Return to Apple, Technology Leader
Apple has announced its Q4 earnings for 2011, and the results are nothing short of impressive. The tech giant saw significant growth in its international segments, with Japan leading the pack. Sales in the region jumped by an astonishing 148%. Europe and the Asia Pacific regions also experienced strong growth, with revenue increasing by 55% and 54% respectively.
The iPhone was the star of the show, with unit sales more than doubling. A total of 37.04 million iPhones were sold, representing a 128% gain. The iPad also had a stellar quarter, with unit sales more than doubling as well, amounting to 15.43 million units sold, a 111% jump.
However, the iPod segment saw a contraction, with units and revenue falling 21% and 26% respectively. Interestingly, more than half of the iPod sales were iPod Touches, which run iOS.
Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, mentioned that they made a 'bold bet' entering the quarter, ordering up a mother lode of iPhones. Despite this, Apple ended up with a backlog and was still short on supply in some areas.
The strong performance has propelled Apple's net income to soar by 118% to $13.06 billion, which translates to $13.87 per diluted share. The company's gross margin also improved, jumping from 38.5% to 44.7% in the last quarter.
The mobile revolution is set to become the next trillion-dollar revolution, and Apple is leading the charge. The company reported a bona fide blowout in its last quarter, with top-line revenue of $46.33 billion, a 73% rise from the prior year's $26.74 billion.
Apple's success is not limited to the US. The Asia Pacific region saw a rise in Mac units, with a 58% increase. The region's revenue growth, however, does not include the iPhone 4S launch in China, which took place this month.
The company's financial health is also robust, with Apple reporting that it has $97.6 billion in cash and investments, steadily approaching 12-digit territory.
In comparison, Apple sold 20.6 million Macs and iPads combined, trouncing the 14.7 million PCs that HP is estimated to have moved last quarter. The iPad alone bested the total PC sales of HP last quarter.
The exact size of Apple's share capital at the end of the last quarter is not explicitly stated in the search results. Apple's financial details commonly reported focus on net income, investments, and strategic initiatives rather than the nominal share capital. Therefore, based on the available data, this specific figure cannot be provided from the search results.
In conclusion, Apple's Q4 earnings report paints a picture of a company that is not only dominating the mobile market but also expanding its reach globally. Cupertino is starting off fiscal 2012 with a bang, resuming its expectation-demolishing ways.
Read also:
- MRI Scans in Epilepsy Diagnosis: Function and Revealed Findings
- Hematology specialist and anemia treatment: The role of a hematologist in managing anemia conditions
- Enhancing the framework or setup for efficient operation and growth
- Hydroelectric Power Generation Industry Forecasted to Expand to USD 413.3 Billion by 2034, Projected Growth Rate of 5.8% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
