Apple Inc. ($AAPL) is scheduled to release earnings after Tuesday's close (Jan 31, 2017). The stock hit a record high of $134.54/share in 2015 and is currently trading near $122/share. The stock is prone to big moves after reporting earnings and can easily gap up if the numbers are strong. Conversely, if the numbers disappoint, the stock can easily gap down. To help you prepare, here is what the Street is expecting:
Earnings Preview:
Apple is expected to report earnings of $3.22/share on $77.04 billion in revenue. Meanwhile, the so-called Whisper number is $3.23. The Whisper number is the Street's unofficial view on earnings.
Company Profile & Various Businesses:
Here is a complete company profile and description of the various businesses courtesy of my friends at Thomson Reuters Eikon:
Apple Inc., incorporated on January 3, 1977, designs, manufactures and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers and portable digital music players. The Company sells a range of related software, services, accessories, networking solutions and third-party digital content and applications. The Company's segments include the Americas, Europe, Greater China, Japan and Rest of Asia Pacific. The Americas segment includes both North and South America. The Europe segment includes European countries, India, the Middle East and Africa. The Greater China segment includes China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The Rest of Asia Pacific segment includes Australia and the Asian countries not included in the Company's other operating segments. The Company's products and services include iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, Apple Watch, Apple TV, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications, iPhone OS (iOS), OS X and watchOS operating systems, iCloud, Apple Pay and a range of accessory, service and support offerings.
The Company sells and delivers digital content and applications through the iTunes Store, App Store, Mac App Store, television APP Store, iBooks Store and Apple Music (collectively Internet Services). The Company sells its products through its retail stores, online stores and direct sales force through third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers and value-added resellers. The Company sells a range of third-party Apple compatible products, including application software and accessories through its retail and online stores. The Company sells to consumers, small and mid-sized businesses and education, enterprise and government customers.
iPhone is the Company's line of smartphones based on its iOS operating system. iPhone includes Siri, a voice activated intelligent assistant, and Apple Pay and touch ID on qualifying devices. The Company offers iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, featuring new camera systems, stereo speakers and water and dust resistance. The Company also sells iPhone SE, which has a four-inch Retina display. iPhone works with the iTunes Store, App Store, iBooks Store and Apple Music for purchasing, organizing and playing digital content and applications. iPad is the Company's line of multi-purpose tablets based on its iOS operating system. iPad includes iPad Pro, iPad Air and iPad mini. Mac is the Company's line of desktop and portable personal computers based on its macOS operating system. The Company's desktop computers include iMac, 21.5 inches iMac with Retina 4K display, 27 inches iMac with Retina 5K display, Mac Pro and Mac mini. The Company's portable computers include MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and MacBook Pro with Retina display.
Apple TV connects to consumers televisions (TVs) and enables them to access digital content directly for streaming high definition video, playing music and games, and viewing photos. Content from Apple Music and other media services is also available on Apple TV. Apple TV allows streaming digital content from Mac and Windows personal computers through Home Share and from compatible Mac and iOS devices through AirPlay. The Company's Apple TV runs on its tvOS operating system and is based on applications built for the television. Additionally, the Apple TV remote features Siri, allowing users to search and access content with their voice. Apple Watch is a personal electronic device that combines the watchOS user interface and technologies created specifically for a smaller device, including the Digital Crown, a navigation tool that allows users to seamlessly scroll, zoom and navigate, and force touch, a technology that senses the difference between a tap and a press and allows users to access controls within applications. Apple Watch enables users to communicate in new ways from their wrist, track their health and fitness through activity and workout applications, and includes Siri and Apple Pay. The Company offers Apple Watch Series 2, featuring fitness and health capabilities.
iPod is the Company's line of portable digital music and media players, which includes iPod touch, iPod nano and iPod shuffle. All iPods work with iTunes to purchase and synchronize content. iPod touch, based on the Company's iOS operating system, is a flash-memory-based iPod that works with the iTunes Store, App Store and iBooks Store for purchasing and playing digital content and applications. iOS is the Company's multi-touch operating system that serves as the foundation for iOS devices. Devices running iOS are compatible with both Mac and Windows personal computers and Apple iCloud services. The Company offers iOS 10, which introduces the ability for Siri to do more by working with applications, updates messages, includes redesigned maps, photos, Apple music and news applications, and the home applications, which provides a way to manage home automation products in one place.
macOS is the Company's Mac operating system and is built on an open-source uniplexed information and computing system (UNIX) based foundation and provides an intuitive and integrated computer experience. macOS Sierra incorporates Siri and Apple Pay on the Mac, provides continuity and document access across Apple devices and includes the memories feature in photos. watchOS is the Company's operating system for Apple Watch. The Company's watchOS three provides ability to launch applications instantly, navigation with the new Dock and new fitness and health capabilities for Apple Watch, including the Breathe applications designed to promote exercises for relaxation and stress reduction. tvOS is the Company's operating system for Apple TV. The tvOS operating system is based on the Company's iOS platform and enables developers to create applications and games specifically for Apple TV and deliver them to customers through the Apple TV App Store. The tvOS incorporates new Siri capabilities that allow searching across more applications and services.
The Company's applications software includes iLife, iWork and other software, including Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro X and FileMaker Pro. iLife is the Company's consumer-oriented digital lifestyle software applications suite included with all Mac computers and features iMovie, a digital video editing applications, and GarageBand, a music creation application that allows users to play, record and create music. iWork is the Company's integrated productivity suite included with all Mac computers and is designed to help users create, present and publish documents through Pages, presentations through Keynote and spreadsheets through Numbers. The Company also has multi-touch versions of iLife and iWork applications designed specifically for use on iOS devices, which are available as free downloads for all new iOS devices.
The iTunes Store, available for iOS devices, Mac and Windows personal computers and Apple TV, allows customers to purchase and download music and TV shows, rent or purchase movies and download free podcasts. The App Store, available for iOS devices, allows customers to discover and download applications and purchase in-applications content. The Mac applications Store, available for Mac computers, allows customers to discover, download and install Mac applications. The TV App Store allows customers access to applications and games specifically for the Apple TV. The iBooks Store, available for iOS devices and Mac computers, features e-books from major and independent publishers. Apple Music offers users a listening experience with on-demand radio stations that evolve based on a user's play or download activity and a subscription-based Internet streaming service that also provides access to the applications music library.
iCloud is the Company's cloud service, which stores music, photos, contacts, calendars, mail, documents and more, keeping them up-to-date and available across multiple iOS devices, Mac and Windows personal computers and Apple TV. iCloud services include iCloud Drive, iCloud Photo Library, Family Sharing, Find My iPhone, iPad or Mac, Find My Friends, Notes, iCloud Keychain and iCloud Backup for iOS devices. AppleCare offers a range of support options for the Company's customers. These include assistance that is built into software products, printed and electronic product manuals, online support including comprehensive product information, technical assistance, the AppleCare Protection Plan (APP) and the AppleCare Protection Plan (AC+). AC+ is a fee-based service offering additional coverage under some circumstances for instances of accidental damage in addition to the services offered by APP and is available in certain countries for iPhone, iPad, AppleCare Watch and iPod. Apple Pay is the Company's mobile payment service available in certain countries that offers a private way to pay.
Apple Pay allows users to pay for purchases in stores accepting contactless payments and to pay for purchases within participating applications on qualifying devices. Apple Pay accepts credit and debit cards across major card networks and also supports reward programs and store-issued credit and debit cards. The Company sells a variety of Apple-branded and third-party Mac-compatible and iOS-compatible accessories, including Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats products, iPod, headphones, displays, storage devices, and various other connectivity and computing products and supplies. The Company offers AirPods, new wireless headphones that interact with Siri.
Competition:
Apple competes with Microsoft, Samsung, Sony, HP, IBM, Cisco, Nokia, Motorola, Alphabet, among others.
Pay Attention To How The Stock Reacts To The News:
From where I sit, the most important trait I look for during earnings season is how the market and a specific company reacts to the news. Remember, always keep your losses small and never argue with the tape.
