10-QPeriod: Q2 FY2004

Apple Inc. Quarterly Report for Q2 Ended Mar 27, 2004

Filed May 6, 2004For Securities:AAPL

Summary

Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 27, 2004, reveals a strong performance with significant year-over-year growth in net sales, driven primarily by a substantial increase in peripherals and other hardware sales, notably the iPod. The company also saw healthy growth in its Macintosh product lines and continued rapid expansion of its Retail segment. Financially, Apple reported robust net income and earnings per share growth for both the quarter and the first six months of the fiscal year, indicating improving profitability. The company maintained a strong liquidity position with substantial cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, sufficient to cover its operational needs and planned capital expenditures. While gross margins saw a slight decline due to product mix and pricing pressures, overall operational efficiency and sales growth compensated for this. The company also continued to invest in research and development to fuel future innovation.

Key Highlights

  • 1Net sales increased by 29% year-over-year to $1.91 billion for the quarter and 33% to $3.91 billion for the first six months, driven by strong demand across segments.
  • 2Sales of peripherals and other hardware, primarily iPods, surged by 148% year-over-year in the quarter, reaching $536 million, and by 138% to $1.04 billion for the first six months.
  • 3Macintosh net sales saw a modest 6% increase in the quarter and 11% in the first six months, with portable systems showing strong growth, while iMac sales declined.
  • 4The Retail segment experienced significant growth, with net sales increasing by 97% year-over-year to $266 million in the quarter, driven by store expansion and increased revenue per store.
  • 5Net income for the quarter was $46 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, a significant improvement from $14 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in the prior year's quarter.
  • 6The company ended the quarter with $4.59 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, indicating a strong liquidity position.
  • 7Restructuring charges of $9.6 million were recognized in the quarter related to manufacturing operations closure and headcount reductions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Apple reported net sales of $1.909 billion for the quarter ended March 27, 2004, a 29% increase compared to $1.475 billion in the same period of 2003. Net income for the quarter was $46 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, a substantial increase from $14 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in the prior year's quarter.

The primary driver of revenue growth was the significant increase in sales of peripherals and other hardware, especially the iPod, which saw a 752% increase in net sales year-over-year. Macintosh sales also contributed positively, though at a slower pace, with strong performance in portable systems. The Retail segment also showed substantial growth due to store expansion.

Gross margin percentage slightly declined to 27.8% from 28.3% year-over-year. This was primarily due to a shift in product mix towards lower-margin iPod sales and 1:1 iBook sales, pricing adjustments on certain Power Macintosh models, purchase order cancellation costs, higher freight and duty costs, and increased warranty expenses on portable products.

Apple maintained a strong liquidity position, ending the quarter with $4.594 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments. The company believes this is sufficient to meet its working capital needs, capital expenditures, and other liquidity requirements over the next 12 months. They also repaid their $300 million in unsecured notes in February 2004.