Apple has just published its financial results for Q4 2017. The company posted revenue of $52.6 billion. Apple sold 10.3 million iPads, 46.7 million iPhones, and 5.4 million Macs during the quarter.
“We’re happy to report a very strong finish to a great fiscal 2017, with record fourth quarter revenue, year-over-year growth for all our product categories, and our best quarter ever for Services,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “With fantastic new products including iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, Apple Watch Series 3, and Apple TV 4K joining our product lineup, we’re looking forward to a great holiday season, and with the launch of iPhone X getting underway right now, we couldn’t be more excited as we begin to deliver our vision for the future with this stunning device.”
Estimates and Expectations for Q4 2017, and the Year-Ago Quarter (Q4 2016)
Apple’s revenue guidance for Q4 2017 fell between $49 billion and $52 billion, with gross margin estimated to be between 37.5% and 38%.
Going into today’s earnings call, Forbes reported analysts expect Apple to beat its guidance:
Apple is expected to report earnings of $1.87/share on $51.17 billion in revenue. Meanwhile, the so-called Whisper number is $1.93. The Whisper number is the Street’s unofficial view on earnings.
In the year-ago quarter (Q4 2016), Apple earned $46.9 billion in revenue. During that quarter Apple sold 45.5 million iPhones, 9.27 million iPads, and 4.89 million Macs.
Graphical Visualization
Below, we’ve compiled a graphical visualization of Apple’s Q4 2017 financial results.
Notes from the Earnings Call
- iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are the two most popular iPhone models and have been every week since launch.
- Services are the size of a Fortune 100 company.
- Highest Mac revenue in history.
- Over 50% unit growth for Apple Watch for third straight quarter.
- Chicago’s Michigan Avenue store is the first store that brings together Apple’s vision for Apple retail.
- Revenue in China up 12% year-over-year
- iPhones up 3% over last year with many markets in double digits.
- Apple Pay transactions are up 300%
- Apple Music subscriptions are up 75% with increasing conversions from free to paid.
- Mac sales driven by MacBook Pro.
- iPad unit and revenue growth are up world-wide.
- Quarter ended with $269 billion in cash.
- iPhone, iPad, and Mac market share increased during quarter in China.
- Tim Cook is excited about AR is because it amplifies human performance instead of isolation and it’s mainstream.
Apple Q4 2017 on Twitter
Apple’s wearables, now as big as any Fortune 400 company selling flops, were up 75%.
— Horace Dediu (@asymco) November 2, 2017
Macs, which are despised by all users, grew 10% in units and 25% in revenue.
— Horace Dediu (@asymco) November 2, 2017
Apple’s India revenues doubled y/y. Unlike followers of Mao, Indians don’t spend so much.
— Horace Dediu (@asymco) November 2, 2017
It seems Apple’s spending on R&D has gone up a bit, from 5.5% of sales in Q4 FY16 to 5.7% in Q4 FY17.
— MacJournals.com (@macjournals) November 2, 2017
Apple’s Services revenue included a one-time adjustment (that’s why it looked unusually strong). Excluding charge = in-line w/ expectations.
— Neil Cybart (@neilcybart) November 2, 2017
China, where Apple has lost to Huawei/Oppo, revenues were nearly $10 billion, up 12%.
— Horace Dediu (@asymco) November 2, 2017
Ooh, CNBC’s @jonfortt has caught a footnote in services revenue that is of significance (1/2)
— MacJournals.com (@macjournals) November 2, 2017
“Services revenue in the fourth quarter of 2017 included a favorable one-time adjustment of $640 million …” (2/3, sorry)
— MacJournals.com (@macjournals) November 2, 2017
“…due to a change in estimate based on the availability of additional supporting information.” (3/3)
— MacJournals.com (@macjournals) November 2, 2017
This is why the articles a few weeks ago saying iPhone 8 sales would hurt Apple’s Q4 were bunk: 8 days of sales. https://t.co/sJ559YYCTZ
— MacJournals.com (@macjournals) November 2, 2017
Units and revenue segments. pic.twitter.com/IIB0OyvIqt
— Horace Dediu (@asymco) November 2, 2017
46.7 million iPhones, 10.3 million iPads, 5.4 million Macs. iPhones shipments includes only about 1 week of iPhone 8 sales.
— Horace Dediu (@asymco) November 2, 2017
CQ4 ’16 revenues were $78 billion. Guidance at top of range suggests 11% y/y growth. Highest growth since Q3 2015
— Horace Dediu (@asymco) November 2, 2017
Apple: Cash dividend of $0.63/share payable on 2017.11.16 to shareholders of record on 2017.11.13
— MacJournals.com (@macjournals) November 2, 2017
Apple: record Q4 revenue, record Services revenue. Operating cash flow of $15.7B, $11B in cash returned to shareholders
— MacJournals.com (@macjournals) November 2, 2017
