Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

Apple Shares Sink as iPhone Sales and Revenue Outlook Disappoint

The company sold a record 51 million iPhones, but Apple shares tumbled more than eight percent after hours.

Apple

Apple posted record iPhone sales in the holiday quarter, but fell short of more optimistic Wall Street expectations, sending shares down eight percent in after-hours trading.

The iPhone and iPad maker on Monday reported quarterly earnings of $13.1 billion, or $14.50 per share, on revenue of $57.6 billion.

The revenue figure was generally in line with what analysts were expecting, while earnings were ahead of the consensus forecast. However, the iPhone sales of 51 million units, while a record, were below the average 54 million units that some analysts were expecting. The company’s revenue forecast for the coming quarter also failed to meet expectations.

Shares of Apple were down more than eight percent in after-hours trading after the report, bouncing around $505, down about $45.

Analysts had been expecting the company to report earnings of around $14.09 a share, on revenue of $57.47 billion. Apple itself had projected revenue of between $55 million and $58 million when it issued its last quarterly earnings report in October.

The company sold 51 million iPhones, up from 47.8 million in the year-ago quarter, along with 26 million iPads, up from 22.9 million a year ago. Mac sales totaled 4.8 million, up from 4.1 million a year ago.

“We love having the most satisfied, loyal and engaged customers, and are continuing to invest heavily in our future to make their experiences with our products and services even better,” CEO Tim Cook said in a statement.

For the current quarter, which runs through the end of March, Apple has forecast revenue of between $42 billion and $44 billion, along with gross profit margins of 37 percent to 38 percent. Some analysts had been looking for a higher revenue outlook, and that also pressured shares.

In addition to the financial results, Apple announced a $3.05 per-share dividend. Apple noted that the company returned $7.7 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the December quarter, which also generated $22.7 billion in cash flow.

Apple will hold a conference call at 2 pm PT to discuss the earnings.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

More in Technology

Technology
The case for AI realismThe case for AI realism
Technology

AI isn’t going to be the end of the world — no matter what this documentary sometimes argues.

By Shayna Korol
Politics
OpenAI’s oddly socialist, wildly hypocritical new economic agendaOpenAI’s oddly socialist, wildly hypocritical new economic agenda
Politics

The AI company released a set of highly progressive policy ideas. There’s just one small problem.

By Eric Levitz
Future Perfect
Human bodies aren’t ready to travel to Mars. Space medicine can help.Human bodies aren’t ready to travel to Mars. Space medicine can help.
Future Perfect

Protecting astronauts in space — and maybe even Mars — will help transform health on Earth.

By Shayna Korol
Podcasts
The importance of space toilets, explainedThe importance of space toilets, explained
Podcast
Podcasts

Houston, we have a plumbing problem.

By Peter Balonon-Rosen and Sean Rameswaram
Technology
What happened when they installed ChatGPT on a nuclear supercomputerWhat happened when they installed ChatGPT on a nuclear supercomputer
Technology

How they’re using AI at the lab that created the atom bomb.

By Joshua Keating
Future Perfect
Humanity’s return to the moon is a deeply religious missionHumanity’s return to the moon is a deeply religious mission
Future Perfect

Space barons like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk don’t seem religious. But their quest to colonize outer space is.

By Sigal Samuel