Apple's 1Q 2008 Conference Call Today

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

Apple will be announcing their financial results for their first fiscal quarter of 2008 (4th calendar quarter of 2007) and answering questions during a conference call today at 2PM PT, 5PM ET. As usual, the call will be webcast live via QuickTime (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/earningsq108/).

Please note that comments made during this call may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. For more information on the factors that could influence results, please refer to Apple’s SEC filings.

Last quarter included consumer holiday purchasing. Apple had updated all of its iPods in September (http://www.macrumors.com/buyersguide/#iPod) and the MacBook in early November (http://www.macrumors.com/buyersguide/#MacBook) prior to the holiday shopping period.

See Also: 1Q 2007 Results ($1 Billion Profit) (http://www.macrumors.com/2007/01/17/apple-posts-1-billion-in-profit-1q-2007-and-financial-call-notes/)

Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/01/22/apples-1q-2008-conference-call-today/)

[Stridder44]

Obligatory "NEW MBP's @!#$%@!$# COME ON!!!".

[Macmaniac]

Hopefully it gives the stock a lift, the market got hammered this morning and APPL lost $15. Tough times they are.

[twoodcc]

looking forward to the good news!

[samh004]

As usual investors will ask about things and Steve will say that Apple doesn't comment on unreleased products. Wonder what their profit will be ?

Do you think they'll release AppleTV unit sales ?

[aosman]

I want to see the effects of worldwide (meaning European) iPhone sales

[inkswamp]

Normally I have no interest in these financial calls, but out of curiosity, didn't Steve say at Macworld that the 4M iPhone sales figure didn't include holiday sales? Does that mean this call today will include updated numbers and a more up-to-date sales figure for the iPhone?

[erandall38]

Normally I have no interest in these financial calls, but out of curiosity, didn't Steve say at Macworld that the 4M iPhone sales figure didn't include holiday sales? Does that mean this call today will include updated numbers and a more up-to-date sales figure for the iPhone?

Is this for real?
That would be killer if it did not include holiday sales.
Anyone have a source for this, either way?

[Project]

Normally I have no interest in these financial calls, but out of curiosity, didn't Steve say at Macworld that the 4M iPhone sales figure didn't include holiday sales? Does that mean this call today will include updated numbers and a more up-to-date sales figure for the iPhone?

No, it *did* include holiday sales.

However, the chart he showed giving iPhone 20% US Smartphone share was based on the latest Gartner (I think) information, which was for the first quarter of iPhone sales (so thus not including the holiday period, as this information isnt available yet.

[macdaddy121]

Hopefully it gives the stock a lift, the market got hammered this morning and APPL lost $15. Tough times they are.

Yeah, but now it is only down $2.....I missed out this morning. I swore I would buy more once it went below $150 and I decided to sleep in and come to work late today.....got here in time to see it around $153....:mad:

[erandall38]

Yeah, but now it is only down $2.....I missed out this morning. I swore I would buy more once it went below $150 and I decided to sleep in and come to work late today.....got here in time to see it around $153....:mad:

Do you mess with options at all?

[Stike]

Steve, new MacBook Pro at 2.8 GHz with decent Gfx card and I´ll buy!!!

[happydude]

opening trade numbers for tomorrow should take a jump after the bell since the conf call begins at 5 EST, so if yer lookin to buy, get in today while it's still relatively low

[lazyrighteye]

Brace yourselves.

[EagerDragon]

Let's see:
Apple stock takes a dive, while sales were well above expectation, iPod sales where a sly bit below expectations. Everyone then predicts that Apple can not continue their upward swing, as such the stock drops.

Just like last quater.

[macsforme]

The buyer's guide link for the MacBook seems to point to the contributer's-only section, and not the public section. I got a weird error when I clicked it...

[IJ Reilly]

I wouldn't even try to predict how AAPL will move today. The conditions within the broader market will be the controlling factor. No matter what the numbers show, the markets are in a black mood and they are thinking less about now and more about six months down the road.

[MacTO]

Hopefully it gives the stock a lift, the market got hammered this morning and APPL lost $15. Tough times they are.

That's what I wish...:( People have lost too much money already.

Cheers! :apple:

[zedsdead]

Someone needs to ask why no HD on iTunes, only Apple TV and why the content can't be transferred or purchased for that matter. Paying $5.00 for a movie and having it locked in place is rediculous.

[GregND]

I didn't get in at the low I did buy at $155. It's going up ($158 now) and should rise more tomorrow after the financials come out.

Thank you recession! I've been waiting for this dip for a while.

[tothelimit]

looking forward to the good news!

i hope it's good news. all throughout the holiday season i kept hearing reports of how retail spending was so poor. but contrary to that - every time i walked by the local apple store it was SWAMPED.

i guess we'll see at 5.

[Pandaboots]

It's amazing how much effect the US economy has on the world economy. Every major stock market sold off yesterday in speculation of the US economy going into recession. These are indeed bad economic times for all of us. Apple is in the economic spotlight and with more pressure than ever. Apple's earnings call today can and will affect worldwide markets. I really hope their revenues and profits are as good as I'm hoping they will be for all of our sakes. I think if people see that a tech/retail company can do well during this uncertain times, then all hope isn't lost. ***crossing fingers***

[JG271]

It's amazing how much effect the US economy has on the world economy. Every major stock market sold off yesterday in speculation of the US economy going into recession. These are indeed bad economic times for all of us. Apple is in the economic spotlight and with more pressure than ever. Apple's earnings call today can and will affect worldwide markets. I really hope their revenues and profits are as good as I'm hoping they will be for all of our sakes. I think if people see that a tech/retail company can do well during this uncertain times, then all hope isn't lost. ***crossing fingers***

Yeah. The US economy has a large impact on the rest of the world. I wonder if something were to happen in japan or china we would see similar worldwide results.Some markets are bouncing back now that the Federal Reserve cut the intrest rates however:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7201658.stm

[BillyShears]

As usual investors will ask about things and Steve will say that Apple doesn't comment on unreleased products.

In 2006, Peter Oppenheimer made the following comment on the Apple conference call:

"As regards cell phones, we don't think that the phones that are available today make the best music players. We think the iPod is. But over time, that is likely to change. And we're not sitting around doing nothing."

... Basically confirming the iPhone, which was announced in January 2007.

So, conference calls can, in fact, deal with unreleased products. Usually they don't, but it's not unprecedented.

[MikeTheC]

Of course, if the Stevenote had been a bit better and had better product releases to have introduce, it might not have been smacked down like that.

Naturally, wise people should be buying AAPL right now. ;)

[kingtj]

Apple could have released the most amazing and inventive new products of ALL time at MacWorld, and still, they'd see the decline in their stock prices right now.

It has NOTHING to do with investors looking at the potential or quality of the products being made, and EVERYTHING to do with investor fear across the board. With most big financial investors buying up portfolios of hundreds of companies at a time, and generally treating them as a "package" - individual greatness gets "lost in the mix", relative to things like federal govt. sending out news that the entire economy is in a state of slow-down.


Of course, if the Stevenote had been a bit better and had better product releases to have introduce, it might not have been smacked down like that.

Naturally, wise people should be buying AAPL right now. ;)

[IJ Reilly]

Apple could have released the most amazing and inventive new products of ALL time at MacWorld, and still, they'd see the decline in their stock prices right now.

It has NOTHING to do with investors looking at the potential or quality of the products being made, and EVERYTHING to do with investor fear across the board. With most big financial investors buying up portfolios of hundreds of companies at a time, and generally treating them as a "package" - individual greatness gets "lost in the mix", relative to things like federal govt. sending out news that the entire economy is in a state of slow-down.

Exactly. Even in better times for the markets, AAPL has been subjected to 10-20% drops. This one is worse than most, but then, the market is currently grief-stricken.

[amac4me]

I predict that Apple sold close to 2.474 million Macs between October and December.

[MrT8064]

Hi, i'm new to the stock market, and REALLY wanna buy some apple shares, can anyone suggest if now is a good time to do that, or is it very very unstable?

i would be looking to invest about 6000$

[eastcoastsurfer]

Hi, i'm new to the stock market, and REALLY wanna buy some apple shares, can anyone suggest if now is a good time to do that, or is it very very unstable?

i would be looking to invest about 6000$

Rule #1 don't take stock advice from random people on the Internet.

[SheriffParker]

AAPL will probably drop no matter what kind of numbers they release. Though I imagine that the numbers will be pretty good. Macs just keep on selling.

[LangleyAls]

i suggest you don't buy them now...
they're only gonna go down in value with the recession of the US economy. Anything apple releases isn't gonna change that!

[Stridder44]

i suggest you don't buy them now...
they're only gonna go down in value with the recession of the US economy. Anything apple releases isn't gonna change that!

Exactly. Wait till it's low and then buy buy buy.

[Macmaniac]

If you think they are going to fall more before rebounding, put a Limit order in at the amount you think they will fall to. If it does not happen just cancel it. But right now is not the ideal time to buy.

[erandall38]

Exactly. Wait till it's low and then buy buy buy.

Thats much easier said than done.


If you are planning on investing money for the long term at this point I do not see it mattering too much. Apple has taken a pretty significant drop so this cant be the worst time to get in. AAPL has a great company with amazing fundamentals, no debt, and lots of cash.

If you buy and hold it wont matter as much. Just realize it could keep dropping, but if you hold you will end up green. But what if the markets turned around next week. Recently with AAPL when it lost 20% it shot back up and then some extremely fast. You could miss out on the run up.

It goes either way.

[awgoo]

anyone know what it's selling for right now?

[juanm]

anyone know what it's selling for right now?

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=aapl&d=t

[milo]

Yeah, but now it is only down $2.....I missed out this morning. I swore I would buy more once it went below $150 and I decided to sleep in and come to work late today.....got here in time to see it around $153....:mad:

Sounds like you need to learn about limit orders.

Of course, if the Stevenote had been a bit better and had better product releases to have introduce, it might not have been smacked down like that.

Hard to tell if you're being sarcastic. In case you're not, the main reason for the stock drop is the huge drops in the broader markets. Pretty much all stocks have been in the toilet the last couple weeks, and many fear this is the start of a recession. But I do agree that this is a great buying opportunity.

[Prom1]

Looks like Headline News is SERIOUSLY banking on Apple's results today.

Its like it'll be the benchmark of financial economy, if their forecast is lower than expected - then the 'bears' will have their day, month!

[mackiwi]

9.6 billion 1st quarter revenue

2.39 million macs sold (above expectations)

22.1 million ipods (below expectaions)

iphone selling better than analysts expected.

apple warns that Q2 may be lower than forecast.

[EagerDragon]

Hi, i'm new to the stock market, and REALLY wanna buy some apple shares, can anyone suggest if now is a good time to do that, or is it very very unstable?

i would be looking to invest about 6000$

I am not allowed to advice, but If I had 100,000 handy I would buy Apple today.......

[mackiwi]

Apple down heavily in after hours trade, due to bad Q2 forecast...

[EagerDragon]

AAPL will probably drop no matter what kind of numbers they release. Though I imagine that the numbers will be pretty good. Macs just keep on selling.

Yes they will drop today, but in a few days they will be back on the way up again.

[lexlix]

not the biggest stock market expert....
but is it possible that the disappointment over MWSF is because apple is planning on dragging out their new releases and prod updates through the year (as the keynote speech hinted) to reduce the effect of market volatility on apple share prices? this way recession panic and whatnot will be offset by the imminent spike on sales with any prod updates.

personal pipedream: i'm also secretly hoping that apple may have less than ideal performance (good compared to other companies but still did not meet the hype) and due to that steve's been holding the mbp update announcement till this meeting to offset the potential backlash against apple stock??? agreements? please? (i'm desperate for a mbp update so i'll justify and speculate however i need to maintain hope).

21 mins left till we find out i guess.

[mackiwi]

its a long way from the $190s it was in just recently.

Time to Buy!!!

[milo]

not the biggest stock market expert....
but is it possible that the disappointment over MWSF is because apple is planning on dragging out their new releases and prod updates through the year (as the keynote speech hinted) to reduce the effect of market volatility on apple share prices? this way recession panic and whatnot will be offset by the imminent spike on sales with any prod updates.

Apple always spreads out their new releases, as do most similar companies. It makes sense from a marketing and strategy standpoint, and in terms of resources it would be a nightmare to try to update everything at once.

Why would they WANT to bunch up their new releases instead of spreading them out?

[eastcoastsurfer]

its a long way from the $190s it was in just recently.

Time to Buy!!!

It's also a long ways from the $50 it was a couple years ago. Apple's cash cow is the iPod. That's where they have made tons of their money. Is there any growth in iPod sales left? Remember, stock prices reflect future earnings and *growth* in those earnings, not the current.

It's pretty clear they are hoping their next cash cow is the iPhone (sales and contracts). If we end up in a recession are people going to drop $399 for a cell phone?

If you listen to todays call, last quarters numbers do not matter nearly as much as what they say they think will happen over the next quarter and year.

[IJ Reilly]

Yes they will drop today, but in a few days they will be back on the way up again.

Don't count on it. The focus seems to be on guidance for the coming quarter. Apple is always very conservative in guidance, as everyone should know by now. Still with the mood of the market being what it is, even a whiff of trouble is taken as a major calamity.

[mackiwi]

It's also a long ways from the $50 it was a couple years ago. Apple's cash cow is the iPod. That's where they have made tons of their money. Is there any growth in iPod sales left? Remember, stock prices reflect future earnings and *growth* in those earnings, not the current.

It's pretty clear they are hoping their next cash cow is the iPhone (sales and contracts). If we end up in a recession are people going to drop $399 for a cell phone?

If you listen to todays call, last quarters numbers do not matter nearly as much as what they say they think will happen over the next quarter and year.

Thats true about the $50 a few years ago.

Big upside left in the iphone though, the iphone pro coming and all. Plus people will replace them as they do their ipods currently.

Biggest upside to come is the 5.5 billion people who currently cant buy an iphone, no matter how much they have to spend (ok so the potential market that could afford it is closer to 1 billion or more, but you get my point.)

Plus I truly believe that the mac / macbook is really going to continue to grow strongly, even with its premium. The tipping point is coming....

[MrT8064]

I REALLY wanna start buying Apple Shares, but i dunno if i should invest in apple as my first ever investment

i want somthing as risk free as possible (i know anything will carry some risk)

would you advise Apple....

... if you had $6000 to spend?

[milo]

I REALLY wanna start buying Apple Shares, but i dunno if i should invest in apple as my first ever investment

i want somthing as risk free as possible (i know anything will carry some risk)

would you advise Apple....

... if you had $6000 to spend?

In the current market, with a good chance we're headed for recession, NOTHING is risk free.

If you want low risk, I'd do this.
1 Find a mutual fund like an index fund
2 Start putting your money into it a little at a time. Do something like spreading out your investment monthly over a year.

If this is your first investment, I would NOT put it all in one stock, you definitely want something like a mutual fund to start, or even split it so some of it goes into bonds or other investments.

[MrT8064]

In the current market, with a good chance we're headed for recession, NOTHING is risk free.

If you want low risk, I'd do this.
1 Find a mutual fund like an index fund
2 Start putting your money into it a little at a time. Do something like spreading out your investment monthly over a year.

If this is your first investment, I would NOT put it all in one stock, you definitely want something like a mutual fund to start, or even split it so some of it goes into bonds or other investments.

Thanks for the advise, i'll have a look around, unless i should just stick with 6% interest from my bank account until things get more stable again

[aswitcher]

First reporter was a zilch interesting...

[aswitcher]

On iPod touch "First mainstream wireless mobile platform"

Sounds to me like they are going to go hard with the SDK etc to make this thing even more desirable.

I like it.

[mackiwi]

from conferenece call:

to quote apple: 18 billion plus in cash for "Strategic Aquisitions".

The mind boggles at what apple may be contemplating!!!!

[aswitcher]

from conferenece call:

to quote apple: 18 billion plus in cash for "Strategic Aquisitions".

The mind boggles at what apple may be contemplating!!!!

Buy Adobe?

Buy new things for iLife suite like Delicious Monster, Delicious Library; Something for a database for iWork.

[erandall38]

from conferenece call:

to quote apple: 18 billion plus in cash for "Strategic Aquisitions".

The mind boggles at what apple may be contemplating!!!!

Partnership with GOOG and buying in on the 700 MHZ auction?

[dejo]

...Something for a database for iWork.
Oracle?

Ha ha. I keed. I keed. :D