“A year ago, Apple blew past all expectations by reporting sales of 37 million iPhones in the Christmas quarter, 128% more than the year before and a cool 10 million units better than the median analyst’s estimate,” Philip Elmer-DeWitt reports for Fortune.
“Nobody expects a repeat of that kind of surprise in two weeks when the company reports its first quarter earnings for fiscal 2013. Breakneck growth like that just can’t go on forever — especially with Samsung flooding the market with cheaper knock-off Androids,” P.E.D. reports. “Also, Q1 2012 had an extra week — 14 rather than the usual 13 — a fact I fully expect many reporters to forget when they do their year-over-year growth calculations this time around.”
P.E.D. reports, “The high estimate of 63 million — from congenitally bullish independent Nicolae Mihalache — represents 84% growth year over year (adjusted for the short quarter). Topeka Capital’s Brian White, despite his Street-high $1,111 price target, has come in with the lowest estimate of all: 43 million, up only 26% (adjusted) above last year.”
Check out all of the analysts’ estimates in the full article here.
Related articles:
Apple could be looking at big holiday quarter – January 9, 2013
Apple stuns Street with massive $46.33 billion record revenue; all-time record Mac, iPhone, iPad sales – January 24, 2012