Apple is expected to announce its earnings for the fourth quarter of 2010 later today. Many professional analysts are predicting blow-out revenue for the Cupertino, Calif. company, particularly for iPhone sales. However, will this be another case where unofficial estimates are closer to reality?
Although a poll of professional analysts affiliated with a financial research firm largely agree that Apple will report $18.86 billion in quarterly revenue, the consensus of unaffiliated analysts forecast $20.37 billion. The numbers are somewhat more in agreement on product sales. Wall Street expects sales of 11.38 million iPhones (versus 12 million for the blogger-analysts), 9.54 million iPods (versus 9.74 million for the unofficial analysts), 3.78 million Macs (compared to 4.01 million by bloggers) and 4.73 million iPads (compared to 5.52 million for the bloggers).
How did the pros versus bloggers battle do prior to Apple’s last quarterly financial report? According to Fortune, Daniel Tello of Deagol’s AAPL Model was ranked No. 1 with the closest estimate. Alexis Cabot of the Apple Finance Board ranked No. 2 and Andy Zaky of Bullish Cross landed in fourth place. Two professional analysts made it into the five with the most accurate third-quarter: Yair Reiner of Oppenheimer (No. 3) and Scott Craig of Merrill Lynch (No. 5).
We should know how this quarter’s estimates rank later today when Apple announces its quarterly findings at 4:35pm Eastern.
[via AppleInsider, Fortune]
