Should You Bet on Apple's iPhone-Driven Q1 Earnings? ETFs in Focus

Core Insights - Apple reported fiscal first-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations, driven by a sharp rebound in iPhone demand, with earnings of $2.84 per share surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.65 per share and the previous year's $2.40 per share [1] - Revenues increased by 16% year over year to $143.76 billion, beating the Zacks Consensus estimate by 4.32%, and gross margin reached 48.2%, exceeding consensus estimates of 47.5% [1] Segment Performance - iPhone revenue surged 23% year over year to $85.27 billion, reflecting strong demand for the iPhone 17 lineup [3] - iPad revenue rose 6% to $8.60 billion, surpassing forecasts due to strong demand from first-time buyers [3] - Mac revenue fell 7% annually to $8.39 billion, missing estimates despite the launch of updated MacBook Pro models [4] - Wearables, Home and Accessories segment revenue declined 2% year over year to $11.49 billion, below Wall Street estimates [4] - Services revenue grew 14% to $30.01 billion, roughly in line with expectations, driven by growth in subscriptions and advertising [4] Outlook - For the current quarter, Apple expects revenue growth of 13% to 16% year over year, implying sales between $107.8 billion and $110.66 billion, well above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $102.89 billion [5] - Management cautioned that iPhone supply will remain constrained [5] Geographic Performance - Apple achieved standout results in Greater China, where revenue surged 38% to $25.53 billion, marking the best iPhone quarter in history for the region [6] - In India, Apple posted an all-time revenue record with strong double-digit growth, highlighting the country's significance as the second-largest smartphone market [6] Investment and AI Strategy - Apple announced a partnership with Google to integrate the Gemini AI model into Apple Intelligence, although its AI spending is lower than peers like Microsoft and Meta [7] - R&D spending rose sharply to $10.89 billion from $8.27 billion, reflecting increased investment in future technologies [9] Supply Chain and Cost Pressures - Apple acknowledged ongoing supply constraints, particularly in advanced chip manufacturing, and expects rising memory prices to have a greater impact in the current period [10] - Management is evaluating options to manage higher component costs amid an AI-driven global memory shortage [10] Market Position and Future Prospects - The long-term viability of Apple's premium pricing for the iPhone is under question if AI capabilities are adopted faster by competitors [11] - Growth potential in the Indian market remains significant, with rumors of a debut for Apple's first folding phone in 2026 [12]