“Apple Computer Inc. is expected to post another quarter of double-digit profit and revenue growth driven by iPod sales when it reports results for its fiscal fourth period on Wednesday, Oct. 18,” Rex Crum reports for MarketWatch.
Crum reports, Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call estimate Apple will earn 50 cents a share for the period, which just ended, up from 38 cents a share a year ago. Revenue is expected to rise 27% to $4.67 billion, up from $3.69 billion, on strong demand for the iPod, its market-leading digital music player, and growth in sales of Apple’s laptop and desktop personal computers.”
Crum reports, “It will be the first Apple financial report since the company said on Oct. 4 that it will restate some past results to book charges because an internal probe found that employee stock option grants were not properly accounted for on 15 occasions between 1997 and January 2002. Apple didn’t specify in which period it will take the charges nor how large they will be.”
Crum reports, “Shaw Wu, an analyst with American Technology Research, said he anticipates Apple will report strong iPod sales fueled by the redesigned iPod Nano. Wu also expects Apple’s Macintosh sales to show a 6% increase over their fiscal third-quarter figures because of strength in the company’s MacBook laptop product line. Looking ahead to December, Wu said that he expects Apple’s forecast for the current quarter to be conservative, in spite of what is typically the company’s strongest business period. Wu said Apple will likely set ‘reasonable’ expectations that it can either meet or exceed for the period, which includes the holiday shopping season.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple will announce Q4 earnings on October 18th after market close.
Apple’s 2006 earnings and unit sales information through Q3:
• Q1 (ended 12/31/05): revenue of $5.75 billion, net quarterly profit of $565 million, 1.254 million Macs, 14.043 million iPods
• Q2 (ended 04/01/06): revenue of $4.36 billion, net quarterly profit of $410 million, 1.112 million Macs, 08.526 million iPods
• Q3 (ended 07/01/06): revenue of $4.37 billion, net quarterly profit of $472 million, 1.327 million Macs, 08.111 million iPods
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