Apple Reports Record Fourth Quarter Results

iPhone, Apple Watch & App Store Drive Revenue Growth of 22%

CUPERTINO, Calif.--()--Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2015 fourth quarter ended September 26, 2015. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $51.5 billion and quarterly net profit of $11.1 billion, or $1.96 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $42.1 billion and net profit of $8.5 billion, or $1.42 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 39.9 percent compared to 38 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 62 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

The growth was fueled by record fourth quarter sales of iPhone®, the expanded availability of Apple Watch®, and all-time records for Mac® sales and revenue from services.

“Fiscal 2015 was Apple’s most successful year ever, with revenue growing 28% to nearly $234 billion. This continued success is the result of our commitment to making the best, most innovative products on earth, and it’s a testament to the tremendous execution by our teams,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We are heading into the holidays with our strongest product lineup yet, including iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, Apple Watch with an expanded lineup of cases and bands, the new iPad Pro and the all-new Apple TV which begins shipping this week.”

“Apple’s record September quarter results drove earnings per share growth of 38% and operating cash flow of $13.5 billion,” said Luca Maestri, Apple’s CFO. “We returned $17 billion to our investors during the quarter through share repurchases and dividends, and we have now completed over $143 billion of our $200 billion capital return program.”

Apple is providing the following guidance for its fiscal 2016 first quarter:
• revenue between $75.5 billion and $77.5 billion
• gross margin between 39 percent and 40 percent
• operating expenses between $6.3 billion and $6.4 billion
• other income/(expense) of $400 million
• tax rate of 26.2 percent

Apple’s board of directors has declared a cash dividend of $.52 per share of the Company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on November 12, 2015, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 9, 2015.

Apple will provide live streaming of its Q4 2015 financial results conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. PDT on October 27, 2015 at www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/earningsq415. This webcast will also be available for replay for approximately two weeks thereafter.

This press release contains forward-looking statements including without limitation those about the Company’s estimated revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, other income/(expense), and tax rate. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ. Risks and uncertainties include without limitation the effect of competitive and economic factors, and the Company’s reaction to those factors, on consumer and business buying decisions with respect to the Company’s products; continued competitive pressures in the marketplace; the ability of the Company to deliver to the marketplace and stimulate customer demand for new programs, products, and technological innovations on a timely basis; the effect that product introductions and transitions, changes in product pricing or mix, and/or increases in component costs could have on the Company’s gross margin; the inventory risk associated with the Company’s need to order or commit to order product components in advance of customer orders; the continued availability on acceptable terms, or at all, of certain components and services essential to the Company’s business currently obtained by the Company from sole or limited sources; the effect that the Company’s dependency on manufacturing and logistics services provided by third parties may have on the quality, quantity or cost of products manufactured or services rendered; risks associated with the Company’s international operations; the Company’s reliance on third-party intellectual property and digital content; the potential impact of a finding that the Company has infringed on the intellectual property rights of others; the Company’s dependency on the performance of distributors, carriers and other resellers of the Company’s products; the effect that product and service quality problems could have on the Company’s sales and operating profits; the continued service and availability of key executives and employees; war, terrorism, public health issues, natural disasters, and other circumstances that could disrupt supply, delivery, or demand of products; and unfavorable results of legal proceedings. More information on potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included from time to time in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s public reports filed with the SEC, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2014, its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 27, 2014, its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 28, 2015, its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 27, 2015, and its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 26, 2015 to be filed with the SEC. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information, which speak as of their respective dates.

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, the Mac and Apple Watch. Apple’s three software platforms — iOS, OS X and watchOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple’s PR website (www.apple.com/pr), or call Apple’s Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.

© 2015 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, Apple Watch and Mac are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Apple Inc.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In millions, except number of shares which are reflected in thousands and per share amounts)

   
Three Months Ended

Twelve Months Ended

September 26,
2015

 

September 27,
2014

September 26,
2015

 

September 27,
2014

 
Net sales $ 51,501 $ 42,123 $ 233,715 $ 182,795
Cost of sales (1)   30,953   26,114   140,089   112,258
Gross margin   20,548   16,009   93,626   70,537
 
Operating expenses:
Research and development (1) 2,220 1,686 8,067 6,041
Selling, general and administrative (1)   3,705   3,158   14,329   11,993
Total operating expenses   5,925   4,844   22,396   18,034
Operating income 14,623 11,165 71,230 52,503
Other income/(expense), net   439   307   1,285   980
Income before provision for income taxes 15,062 11,472 72,515 53,483
Provision for income taxes   3,938   3,005   19,121   13,973
Net income $ 11,124 $ 8,467 $ 53,394 $ 39,510
 
Earnings per share:
Basic $ 1.97 $ 1.43 $ 9.28 $ 6.49
Diluted $ 1.96 $ 1.42 $ 9.22 $ 6.45
 
Shares used in computing earnings per share:
Basic 5,646,916 5,933,845 5,753,421 6,085,572
Diluted 5,682,519 5,972,082 5,793,069 6,122,663
 
Cash dividends declared per share $ 0.52 $ 0.47 $ 1.98 $ 1.82
 
(1) Includes share-based compensation expense as follows:
Cost of sales $ 145 $ 116 $ 575 $ 450
Research and development $ 390 $ 314 $ 1,536 $ 1,216
Selling, general and administrative $ 380 $ 332 $ 1,475 $ 1,197
 

Apple Inc.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions, except number of shares which are reflected in thousands and par value)

   

September 26,
2015

September 27,
2014

 
ASSETS:
 
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 21,120 $ 13,844
Short-term marketable securities 20,481 11,233
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $82 and $86, respectively 16,849 17,460
Inventories 2,349 2,111
Deferred tax assets 5,546 4,318
Vendor non-trade receivables 13,494 9,759
Other current assets   9,539   9,806
Total current assets 89,378 68,531
 
Long-term marketable securities 164,065 130,162
Property, plant and equipment, net 22,471 20,624
Goodwill 5,116 4,616
Acquired intangible assets, net 3,893 4,142
Other assets   5,556   3,764
Total assets $ 290,479 $ 231,839
 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
 
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 35,490 $ 30,196
Accrued expenses 25,181 18,453
Deferred revenue 8,940 8,491
Commercial paper 8,499 6,308
Current portion of long-term debt   2,500   0
Total current liabilities 80,610 63,448
 
Deferred revenue, non-current 3,624 3,031
Long-term debt 53,463 28,987
Other non-current liabilities   33,427   24,826
Total liabilities   171,124   120,292
 
Commitments and contingencies
 
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock and additional paid-in capital, $0.00001 par value: 12,600,000 shares authorized; 5,578,753 and 5,866,161 shares issued and outstanding, respectively 27,416 23,313
Retained earnings 92,284 87,152
Accumulated other comprehensive income   (345)   1,082
Total shareholders' equity   119,355   111,547
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 290,479 $ 231,839
 

Apple Inc.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In millions)

     
Twelve Months Ended
September 26, 2015 September 27, 2014
 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period $ 13,844 $ 14,259
 
Operating activities:
Net income 53,394 39,510
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash generated by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 11,257 7,946
Share-based compensation expense 3,586 2,863
Deferred income tax expense 1,382 2,347
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net 611 (4,232)
Inventories (238) (76)
Vendor non-trade receivables (3,735) (2,220)
Other current and non-current assets (179) 167
Accounts payable 5,400 5,938
Deferred revenue 1,042 1,460
Other current and non-current liabilities 8,746   6,010
Cash generated by operating activities 81,266   59,713
 
Investing activities:
Purchases of marketable securities (166,402) (217,128)
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities 14,538 18,810
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities 107,447 189,301
Payments made in connection with business acquisitions, net (343) (3,765)
Payments for acquisition of property, plant and equipment (11,247) (9,571)
Payments for acquisition of intangible assets (241) (242)
Other (26)   16
Cash used in investing activities (56,274)   (22,579)
 
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 543 730
Excess tax benefits from equity awards 749 739
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards (1,499) (1,158)
Dividends and dividend equivalents paid (11,561) (11,126)
Repurchase of common stock (35,253) (45,000)
Proceeds from issuance of term debt, net 27,114 11,960
Change in commercial paper, net 2,191   6,306
Cash used in financing activities (17,716)   (37,549)
 
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 7,276   (415)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period $ 21,120 $ 13,844
 
Supplemental cash flow disclosure:
Cash paid for income taxes, net $ 13,252 $ 10,026
Cash paid for interest $ 514 $ 339
 
Apple Inc.
Q4 2015 Unaudited Summary Data
(Units in thousands, Revenue in millions)
                     
     
Q4 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2014 Sequential Change Year/Year Change
 
Operating Segments Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue
Americas $21,773 $20,209 $19,750 8% 10%
Europe 10,577 10,342 10,350 2% 2%
Greater China 12,518 13,230 6,292 - 5% 99%
Japan 3,929 2,872 3,595 37% 9%
Rest of Asia Pacific 2,704 2,952 2,136 - 8% 27%
Total Apple     $51,501 $49,605 $42,123 4% 22%
 
     
Q4 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2014 Sequential Change

 

Year/Year Change
 
Product Summary Units Revenue Units Revenue Units Revenue Units Revenue Units Revenue
iPhone (1) 48,046 $32,209 47,534 $31,368 39,272 $23,678 1% 3% 22% 36%
iPad (1) 9,883 4,276 10,931 4,538 12,316 5,316 - 10% - 6% - 20% - 20%
Mac (1) 5,709 6,882 4,796 6,030 5,520 6,625 19% 14% 3% 4%
Services (2) 5,086 5,028 4,608 1% 10%
Other Products (1)(3) 3,048 2,641 1,896 15% 61%
Total Apple     $51,501 $49,605 $42,123 4% 22%

(1)

 

Includes deferrals and amortization of related software upgrade rights and non-software services.

(2)

Includes revenue from Internet Services, AppleCare, Apple Pay, licensing and other services.

(3)

Includes sales of Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats products, iPod and Apple-branded and third-party accessories.

Contacts

Apple
Press:
Kristin Huguet, 408-974-2414
khuguet@apple.com
or
Investor Relations:
Nancy Paxton, 408-974-5420
paxton1@apple.com
Joan Hoover, 408-974-4570
hoover1@apple.com

Contacts

Apple
Press:
Kristin Huguet, 408-974-2414
khuguet@apple.com
or
Investor Relations:
Nancy Paxton, 408-974-5420
paxton1@apple.com
Joan Hoover, 408-974-4570
hoover1@apple.com