U.S. Mac Sales Surge in January as iMac Orders Pick up Steam

[MacRumors]

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster today issued a new research report sharing data from research firm NPD covering Apple's U.S. Mac sales for the month of January. According to NPD's data, Mac sales were up a strong 31% year-over-year for the month.

Munster attributes the strong performance to Apple finally being able to roll out orders of the new iMac, even as the company remains significantly constrained with multi-week waits for new orders through its online stores. Apple announced the new iMac in late October of last year, but did not begin taking orders until the end of the November with the larger 27-inch models not arriving until several weeks later.

We have analyzed domestic NPD retail data for the month of January which suggests Mac sales were up 31% y/y through the first month of the March quarter. We believe the reason for the significant improvement in the sales data is primarily due to Apple catching up with iMac supply, which the company noted to be constrained in the December quarter. CEO Tim Cook noted that iMac sales were down 700k units y/y in December (we note iMac sales are likely far less impacted by iPad, thus the vast majority of the y/ y unit decline is likely supply).

It remains to be seen if the strong sales will hold up for the remainder of the quarter, and thus Piper Jaffray is maintaining its estimate of a 5% year-over-year decline for the full quarter when global sales are considered.

NPD's data also reveals a bit of a surprise for the iPod, showing U.S. unit sales up 3% year-over-year and revenue up 2%. Piper Jaffray has been modeling for a 17% decline in total iPod sales for the quarter as the device continues to lose favor with consumers shifting music consumption to smartphones. But even a strong showing for the iPod is unlikely to have a significant impact on Apple's bottom line, as the line represented just 4% of Apple's sales in the holiday quarter, typically the strongest one for iPod sales.

Article Link: U.S. Mac Sales Surge in January as iMac Orders Pick up Steam

[iCore24]

I think mac's are the only computers increasing market share every quarter compared to everyone else.

[iheartiphone4]

Originally Posted by iCore24

I think mac's are the only computers increasing market share every quarter compared to everyone else.

Probably. Post pc world.

[Radio]

Well it's obvious to many of us

consumers want skinnier computers with a hump (bootie) in the back

[SAdProZ]

I'm not surprised. Demand is high for the new iMacs. A lot of people on MacRumors want to complain that Apple isn't meeting their current 'buying criteria' of more power but the truth of the matter is Apple Inc. is filled with smart minds that know society changes, and so does 'buying criteria.'

Not only are iMac's more powerful, but they are thinner, lighter, simpler and more essential—which is what society wants in a desktop machine going forward. Our buying criteria is more influenced by laptops and tablets than anything else.

I talk about buying criteria in my latest podcast. if you want to learn about it and how businesses use it as an innovation strategy.

[Icaras]

Originally Posted by SAdProZ

Not only are iMac's more powerful, but they are thinner, lighter, simpler and more essential—which is what society wants in a desktop machine going forward. Our buying criteria is more influenced by laptops and tablets than anything else.

Couldn't agree more.

Upping power and reliability while still shaving off space, energy consumption, weight and shipping costs. I love my iMac

[autrefois]

"U.S. Mac Sales Surge in January as iMac Orders Pick up Steam"

But I thought iMacs already could have Steam for a while now?

[dgafitescu]

Order the 27" iMac with Fusion driver in mid December and still didn't arrived.
That's in Romania by the way.

[Peace]

So. This should tell timmy to make a Mac Pro huh ?

[SeattleMoose]

Big increase in Mac sales only confirms what I already suspected. Apple performance is completely disconnected from AAPL performance.

All the negative Apple stories on Yahoo are simply plant stories by Wallstreet sharks to drive AAPL down to a point where they can once again buy "cheap". Then they jump back in and the "pump and dump" cycle starts all over again.

Betting on stocks going down should be illegal. Allowing "puts" simply results in pump and dump cycles for short term profits that completely warp stock values simply for short term gain. AAPL over the last half year is the poster boy for this activity.

[srxtr]

I don't know about you guys but I don't like the idea of seeing the same design computer in every household. Wish Apple would add a bit more variety for iMac

[deconstruct60]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

According to NPD's data, Mac sales were up a strong 31% year-over-year for the month.

All this is indicative of is that vast majority of iMac buyers just waited till later to buy the iMac.

It won't be until April and May number until see if overall Mac demand is up year over year.

The other thing will be Q4 2013, because of the artificial suppression of Q4 2012 numbers there will likey be an even larger year-over-year jump this when they do not logjam the new iMacs during the quarter.

[Rogifan]

Originally Posted by SeattleMoose

Big increase in Mac sales only confirms what I already suspected. Apple performance is completely disconnected from AAPL performance.

All the negative Apple stories on Yahoo are simply plant stories by Wallstreet sharks to drive AAPL down to a point where they can once again buy "cheap". Then they jump back in and the "pump and dump" cycle starts all over again.

Betting on stocks going down should be illegal. Allowing "puts" simply results in pump and dump cycles for short term profits that completely warp stock values simply for short term gain. AAPL over the last half year is the poster boy for this activity.

You mean like this (on the homepage of yahoo finance right now)?

HP’s New Low-Priced Tablet Puts Even More Pressure On Apple

Why aren't they asking how HP's slate will impact Google Nexus or Amazon Kindle? Because throwing Apple in the headline guarantees someone will click on the article.

[digizure]

I'm really surprised that people are willing to buy the new iMac with NO DVD drive or Firewire!

[puckhead193]

Originally Posted by Radio

Well it's obvious to many of us

consumers want skinnier computers with a hump (bootie) in the back

this came in my head all of a sudden

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEe_eraFWWs

hopefully the shipping times improve on the 27" soon

[Szarky]

Originally Posted by digizure

I'm really surprised that people are willing to buy the new iMac with NO DVD drive or Firewire!

I'm surprised people still use DVD drives, I can count on one hand how many times I've used mine in the last 5 years.

[MTL18]

Originally Posted by SeattleMoose

Big increase in Mac sales only confirms what I already suspected. Apple performance is completely disconnected from AAPL performance.

All the negative Apple stories on Yahoo are simply plant stories by Wallstreet sharks to drive AAPL down to a point where they can once again buy "cheap". Then they jump back in and the "pump and dump" cycle starts all over again.

Betting on stocks going down should be illegal. Allowing "puts" simply results in pump and dump cycles for short term profits that completely warp stock values simply for short term gain. AAPL over the last half year is the poster boy for this activity.

While depressing if you bought AAPL over 700, this creates an opportunity to buy in for long-term holdings - especially now that it is an income generating stock.

Funny thing! Since this PR, AAPL is actually down even more! Total disconnect from reality haha

[Szarky]

Shipping times still not very good (on Canadian store). Available in 2-3 weeks for 21.5 and 3-4 weeks for 27.

[JesterJJZ]

Mac Pro Mac Pro Mac Pro!!!

[olowott]

mine is still in the assembly stage

it will take a while

still trying to get the money

[samcraig]

Originally Posted by SeattleMoose

Big increase in Mac sales only confirms what I already suspected. Apple performance is completely disconnected from AAPL performance.

All the negative Apple stories on Yahoo are simply plant stories by Wallstreet sharks to drive AAPL down to a point where they can once again buy "cheap". Then they jump back in and the "pump and dump" cycle starts all over again.

Betting on stocks going down should be illegal. Allowing "puts" simply results in pump and dump cycles for short term profits that completely warp stock values simply for short term gain. AAPL over the last half year is the poster boy for this activity.

No offense - but this is an obvious statement and one that has been posted (by me and others for a few years now)

AAPL the stock is not the same as Apple the company. Period.

[TouchMint.com]

Glad I could help lol

[deconstruct60]

Originally Posted by SeattleMoose

Betting on stocks going down should be illegal. Allowing "puts" simply results in pump and dump cycles for short term profits that completely warp stock values simply for short term gain. AAPL over the last half year is the poster boy for this activity.

Betting up or down should be legal.

What is 'wrong' with the stock markets now is that there is a concerted effort to inject volatility just for volatility sake. There is a growing number of folks who make money only if the market is noisy. So they rattle around generating noise. They aren't making the markets more efficient just noisy.

That has always been a problem.

Apple's stock price in part got built up due to overhype and that often is a dual edged sword. The many of the same folks whipping it up are the same ones muckraking as it goes down. Accurate valuation doesn't matter, volatility does.

Shorting isn't so much of a problem as folks shorting by waving their hands ( naked shorts). Many of these things are regulated but haphazardly enforced.

If buying selling were slowed so that had to hold something for 24 hours most of the random, short term oscillations would disappear.

[0815]

Originally Posted by Szarky

I'm surprised people still use DVD drives, I couple count on one hand how many times I've used mine in the last 5 years.

agree. When I got the MacAir quite some time back, I also got the external DVD just in case ... guess what - it is still in its original package since I just don't have any use for it anymore.

That does not mean nobody needs a DVD drive - but those few have the option to get an external one ... no need to put a drive that most people don't need into a machine.

But some people will keep complaining, no matter if they have a real use case ... same happened back than when the floppy drive got removed and people thought 'how can they sell a machine without the really important floppy drive' ...

[digizure]

I like to back up on a DVD and rip DVDs. I also use Firewire a lot. I think it was a bad move to remove the drive and Firewire.