Apple Breaks Tech Records in Q1; 37 Million iPhones Sold
Apple has reported first quarter financial results for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2011.
Tim Cook's first quarter as Chief Executive Officer at Apple may have been fairly uneventful in terms of product launches (unless you count the iPhone 4S and the iBooks 2 announcement), but it has certainly been a successful one. The Cupertino-based company yesterday announced Q1 earnings for the FY2012 and revealed that it has had its best quarter on record.
Apple posted record quarterly revenue of $46.33 billion and record quarterly net profit of $13.06 billion, or $13.87 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $26.74 billion and net quarterly profit of $6 billion, or $6.43 per diluted share, for the same period a year ago. Gross margin was 44.7 percent, up from 38.5 percent in the year-ago quarter.
Apple said iPhone sales for the quarter saw a 128 percent unit growth over the same period last year, selling 37.04 million handsets. iPads also saw an increase of 111 percent compared to the year-ago quarter. The company shifted 15.43 million of the tablets in Q1FY12. Mac sales also rose, but not by nearly as much as the iPhone and iPad; Apple sold 5.2 million Macs, a 26 percent unit increase over Q1FY11. As usual, iPods were the combo-breaker, representing the only decline in sales. The company sold 15.4 million, which is a 21 percent decline compared to the same period last year.
"We're thrilled with our outstanding results and record-breaking sales of iPhones, iPads and Macs," said Tim Cook. "Apple's momentum is incredibly strong, and we have some amazing new products in the pipeline."
However, this wasn't just a record breaker of a quarter for Apple. According to CNN's David Goldman, Apple's $46 billion in sales set a new tech record. Not only that, but the net quarterly profit of $13 billion, or $13.87 per share, was one of the most profitable quarters ever for any U.S. company, second only to ExxonMobil's $14.8 billion quarter in 2008.
Cook yesterday sent an email congratulating staff on the best quarter in company history and said he intends to discuss the "record-setting results and some exciting new things going on at Apple" at a Town Hall meeting scheduled for today.

Why on earth would they?
Apple has 14% of smartphone market share worldwide yet it makes more profit than remaining 86%.
You know what that actually means? That it is milking mentioned 14% real hard. Get used ty paying 50$ for a cable my dear.
so true. You would think that the economy would better if people have that kind of money to throw down on devices that cost so much more than comparable devices
Wow. Hate Apple all you want, but they certainly know how to rake in some cash.
so true. You would think that the economy would better if people have that kind of money to throw down on devices that cost so much more than comparable devices
Why on earth would they?
Apple has 14% of smartphone market share worldwide yet it makes more profit than remaining 86%.
You know what that actually means? That it is milking mentioned 14% real hard. Get used ty paying 50$ for a cable my dear.
Brand loyality is 90%+ so I guess the same guys keep buying slightly refreshed version of the same.
Actually the 37 million iPhones sold is worldwide, not just to America.
What do you mean no Android can compare? Even Steve Wozniak said he wishes his iPhone could do things his Android phone did. Apple puts sub-par equipment in a slick case and jacks up the price by 700% and somehow convinces morons to buy it.
In other words, anyone who likes what you don't like is a mindless sheep and financially retarded.
STFU hypocrite, a couple of months back you've been ranting about how you got the Galaxy Nexus so that you can feel superior to the "iPhone kiddies". At least keep your BS synchronized so that you don't embarrass yourself!
Tech records? I thought Apple sold magic!
So, if Android starts falling behind in terms of technology, or the phones they are putting it on just blow, you'll stick with them? No one should be that loyal to a brand unless they own the freakin' company. If you hate Apple maybe stay open to the idea of using WP7 or any other future OS.
700,000 Android devices per day (according to Andy Rubin).
The difference is nobody knows what those Android devices comprise, how many are garbage phones locked to their carriers, feature phones running Android or those $200 tablets. Suddenly that 700,000 doesn't seem so impressive anymore.