Farmer in a note to clients on Thursday.”

Full article here.

Related articles:
The Mac is back: Rising Macintosh sales give more momentum to Apple – July 20, 2006
Citigroup sees Apple shares as compelling ‘Buy’ even on today’s strength – July 20, 2006
50% of Apple Retail Store customers are ‘new to Mac’ – July 20, 2006
Merrill Lynch ups Apple rating to ‘buy’; UBS raises Apple target to $80 – July 20, 2006
Apple shares rocket over 12% in pre-market trading on strong earnings report – July 20, 2006
‘Fantastic quarter’ helps Apple double share of U.S. retail notebook market to 12% – July 19, 2006
IDC: Apple Mac attained 4.8% U.S. market share in Q2 06 – July 19, 2006
Gartner: Apple Mac grabbed 4.6% U.S. market share in Q2 06 – July 19, 2006
Apple Q3 2006 Conference Call notes – July 19, 2006
Apple reports third quarter results: $0.54 per share on $4.37 billion in revenue – July 19, 2006

31 Comments

  1. Regrettably, I haven’t caught the Daily Show in a while. John Hodgeman is now doing some of his bits as The PC? That’s great advertising for Apple! After all, there’s not a lot of other blantant product placement on that show.

  2. I can see the market share growing for Apple.

    Many said Apple would fail and close it doors. This has not happened and it is causing Windows to change in design and scope to adapt to the user interface Apple has put to market.

    Many think Apple will never be more than what it is now.

    Ask any person about an Apple, more than often will the response will be that it is a superior computer, just more than they want to pay. Often marked as a Mercedes of the computers world. I contend that more of the Apple icons out one laptops-the more people will look and buy.

    Many think Apple is sitting on the high horse and sony or microsoft will topple them.

    Percent of market will change as more companies get into it. However, Apple has yet to be removed from the computer market even aften dell and other march forward. Apple is in the market to stay! They have the knowledge, design, and the mind to make it simple.

    Roll on Apple, as other forcast your demise….they forcast their lack of knowledge of history and the forsight of the future…..

  3. Nobody:

    “The stock will drop a couple of bucks on Friday.”

    AAPL’s at 60.53, +0.03, at market close Friday, and rising in after-hours trading.

    Yeah, boy… Apple is just taking in the shorts, and hard. Love how that stock is dropping like a stone.

    Yes, Apple stock is dropping like cement shoes off the Bay Bridge. Dropping like a whore’s pants on payday. Dropping like Rob Enderle’s credibility.
    http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/big_surprise_enderle_was_wrong_about_apples_holiday_quarter_mac_sales/

    Hey Nobody, you know good ol’ Rob? Maybe been getting advice from him? Cause, you know, he’s been known to pick a song or two.

    Of course, he’s playing a different song than ever’body else in the band, he can’t kee time and he’s horribly, embarrassingly out-of-tune, but that hasn’t diminished his enthusiasm. He just keeps a-singin’ and playin’ that same old song, over and over.

    Just like you.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.