Apple Talks Q4 Earnings Of $36 Billion

iProfits

APPLE has reported Q4 revenue at $36 billion, which basically meets analyst expectations of $35.8 billion, REUTERS reports. Among the highlights of its conference call, which is ongoing:

* Sales of 5.3 million iPODS, a 19% decline from year-ago quarter.
* Sales of 14 million iPADS, a 26% unit increase over the year-ago quarter, but underwhelming to analysts.
* Sales of 4.9 million iMACS, a 1% unit increase over the year-ago quarter.
* International sales accounted for 60% of the quarter's revenue.
* Forecasts Q1 2013 revenue about $52 billion; share about $11.75.
* iTUNES revenue at $2.1 billion.
* Highest SEPTEMBER revue ever.
* 44 million iOS devices sold in Q4.
* $17.1 billion for iPHONE handsets and accessories in Q4
* 94 million people visited APPLE retail stores around the world for Q4, or to put it in perspective, 19,000 visitors per store per week.
* Total of 18 new APPLE retail stores opened in a total of 10 countries during Q4.
* Average revenue per APPLE retail store was $11.2 million.

Although iPHONE sales have yet to be cited, APPLE CEO TIM COOK noted that, "The demand for iPHONE is extremely robust. We're thrilled with what we see. We are in a significant state of backlog right now. In terms of the production, our output has improved significantly since earlier this month."

"We still continue to anticipate rolling out [iPHONES] to the 100 countries ... it is our fastest roll-out ever. There will be some large countries in the month of DECEMBER."

Regarding the notion that rumors of new APPLE products can prompt potential customers from buying what's already on sale, COOK said, "It's clear that customers delay purchases of tablets due to new product rumors; these intensified in AUGUST and SEPTEMBER. Some of that was anticipated, some of that I wish didn't occur, but it did occur."

When asked if he's concerned that the iPAD Mini costs more than its competitors, APPLE CFO PETER OPPENHEIMER replied, "We didn't set out to build a small cheap tablet, we set out to build a smaller iPAD that offers the full iPAD experience ... as a result, the difference between the iPAD Mini and the competition is profound."

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