Atom

Apple posts record revenue of $88.3 bn in Q4 despite fall in iPhone sales

Written by : IANS

Despite a fall in iPhone sales, Apple has posted a record revenue of $88.3 billion -- a 13 per cent increase from a year ago -- for the holiday season quarter that ended on December 30 -- pocketing $20.1 billion in profits.

Apple sold 77.3 million iPhones in the holiday quarter -- roughly one million units less than what the company had sold in the same period a year ago.

According to the company, it now has a 1.3 billion active installed base of devices globally.

"We're thrilled to report the biggest quarter in Apple's history, with broad-based growth that included the highest revenue ever from a new iPhone lineup," Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement late on Thursday.

"iPhone X surpassed our expectations and has been our top-selling iPhone every week since it shipped in November," Cook added, allaying reports that iPhone X has not done well since its launch.

Apple's earnings per share rose 16 per cent to $3.89 which is also a record. International sales accounted for 65 per cent of the quarter's revenue.

Apple's cash reserves reached $285.1 billion in the quarter.

"Thanks to great operational and business performance, we achieved all-time record profitability during the quarter, with EPS up 16 per cent," said Luca Maestri, Apple's CFO.

"Cash flow from operations was very strong at $28.3 billion, and we returned $14.5 billion to investors through our capital return programme," Maestri added.

Apple's revenue continues to come from iCloud, Apple Music, iTunes and the App Store -- with an increase of 18 percent (year over year). 

For its fiscal 2018 second quarter, Apple forecasts revenue between $60 billion and $62 billion.

"We've also achieved a significant milestone with our active installed base of devices reaching 1.3 billion in January. That's an increase of 30 per cent in just two years," Cook said.

Apple sold a record 22.39 million smartphones in the US in the holiday season last year, increasing its market share from 37 per cent to 44 per cent, a report said on January 31.

Since its launch on November 3, with nearly eight million units sold, iPhone X outsold iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus by a 2:1 margin in the US.

According to Counterpoint Research's "Market Pulse programme, 51.2 million smartphones were sold during the holiday season quarter of 2017.

"Apple shipped a record 22 million iPhones for the first time ever in a quarter in the US which is an impressive feat because the Q4 promotional season was not nearly as aggressive as previous years," Research Director Jeff Fieldhack said in a statement.

The identity theft of Rohith Vemula’s Dalitness

JD(S) leader HD Revanna arrested, son Prajwal still absconding

A decade lost: How LGBTQIA+ rights fared under BJP govt and the way forward

In Holenarsipura, Deve Gowda family’s dominance ensures no one questions Prajwal

JD(S) leader alleges Prajwal Revanna threatened with gun, sexually assaulted her for 3 years