Apple faces high expectations ahead of today’s Q409 earnings release

“Apple has shown few signs of being slowed down by the recession. That’s likely to continue when it reports fiscal fourth-quarter results on Monday,” Yukari Iwatani Kane reports for The Wall Street Journal.

“The maker of iPods, iPhones and Macintosh computers is projected to post a 13% year-over-year earnings increase to $1.42 a share, according to Thomson Reuters, well above the top end of Apple’s own forecast of $1.18 to $1.23,” Kane reports. “But some on Wall Street are quietly expecting even more — Apple has a record of exceeding estimates and some investors are anticipating around $1.60. Apple’s revenue is forecast to rise 17% to $9.2 billion.”

Kane reports, “As it has in the past, Apple will likely once again make a conservative forecast for the current quarter. But investors and analysts are wising up to that tactic. Officially, Wall Street is forecasting December quarter earnings of $1.91 a share, according to Thomson Reuters, but analysts say Apple will probably forecast $1.68 a share.”

Full article here.