Apple is currently webcasting [1] its Q4 financial results conference call. Here is a quick and non-exhaustive live coverage:
This year:
- 4.5 million macs
- $1.33 billion profit
- 13.93 billion of revenue
- gross margin 11.4%
This quarter:
- $430 million of net profit
- $3.68 billion of revenue
- 1.2 million Macs
- 602 000 desktops
- 634 000 laptops
iPod (this quarter):
- 6.45 million ipods
- ipod: 75% us market
- 1 million nano in 17 days
iTunes:
- 80% of the market
- already leader in Japan
Apple retail stores:
- 106% increase of revenues
- average revenue per store 5.7 million
- 14.8 million visitors this quarter
Q1 2006 guidance:
- 4.7 billion revenue
Q/A:
- Question about the nano's demand: "staggering" demand for now
- Demand in the desktop?
- Component supply about the nano: we can't project
- Tiger revenue : $35 million range, best selling release in Apple's history
- Intel switch impact: no impact at the moment
- ipod nano question again: iPod sales met Apple's expectations, sales accellerating with iPod nano, new products yet to be introduced for the holidays season, Apple had very few calls from customers about the scratches issue of the nano
- iPod sales numbers: Apple met its expectations and is performing well compared to the market growth.
- gross margin impact of the nano? Apple doesn't want to comment specifically about iPod's gross margin
- concerning Samsung's deal, if Apple's memory supply will cost more in the near future: no comment
- iPod mini shipments in the retail channel : some iPod minis were shipped during this quarter and there are now few ipod minis in the retail channel
- Why channel inventories for the Macs are low? The channel inventory was below Apple expectations, Apple is working on bringing inventory back to a normal level.
- Impact from the Intel transition for the December quarter: no obvious impact from that announcement, Apple continues to monitor it.
- Is tomorrow's announcements impact counted on the guidance? no comment on tomorrow but yes.
- Question about retail stores performance : 50 million visitors for this year, new store opening before the end of the fiscal year.
- Q1 2006/Intel switch question: Apple confirms that it expects to have Intel based Macs by mid 2006, but great PowerPC products coming too.
- Question about guidance: Apple has reasonable confidence into the fact that it can achieve it.
- Question about stores: 35 to 40 stores, most of them in the US.
- Market share/mac mini /education question: 41% increase of sales yoy, Apple took market share in cunsumer and education (+38%) markets, no comment on other markets.
- direct sales? 51% for this quarter, no product level figures.
- Low inventory question remated to component supply or else? It has to do with higher than expected Apple sales.
- iPod nano ship problems related to component supply? No, the "problem" is that there is much demand
- Question on iTunes strategy: iTunes is at breakeven financially for this quarter, the strategy remains unchancged, iTunes Music Store is there to help the iPod's sales.
conference ended...