Apple has released its fiscal second-quarter earnings, revealing solid numbers that nonetheless failed to impress investors. Following the announcement, shares of the company dropped by $8.48, or 4%, reaching $204.84 in after-hours trading, despite a modest gain of 82 cents, or 0.4%, during regular hours. This market reaction illustrates a classic case of “buy the rumor, sell the news,” even as Apple’s figures boasted some positive highlights. The reported revenue for the quarter reached $95.4 billion, reflecting a 5% increase year-over-year.
Additionally, the diluted earnings per share rose by 8% to $1.65, surpassing Wall Street’s expectations. However, these impressive metrics did not prevent the decline in stock value. One of the standout figures was the iPhone revenue, which totaled $46.84 billion, marking a 1.9% year-on-year increase and exceeding estimates by $1 billion. Such a significant beat is noteworthy for Apple and suggests continuing strength in this key product category.
Moreover, Apple introduced two new iPads during the quarter, which contributed to a higher-than-expected $6.4 billion in tablet revenue. This exceeded Wall Street’s forecast of $6.2 billion, with iPad revenue up 15.1% year-over-year. However, the Services revenue of $26.65 billion fell slightly short of expectations and showed a modest year-over-year growth of 11.6%. Despite overall revenue increases in most regions, including the Americas and Europe, sales in Greater China saw a decline.
CEO Tim Cook commented on the limited impact of tariffs on the company’s earnings, highlighting Apple’s optimized supply chain. He reiterated a long-term focus on innovative investments. In addition, Apple’s board approved a $100 billion share repurchase program and announced a 26-cent dividend per share, demonstrating a commitment to returning value to shareholders.