Ondrej Holzman Apple continues to have record quarters in terms of financial results. As third fiscal quarter, even the fourth is the best of all the previous ones so far in 2015. The California firm reported revenues of $51,5 billion with a profit of $11,1 billion. This is an increase of almost ten billion in revenues compared to the previous year.
Sales outside the United States accounted for more than sixty percent of the record numbers, with iPhones accounting for a similar share (63%). Their share of profit grew by six percentage points year-on-year and they are an essential driving force for Apple. So the good news is that they still keep growing.
In the third fiscal quarter of this year, Apple sold more than 48 million iPhones, which represents a 20% year-over-year increase. Perhaps even better news concerns Macs - they had the best three months ever, with 5,7 million units sold. As in the previous quarter, this time too, the services exceeded a record five billion dollars.
Apple's services also include sales of its Watch, for which it refuses to disclose specific numbers - allegedly also because it is competitive information. According to analysts' estimates, he should have sold around 3,5 million watches in the last quarter. That would mean 30% quarterly growth.
“Fiscal 2015 was Apple's most successful year in history, with revenue growing 28% to nearly $234 billion. This continued success is the result of our commitment to create the best, most innovative products in the world and is a testament to the great performance of our teams," commented Apple CEO Tim Cook on the latest financial results.
But Cook could not be pleased with the state of the iPads. Apple's tablet sales fell again, with 9,9 million units sold marking the worst result in more than four years. However, according to Cook, his company is entering the Christmas period with the strongest product range ever: in addition to the iPhone 6S and Apple Watch, the new Apple TV or iPad Pro are also going on sale.
Apple CFO Luca Maestri revealed that operating cash flow was $13,5 billion in the September quarter and that the company returned $17 billion to investors in share buybacks and dividend payments. Of the total 200 billion dollar capital return plan, Apple has already returned over 143 billion dollars.
In addition to revenues and profits, Apple's gross margin also increased year-on-year, from 38 to 39,9 percent. Apple has $206 billion in cash after the last quarter, but most of its capital is held abroad.
So, Apple probably promised more from the Watch than that it will have to include them among "others", but compared to other manufacturers, it is good...plus, there is extreme room for improvement. But I wonder how many people are still using the iPad 2…with the lifespan in the Apple ecosystem already on the edge and I am very curious to see how the change will take place with the arrival of the new iOS.
Unfortunately, or for God's sake, my iPad 2 still works great, so there is no reason to change it. Maybe next year I won't update the new iOS much, but as long as the applications I use work, I see no reason to change it.
Same with me. The operating speed is therefore not a hit parade, but otherwise it is fully sufficient for me. I don't use it for work, otherwise I would have already changed the speed dial
I have an iPad mini 1 (the same "gut" as the iPad 2) and since the update to iOS9 I notice a noticeable drop in speed and overall usability.
But I basically only have it as a web browser, sometimes I write an e-mail and several times a year (tests and exam period) as a PDF reader. I'm happy and/but don't plan to upgrade even if I don't get iOS 10. There is no reason.