Apple iPad sales decline but still manage to top expectations from Wall Street analysts
Tablet demand decreased as businesses started opening up offices again as fear over COVID waned. During the height of the pandemic, consumers and students forced to work and learn from home started buying tablets en masse to do their work and entertain themselves with games and streaming apps. For the fiscal third quarter, Apple announced $7.22 billion in sales which was down from the $7.37 billion in tablets Apple rang up during the same quarter in 2021 resulting in a small 2% drop. Still, the results did top the $6.94 billion in iPad sales forecast by analysts.
Render of the iPhone 14 Pro Max
The usually reliable Wearables, Home and Accessories unit was a disappointment. This division, which includes the AirPods and the Apple Watch, brought in $8.08 billion compared to the $8.78 billion that it collected during the same quarter last year. That works out to a 7.9% decline year-over-year.
Apple grew its business in the Americas (up 4.5%), Europe (up 1.8%), and the Asian Pacific region not including Japan (up 14%). Sales declined in Greater China (down .1%) and Japan ( down 15.7%).
Apple CEO Tim Cook said, “This quarter’s record results speak to Apple’s constant efforts to innovate, to advance new possibilities, and to enrich the lives of our customers. As always, we are leading with our values, and expressing them in everything we build, from new features that are designed to protect user privacy and security, to tools that will enhance accessibility, part of our longstanding commitment to create products for everyone.”
Company CFO Luca Maestri added that “Our June quarter results continued to demonstrate our ability to manage our business effectively despite the challenging operating environment. We set a June quarter revenue record and our installed base of active devices reached an all-time high in every geographic segment and product category. During the quarter, we generated nearly $23 billion in operating cash flow, returned over $28 billion to our shareholders, and continued to invest in our long-term growth plans.”
Apple’s shares soared after the announcement. During regular trading on NASDAQ, Apple’ shares rose 56 or .36% cents to $157.35. In after-hours trading the stock is up an additional $4.46 or 2.83% to $161.81. The 52-week high is $182.94 while the 52-week low is 129.04.