Core Viewpoint - Apple CEO Tim Cook provided a positive forecast for holiday quarter iPhone sales and overall revenue, surpassing Wall Street expectations, driven by strong demand for iPhone 17 models despite ongoing supply constraints [1][4]. Sales Performance - In the fiscal fourth quarter, Apple missed iPhone sales forecasts due to supply constraints and shipping delays to China, but overall sales reached $102.47 billion, exceeding analyst expectations of $102.26 billion [2][12]. - iPhone sales for the quarter were $49.03 billion, below expectations of $50.19 billion, while profit was $1.85 per share, beating forecasts of $1.77 per share [12][8]. Future Outlook - Cook anticipates double-digit growth in iPhone sales and overall revenue growth of 10-12% year over year for the holiday quarter, which exceeds analyst estimates of 9.8% growth in iPhone sales and 6.6% growth in total sales [4][15]. - The company is addressing supply constraints for several iPhone 17 models and is optimistic about returning to growth in China, despite recent sales contractions [5][6]. Product Insights - The new iPhone Air model faced delays in China, impacting sales, but Cook expressed enthusiasm about the product's reception and potential [5][6]. - Sales in the services segment reached $28.75 billion, surpassing estimates, while Mac and iPad sales also exceeded expectations [14]. Market Context - Apple's share price rose 3.8% in after-hours trading following the positive forecast, although its share gains have lagged behind competitors in the tech sector this year [2][7]. - The company continues to face challenges related to US-China trade tensions and the rollout of AI features, but these factors have had a lesser impact than anticipated [3][10].
Apple sales top $100B despite missing iPhone forecasts — but CEO Tim Cook expects big holiday quarter