Apple executives voiced confidence in iPhone sales for the second quarter ending in March, according to an analyst Thursday.
Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi told investors Apple’s top executives “appeared confident” after speaking with operations chief Tim Cook, chief finance officer Peter Oppenheimer and product head Phil Schiller earlier this week.
Apple’s confidence ahead of its second quarter guidance is bolstered by news Mac inventory is “below target level,” action that could increase Mac growth, according to Sacconaghi.
The iPhone was also a reason for Cupertino to be happy. The executives were “most bullish” about its handset business and the possibility of increasing market share.
Worrying to the analyst was no apparent desire to join PC makers’ shift toward lower-cost netbooks. Absence of an Apple netbook was “somewhat disappointing,” particularly given that Cupertino already has 80 percent of above $1,200 PC sales, according to the analyst.
However, Sacconaghi expected Apple to unveil new iMacs in March and new iPhones in mid-2009.
