“UBS’ iPhone Monitor predicts that Apple could sell 70.9 million iPhones if they can be built and delivered before Saturday, December 27, the last day of Apple’s December quarter,” Chuck Jones writes for Forbes. “The 70.9 million iPhone units is above what appears to be the sell-side’s 64 to 65 million projections but I suspect that buy-side analysts (the ones that have to decide what Apple will really report so as to determine if they should invest in the stock) are more in the 67-68 million range due to the strong demand the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are experiencing.”
UBS’ Apple analyst, Steve Milunovich “is raising his iPhone unit estimate from 63 to 67 million and not 70.9 million due to supply constraints,” Jones writes. “I believe that Apple could hit 70 million iPhone sales and the demand for them can be seen in their leading positions they hold in Japan, lead-times being longer than other iPhone launches, China Mobile’s explosive 4G growth and Kantar’s data showing iPhones gaining share worldwide.”
“His checks indicate that iPhone production for the March quarter has not materially changed even though there have been rumors to that effect,” Jones writes. “He is expecting a 40% sequential decline but that is to be expected due to the very high demand in the December quarter and that most of that will occur in the iPhone 6 since he believes the 6 Plus is experiencing stronger than anticipated demand.”
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