Apple has most profitable quarter ever over the holidays, fueled by expanded iPhone sales

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Apple rockets to most profitable quarter ever

SAN FRANCISCO — Apple’s holiday quarter was especially sweet thanks to strong iPhone and Macintosh computer sales, sending shares higher Tuesday.

Apple Inc. posted its most profitable quarter yet in the October-through-December period after selling twice as many iPhones and 33 percent more Macintosh computers as the year before.

Trading was initially muted as investors puzzled through changes in the way Apple accounts for revenue and profit from the iPhone, making it difficult to see at a glance whether Apple lived up to Wall Street’s forecast. But quarterly results were clearly solid, and Apple shares rose $9.24, or 4.6 percent, to $212.32 Tuesday.

Apple’s shining report reflected the company’s ability to lure shoppers without deep cuts to its premium prices, despite tough economic times. The iPhone’s rollout in several major new markets, including China and South Korea, helped Apple double sales of the hot gadget to 8.7 million. Still, Shaw Wu, an analyst for Kaufman Bros., was expecting Apple to sell about 800,000 more of the popular smart phone. He attributed the lower number to possible component shortages.

Mac sales were also strong, and while the 21 million iPods Apple sold marked an 8 percent decline, analysts were expecting it. Sales of the iPod have suffered as the iPhone, which has iPod features built in, has grown in popularity.

BMO Capital Markets analyst Keith Bachman wrote in a note to clients Tuesday that he too was disappointed with iPhone sales but added that strength in Apple’s other products offset the shortfall.

“While we think the quarter was mixed in terms of unit performance, we believe that the secular story for Apple remains very strong, particularly with the introduction of a new product category,” Bachman wrote.

Apple’s numbers also got a boost from an accounting change. Apple started putting iPhone revenue and profit on its books when the gadget is sold, rather than deferring those results over the presumed life of the device.

Analysts hadn’t factored the change into their estimates for the quarter.

Apple, which is based in Cupertino, Calif., said Monday it earned $3.4 billion, or $3.67 per share, in the latest quarter, which ended Dec. 26. In the same period of 2008, had the same accounting standards been in place, it would have had net income of $2.3 billion, or $2.50 per share.

Revenue was $15.7 billion, a 32 percent jump from $11.9 billion in the same period last year. Apple’s chief financial officer, Peter Oppenheimer, said during a conference call that half of the company’s revenue growth could be attributed to the accounting change, but Apple was silent on the change’s effects on net income.

For the current quarter, Apple said it expects earnings of $2.06 to $2.18 per share on revenue of $11.0 billion to $11.4 billion.

Analysts’ estimates for the current quarter don’t include the accounting change. On average, they had been predicting profit of $1.77 per share and revenue of $10.4 billion in the current quarter, according to Thomson Reuters.

Apple offered no clues about what it plans to unveil Wednesday in San Francisco, although analysts expect the new product to be a tablet-style computer. CEO Steve Jobs indicated that investors should expect a significant event.

“The new products we are planning to release this year are very strong, starting this week with a major new product that we’re really excited about,” Jobs said in a statement.

Jessica Mintz contributed from Seattle.