Apple reported a steep rise in profits on Tuesday in the final quarter of its fiscal year on strong sales of new iPhones and Macintosh computers, but issued a cautious outlook for the holiday season.
The Cupertino, California-based company reported net profits of US$1.14 billion in the three months to Sept. 27, up 31 percent from the US$904 million in the same period a year earlier.
Earnings per share were US$1.26, better than the US$1.11 forecast by analysts.
Apple reported revenue of US$7.9 billion in its fiscal fourth-quarter, up from US$6.22 billion during the same quarter a year ago. It said international sales accounted for 41 percent of the quarter’s revenue.
“Apple just reported one of the best quarters in its history, with a spectacular performance by the iPhone — we sold more phones than RIM,” maker of the Blackberry, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said in a statement.
“We don’t yet know how this economic downturn will affect Apple,” Jobs said.
“But we’re armed with the strongest product line in our history, the most talented employees and the best customers in our industry,” he said. “And US$25 billion of cash safely in the bank with zero debt.”
Apple said 6.89 million iPhones were sold in the quarter, up from 1.11 million in the same period last year.
The firm’s second-generation iPhone, the iPhone 3G, hit stores during the last quarter and 1 million iPhone 3Gs were sold during the first weekend alone in July, it said.
The company said that it had shipped 2.61 million Macintosh computers during the quarter — 21 percent unit growth and 17 percent revenue growth over the year-ago quarter.
It said it sold 11.05 million iPod portable music players during the quarter, representing 8 percent unit growth and 3 percent revenue growth over the year-ago quarter.
Apple chief financial officer Peter Oppenheimer issued a traditionally cautious forecast for the upcoming quarter.
“Looking ahead, visibility is low and forecasting is challenging and as a result we are going to be prudent in predicting the December quarter,” he said.
“We are providing a wide range for our guidance, targeting revenue of US$9 billion to US$10.0 billion and earnings per diluted share between US$1.06 and US$1.35,” Oppenheimer said.
Apple’s share price gained 7.15 percent to US$98 in after-hours trading following the release of its results, erasing its losses during the trading day on Wall Street.
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