Apple Posts Record Sales, Profits Ahead Of Tablet Launch

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Apple Inc. blew past analysts estimates to post record quarterly sales figures in the run up to a much anticipated announcement of a novel tablet system. Apple recorded $15.68 billion in sales, $3.38 billion in profits and earnings per share of $3.67 in the quarter ending December 26, 2010. The company shipped 3.36 million Macintosh computers (up 33 percent from the same quarter last year), 21 million iPods (down 8 percent) and 8.7 million iPhones (up 100 percent). Analysts had expected sales in the range of $12.06 billion, earnings per share of about $2.07 and sales of Macs and iPhones below the reported results. Although Apple is at a peak, the record numbers may not be sustainable. Looking ahead "we expect revenue in the range of about $11.0 billion to $11.4 billion and we expect diluted earnings per share in the range of about $2.06 to $2.18," said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's chief financial officer in a press statement. "If you annualize our quarterly revenue, it's surprising that Apple is now a $50-plus billion company," said Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive in the press statement. "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," he said. Jobs was referring to the much anticipated roll out Wednesday Jan. 27 of a tablet system about which there has been much speculation.