In the second quarter of 2015, Apple reported earnings of $10,7 billion, up 38% from $7,74 billion in the same period a year earlier. Earnings per share moved to $1,85 above the consensus ($1,81) for the ninth consecutive quarter. Revenues reached 49,61 billion, a +33% on the previous 12 months and beyond analysts' expectations of 49,43 billion. Gross margins at 39,7% also beat firm estimates in the 38,5-39,5% range.
Yet the Apple stock yesterday in the after-hours fell by almost 7%, sending 66 billion dollars of capitalization up in smoke. The number of iPhones sold was disappointing: 47,53 million units in what is the third fiscal quarter for the Cupertino (California) group. The figure is still up 35% compared to 12 months earlier but below forecasts by 49,4 million units. However, iPhones remain the main source of group revenues, having generated 31,368 billion, a +59% compared to a year earlier even if down by 22% on the previous quarter.
