Apple Sets Q4 Revenue Record but Cautious Holiday Forecast Dampens Investor Sentiment

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) reported fourth-quarter earnings that slightly exceeded Wall Street estimates, posting earnings per share of $1.64, compared to the expected $1.60, on a record September quarter revenue of $94.9 billion, which outpaced the $94.4 billion forecast. Despite this solid performance, shares dipped more than 1% intra-day on Friday as the company’s revenue outlook for the holiday quarter came in below the high end of analysts’ expectations.

Apple provided guidance for the current quarter with anticipated revenue growth in the low- to mid-single-digit range, signaling caution as it heads into the crucial holiday season. However, Apple projected double-digit growth for its services division in the upcoming quarter, sparking analyst questions about the potential for a dip in hardware sales. While Apple executives did not confirm specifics on hardware demand, CEO Tim Cook noted that the AI-enhanced iPhone operating system has seen adoption rates double compared to last year.

The iPhone remained a top performer, generating $46.2 billion in sales, up from $43.8 billion in the previous year. Demand in China stabilized after declines in prior quarters, aided by favorable currency conditions and a growing user base.

Apple’s services segment, which includes offerings such as Apple Pay and the App Store, saw a robust 12% year-over-year revenue increase, reaching $24.9 billion.