Apple Reports Fourth Quarter Results

Revenue Up 20 Percent and EPS Up 41 Percent to New September Quarter Records

Services Revenue of $10 Billion Reaches New All-Time High

CUPERTINO, Calif.--()--Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2018 fourth quarter ended September 29, 2018. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $62.9 billion, an increase of 20 percent from the year-ago quarter, and quarterly earnings per diluted share of $2.91, up 41 percent. International sales accounted for 61 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

Services revenue reached an all-time high of $10 billion. Excluding a one-time favorable adjustment of $640 million recognized in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, Services revenue grew from $7.9 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 to $10 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, an increase of 27 percent.

“We’re thrilled to report another record-breaking quarter that caps a tremendous fiscal 2018, the year in which we shipped our 2 billionth iOS device, celebrated the 10th anniversary of the App Store and achieved the strongest revenue and earnings in Apple’s history,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Over the past two months, we’ve delivered huge advancements for our customers through new versions of iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac as well as our four operating systems, and we enter the holiday season with our strongest lineup of products and services ever.”

“We concluded a record year with our best September quarter ever, growing double digits in every geographic segment. We set September quarter revenue records for iPhone and Wearables and all-time quarterly records for Services and Mac,” said Luca Maestri, Apple’s CFO. “We generated $19.5 billion in operating cash flow and returned over $23 billion to shareholders in dividends and share repurchases in the September quarter, bringing total capital returned in fiscal 2018 to almost $90 billion.”

Apple is providing the following guidance for its fiscal 2019 first quarter:

• revenue between $89 billion and $93 billion
• gross margin between 38 percent and 38.5 percent
• operating expenses between $8.7 billion and $8.8 billion
• other income/(expense) of $300 million
• tax rate of approximately 16.5 percent before discrete items

Apple’s board of directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.73 per share of the Company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on November 15, 2018 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 12, 2018.

Apple will provide live streaming of its Q4 2018 financial results conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. PDT on November 1, 2018 at www.apple.com/investor/earnings-call/. This webcast will also be available for replay for approximately two weeks thereafter.

Apple periodically provides information for investors on its corporate website, apple.com, and its investors relations website, investor.apple.com. This includes press releases and other information about financial performance, reports filed or furnished with the SEC, information on corporate governance and details related to its annual meeting of shareholders.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include without limitation those about the Company’s estimated revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, other income/(expense), tax rate, and plans for return of capital. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ. Risks and uncertainties include without limitation: the effect of global and regional economic conditions on the Company's business, including effects on purchasing decisions by consumers and businesses; the ability of the Company to compete in markets that are highly competitive and subject to rapid technological change; the ability of the Company to manage frequent introductions and transitions of products and services, including delivering to the marketplace, and stimulating customer demand for, new products, services and technological innovations on a timely basis; the effect that shifts in the mix of products and services and in the geographic, currency or channel mix, component cost increases, price competition, or the introduction of new products, including new products with higher cost structures, could have on the Company’s gross margin; the dependency of the Company on the performance of distributors of the Company's products, including cellular network carriers and other resellers; the inventory and other asset risks 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, services and new technologies essential to the Company's business, including components and technologies that may only be available from single or limited sources; the dependency of the Company on manufacturing and logistics services provided by third parties, many of which are located outside of the US and which may affect the quality, quantity or cost of products manufactured or services rendered to the Company; the effect of product and services design and manufacturing defects on the Company’s financial performance and reputation; the dependency of the Company on third-party intellectual property and digital content, which may not be available to the Company on commercially reasonable terms or at all; the dependency of the Company on support from third-party software developers to develop and maintain software applications and services for the Company’s products; the impact of unfavorable legal proceedings, such as a potential finding that the Company has infringed on the intellectual property rights of others; the impact of changes to laws and regulations that affect the Company’s activities, including the Company’s ability to offer products or services to customers in different regions; the ability of the Company to manage risks associated with its international activities, including complying with laws and regulations affecting the Company’s international operations; the ability of the Company to manage risks associated with the Company’s retail stores; the ability of the Company to manage risks associated with the Company’s investments in new business strategies and acquisitions; the impact on the Company's business and reputation from information technology system failures, network disruptions or losses or unauthorized access to, or release of, confidential information; the ability of the Company to comply with laws and regulations regarding data protection; the continued service and availability of key executives and employees; political events, international trade disputes, war, terrorism, natural disasters, public health issues, and other business interruptions that could disrupt supply or delivery of, or demand for, the Company’s products; financial risks, including risks relating to currency fluctuations, credit risks and fluctuations in the market value of the Company’s investment portfolio; and changes in tax rates and exposure to additional tax liabilities. More information on these risks and other potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and subsequent filings. 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, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Apple’s four software platforms — iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS — 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 more than 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 Newsroom (www.apple.com/newsroom), or call Apple’s Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.

© 2018 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

   
Apple Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

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

 
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
September 29,
2018
  September 30,
2017
September 29,
2018
  September 30,
2017
Net sales $ 62,900 $ 52,579 $ 265,595 $ 229,234
Cost of sales (1) 38,816   32,648   163,756   141,048
Gross margin 24,084   19,931   101,839   88,186
 
Operating expenses:
Research and development (1) 3,750 2,997 14,236 11,581
Selling, general and administrative (1) 4,216   3,814   16,705   15,261
Total operating expenses 7,966   6,811   30,941   26,842
 
Operating income 16,118 13,120 70,898 61,344
Other income/(expense), net 303   797   2,005   2,745
Income before provision for income taxes 16,421 13,917 72,903 64,089
Provision for income taxes 2,296   3,203   13,372   15,738
Net income $ 14,125   $ 10,714   $ 59,531   $ 48,351
 
Earnings per share:
Basic $ 2.94 $ 2.08 $ 12.01 $ 9.27
Diluted $ 2.91 $ 2.07 $ 11.91 $ 9.21
 
Shares used in computing earnings per share:
Basic 4,801,589 5,149,428 4,955,377 5,217,242
Diluted 4,847,547 5,183,585 5,000,109 5,251,692
 
Cash dividends declared per share $ 0.73 $ 0.63 $ 2.72 $ 2.40
 
(1) Includes share-based compensation expense as follows:
Cost of sales $ 251 $ 215 $ 1,010 $ 877
Research and development $ 681 $ 569 $ 2,668 $ 2,299
Selling, general and administrative $ 413 $ 390 $ 1,662 $ 1,664
 
 
Apple Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

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

   
September 29,
2018
September 30,
2017
ASSETS:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 25,913 $ 20,289
Marketable securities 40,388 53,892
Accounts receivable, net 23,186 17,874
Inventories 3,956 4,855
Vendor non-trade receivables 25,809 17,799
Other current assets 12,087   13,936  
Total current assets 131,339 128,645
 
Non-current assets:
Marketable securities 170,799 194,714
Property, plant and equipment, net 41,304 33,783
Other non-current assets 22,283   18,177  
Total non-current assets 234,386   246,674  
Total assets $ 365,725   $ 375,319  
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 55,888 $ 44,242
Other current liabilities 32,687 30,551
Deferred revenue 7,543 7,548
Commercial paper 11,964 11,977
Term debt 8,784   6,496  
Total current liabilities 116,866 100,814
 
Non-current liabilities:
Deferred revenue 2,797 2,836
Term debt 93,735 97,207
Other non-current liabilities 45,180   40,415  
Total non-current liabilities 141,712   140,458  
Total liabilities 258,578   241,272  
 
Commitments and contingencies
 
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock and additional paid-in capital, $0.00001 par value: 12,600,000 shares authorized; 4,754,986 and 5,126,201 shares issued and outstanding, respectively 40,201 35,867
Retained earnings 70,400 98,330
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) (3,454 ) (150 )
Total shareholders’ equity 107,147   134,047  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 365,725   $ 375,319  
 
 
Apple Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

(In millions)

 
Twelve Months Ended
September 29,
2018
  September 30,
2017
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period $ 20,289   $ 20,484  
Operating activities:
Net income 59,531 48,351
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash generated by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 10,903 10,157
Share-based compensation expense 5,340 4,840
Deferred income tax expense/(benefit) (32,590 ) 5,966
Other (444 ) (166 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net (5,322 ) (2,093 )
Inventories 828 (2,723 )
Vendor non-trade receivables (8,010 ) (4,254 )
Other current and non-current assets (423 ) (5,318 )
Accounts payable 9,175 8,966
Deferred revenue (44 ) (626 )
Other current and non-current liabilities 38,490   1,125  
Cash generated by operating activities 77,434   64,225  
Investing activities:
Purchases of marketable securities (71,356 ) (159,486 )
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities 55,881 31,775
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities 47,838 94,564
Payments for acquisition of property, plant and equipment (13,313 ) (12,451 )
Payments made in connection with business acquisitions, net (721 ) (329 )
Purchases of non-marketable securities (1,871 ) (521 )
Proceeds from non-marketable securities 353 126
Other (745 ) (124 )
Cash generated by/(used in) investing activities 16,066   (46,446 )
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 669 555
Payments for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards (2,527 ) (1,874 )
Payments for dividends and dividend equivalents (13,712 ) (12,769 )
Repurchases of common stock (72,738 ) (32,900 )
Proceeds from issuance of term debt, net 6,969 28,662
Repayments of term debt (6,500 ) (3,500 )
Change in commercial paper, net (37 ) 3,852  
Cash used in financing activities (87,876 ) (17,974 )
Increase/(Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 5,624   (195 )
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period $ 25,913   $ 20,289  
Supplemental cash flow disclosure:
Cash paid for income taxes, net $ 10,417 $ 11,591
Cash paid for interest $ 3,022 $ 2,092
 
 
Apple Inc.
Q4 2018 Unaudited Summary Data
(Units in thousands, Revenue in millions)
                   
     
Q4 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2017 Sequential Change Year/Year Change
 
Reportable Segments Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue
Americas $27,517 $24,542 $23,099 12% 19%
Europe 15,382 12,138 13,009 27% 18%
Greater China 11,411 9,551 9,801 19% 16%
Japan 5,161 3,867 3,858 33% 34%
Rest of Asia Pacific 3,429 3,167 2,812 8% 22%
Total Apple     $62,900 $53,265 $52,579 18% 20%
 
     
Q4 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2017 Sequential Change Year/Year Change
 
Product Summary Units Revenue Units Revenue Units Revenue Units Revenue Units Revenue
iPhone (1) 46,889 $37,185 41,300 $29,906 46,677 $28,846 14% 24% 0% 29%
iPad (1) 9,699 4,089 11,553 4,741 10,326 4,831 - 16% - 14% - 6% - 15%
Mac (1) 5,299 7,411 3,720 5,330 5,386 7,170 42% 39% - 2% 3%
Services (2) 9,981 9,548 8,501 5% 17%
Other Products (1)(3) 4,234 3,740 3,231 13% 31%
Total Apple     $62,900 $53,265 $52,579 18% 20%
 
 
(1) Includes deferrals and amortization of related software upgrade rights and non-software services.
 

(2) Includes revenue from Digital Content and Services, AppleCare, Apple Pay, licensing and other services. Services net sales in the third quarter of 2018 included a favorable one-time item of $236 million in connection with the final resolution of various lawsuits. Services net sales in the fourth quarter of 2017 included a favorable one-time adjustment of $640 million due to a change in estimate based on the availability of additional supporting information.

 

(3) Includes sales of AirPods, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats products, HomePod, iPod touch and other Apple-branded and third-party accessories.
 

Contacts

Apple
Press Contact:
Kristin Huguet, 408-974-2414
khuguet@apple.com
or
Investor Relations Contacts:
Nancy Paxton, 408-974-5420
paxton1@apple.com
Matt Blake, 408-974-7406
mattblake@apple.com

Contacts

Apple
Press Contact:
Kristin Huguet, 408-974-2414
khuguet@apple.com
or
Investor Relations Contacts:
Nancy Paxton, 408-974-5420
paxton1@apple.com
Matt Blake, 408-974-7406
mattblake@apple.com