Piper Jaffray Managing Director Gene Munster says three key factors will determine whether Apple’s fiscal third quarter was a success, and whether or not the stock will go higher in the near term.
Munster “said the first thing to look for in Tuesday’s report is the all-important iPhone sales figure,” Michael Newberg reports for CNBC. “‘We believe the takeaway on a 49 million unit number would be that iPhone growth is accelerating,’ Munster wrote in an earnings preview note. ‘”This acceleration reflects iPhone gaining share at the high-end of the market.’
“Munster’s second factor to watch was Apple’s gross margin, which he pegged at 39.5 percent for the quarter. In his preview note, Munster said he expected margins to improve into the iPhone 6S cycle, which he thinks will launch in mid to late September,” Newberg reports. “Finally, Munster said he expected Apple to provide next-quarter revenue guidance of $48 billion to $51 billion, implying about 48 million iPhone sales for the September quarter. ‘You put all three of these together, we think it’s going to be a net positive and shares of Apple will move higher,’ Munster told CNBC.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: After market close, we’ll bring you Apple’s earnings results right around 1:30pm PDT/4:30pm EDT and follow that up with our usual live notes (look for the link on our home page around 1:45pm PDT / 4:45pm EDT) from Apple’s Q315 conference call with analysts.
Can’t wait, and in a few weeks more DIVIDENDS! Nice to have Apple pay for my Apple devices, among other things. 🙂
Watch the “OTHER” category income bump to gage WATCH sales.
Gene………………….where is my Apple Television you promised………
LOL!!!!!!!!!! ANALists……………..!!!
Let’s be kind to Gene – he’s done his groveling and has had to suffer being the butt of many jokes on the Interwebs.
I forgive you, Gene.
The guy has been wrong about WAY more than just the fabled Apple TV set. He claimed that the iPhone 5c would ship with Siri disabled so as to not cannibalize other phones, he’s been way off on earnings before, and then turned around and blamed it on Apple when he was. They say even a broken clock is right twice per day. Gene wishes he had as good a track record as a broken clock.
You have a point there, jkdman123.
Still, Gene is far from the worst tech analcyst.