Apple last night reported record revenues of US$7.1bn for its fiscal first quarter, up from US$5.1bn a year ago. The results come hot on the heels of last week’s revelation that the company is to enter the mobile phone business.
The company recorded a net profit for the first quarter of US$1bn, or US$1.14 per share.
During the quarter Apple shipped 1.6 million Macintosh computers and just over 21 million iPod music devices, representing a 28pc growth in computer sales and 50pc growth in music player sales over last year.
“We are incredibly pleased to report record quarterly revenue of over $7bn and record earnings of $1bn,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO.
“We’ve just kicked off what is going to be a very strong new product year for Apple by launching Apple TV and the revolutionary iPhone.”
“We generated over US$1.75bn in cash during the quarter to end with US$11.9bn,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO.
“Looking ahead to the second fiscal quarter of 2007, we expect revenue of US$4.8 to US$4.9 billion and earnings per diluted share of US$0.54 to US$0.56.”
Apple said its gross margin was 32.2pc, up from 27.2pc a year ago.
Sales outside the States, the company said, now account for 42pc of the company’s revenue.
Apple employs over 1,400 people in Cork engaged in manufacturing, logistics, administration, technical support, sales and e-commerce activities.
By John Kennedy
