Apple To Announce Earnings Jan. 25 Prior To Tablet?

By

Credit: f-l-e-x/Flickr
Credit: f-l-e-x/Flickr

Apple announced it will release its earnings for the fiscal first quarter of 2010 on Jan. 25, two days prior to when many expect the Cupertino, Calif. company could introduce a long-rumored tablet device. The earnings report could be $11.98 billion, nearly 18 percent above last year’s.

Apple had suggested revenue for the three-month period ended Dec. 27, 2009 could range between $11.3 billion and $11.6 billion. The company often announces a conservative guidance figure ahead of actual earnings.


The expected revenue increase could build on Apple’s record September quarter, when it sold 3 million Macs, a 17 percent year-over-year jump.

The company started fiscal 2009 earning $10.17 billion on sales of 2.5 million Macs, 4.3 million iPhones, and 22 million iPods. This quarter, Apple could sell 2.86 million Macs, 9.3 million iPhones and 20 million iPods, Piper Jaffray expects. Apple’s gross margin is also expected to be higher at 35.6 percent, up from 2009’s 20.9 percent.

Analysts have reported bullish expectations for the Mac and iPhone. Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster told investors Apple could sell up to 3 million Macs, demand propelled by new iMacs, Mac Mini and MacBook. Likewise, AmTech analyst Brian Marshall said Cupertino could sell 11.3 million iPhones, higher than other projections of 10 million. Apple sold a record 7.4 million handsets during the previous quarter. In 2009, the iPhone entered China and South Korea, along with sales from multiple carriers in European markets.

The expansion in markets could boost iPhone sales to 15.8 million in 2010, analysts said.

The date for the first quarter earnings lands just days before Apple is said to unveil new devices, possibly a tablet. Apple could introduce a 10.1-inch touchscreen tablet in January and then begin sales in March, reports suggest.

[Via AppleInsider, 9to5Mac]

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.