Samsung sold about 32 million smartphones in record holiday quarter
When they are announced later this month, Apple's holiday iPhone sales will be most closely compared to rival Samsung, which is estimated to have sold 32 million smartphones in its record setting quarter.
Samsung reported its record earnings on Friday, with its operating profit hitting $4.5 billion in the December quarter on strong sales of its smartphones. But while smartphones were key in Samsung's success during the holidays, actual unit sales of smartphones were not publicly revealed.
Based on the data released by Samsung, Dongbu Securities Co. took a stab and estimated that the company sold 32 million smartphones in the fourth quarter, according to Bloomberg. In all, Samsung is estimated to have sold 300 million handsets -- both smartphones and "feature" phones -- in 2011.
Samsung's numbers will be closely compared to Apple, when the iPhone maker releases its sales figures for the holiday quarter on Tuesday, Jan. 24. The December quarter includes the launch of the iPhone 4S, and Apple executives have already said they expect to set a new record for iPhone sales.
Apple's current record for quarterly iPhone sales is 20.3 million, but industry watchers expect that the company will handily beat that sum in the just-concluded December quarter. Those expectations were bolstered this week when Verizon, the largest wireless carrier in the U.S., revealed it sold 4.2 million iPhones in the last three months of 2011, nearly doubling its previous quarterly figure.
Verizon's strong numbers, along with a record setting pace from AT&T, prompted one Wall Street analyst to forecast that Apple could report sales of 35.3 million iPhones in the December quarter. If that prediction proves accurate, it's a number that would best Samsung's estimated 32 million smartphone sales in the holiday quarter by more than 3 million.
Samsung reported its record earnings on Friday, with its operating profit hitting $4.5 billion in the December quarter on strong sales of its smartphones. But while smartphones were key in Samsung's success during the holidays, actual unit sales of smartphones were not publicly revealed.
Based on the data released by Samsung, Dongbu Securities Co. took a stab and estimated that the company sold 32 million smartphones in the fourth quarter, according to Bloomberg. In all, Samsung is estimated to have sold 300 million handsets -- both smartphones and "feature" phones -- in 2011.
Samsung's numbers will be closely compared to Apple, when the iPhone maker releases its sales figures for the holiday quarter on Tuesday, Jan. 24. The December quarter includes the launch of the iPhone 4S, and Apple executives have already said they expect to set a new record for iPhone sales.
Apple's current record for quarterly iPhone sales is 20.3 million, but industry watchers expect that the company will handily beat that sum in the just-concluded December quarter. Those expectations were bolstered this week when Verizon, the largest wireless carrier in the U.S., revealed it sold 4.2 million iPhones in the last three months of 2011, nearly doubling its previous quarterly figure.
Verizon's strong numbers, along with a record setting pace from AT&T, prompted one Wall Street analyst to forecast that Apple could report sales of 35.3 million iPhones in the December quarter. If that prediction proves accurate, it's a number that would best Samsung's estimated 32 million smartphone sales in the holiday quarter by more than 3 million.
Comments
The didn't sell 32 million Android smartphones, nor did they sell 32 million Galaxy phones. Too bad Samsung doesn't give a breakdown by phone type.
They sold 32 million smartphones.
The didn't sell 32 million Android smartphones, nor did they sell 32 million Galaxy phones. Too bad Samsung doesn't give a breakdown by phone type.
They did announce when the Galaxy 2 crossed the 10M sales mark about 8 weeks in (I think), but you're correct that none of these guys make a habit of breaking down sales by model, not even Apple. That's probably a little bit more detail than any of them feel the need to publicly announce.
They did announce when the Galaxy 2 crossed the 10M sales mark about 8 weeks in (I think), but you're correct that none of these guys make a habit of breaking down sales by model, not even Apple. That's probably a little bit more detail than any of them feel the need to publicly announce.
It's too bad that Apple doesn't break down their iPhone sales... then we'd know which ones were using iOS...
[that's sarcasm in case anyone didn't get it...]
^ They sold 3 million GS2's in 55 days and 10 million in the first 5 months, according to Samsung themselves. Add in Galaxy Note sales and you come up far short of 32 million.
Samsung has dozens of iterations of the same phones and tablets, with different names marketed worldwide. They could EASILY sell 32 million when you combine them all. Or are you thinking only in terms of the US?
Edit. Directed at island hermit
Samsung has dozens of iterations of the same phones and tablets, with different names marketed worldwide. They could EASILY sell 32 million when you combine them all. Or are you thinking only in terms of the US?
That 10 million was worldwide. They may sell variations, but the only one people talk about is the GS2.
Samsung also sells a lot of cheap smartphones like the Wave, Omnia, Messenger and several that don't even get a name - just a model number. And some phones with the Galaxy name are riding coattails. I saw one at their website with instructions posted how to upgrade to Android 2.1.
1. What is a smartphone
2. Which OS are allocated to the device [Android [flavors], MS Windows7, and Bada]
3. What is the average selling price per phone
4. What was the profit on the phones
5. How many of each phone or at least in aggregate were sold not shipped
My guess is that what is a smartphone is exaggerated, the profit will be lean on the phones, and shipped versus sold will diminish the real earning.
Only upon developing this kind of data, either from SAMSUNG or by analysts can real assessments be made with Apple and the market in general.
However, buzzy headlines that drive page clicks will probably be the rule of the day. My only hope is Horace at asymco.com will have made a stab at it building the data and making useful comparisons.
This kind of data is really important, as Windows 7 is strongly promoted with Nokia in 2012, there will be a Halo effect to SAMSUNG Windows versions and seeing who gets cannibalized if Windows gets traction will be interesting and important.
They sold 32 million smartphones.
The didn't sell 32 million Android smartphones, nor did they sell 32 million Galaxy phones. Too bad Samsung doesn't give a breakdown by phone type.
Samsung doesn't actually state any numbers at all. We always just compare Apple's stated figures to Analyst estimates about Samsung.
Samsung knows their profit margins on their lines are crap. They either think Apple can't possibly evolve due to Steve's passing or by now realize they will never touch Apple's returns and will accept being a member of the race to the bottom in margins.
Apple in 2012 is not Apple in 1985. Without that hiccup in '85 we wouldn't have ever had to deal with Gates dominating like he did. There are no derailments with this ecosystem and deeply rooted breath of talent that will continue to be fostered for decades.
People called us at NeXT arrogant for saying NeXT was buying Apple. The Truth is in the results. The type of talent NeXT brought over rebuilt NeXT as Apple with all it's legacy of reputation and stagnant talent waiting for leadership.
How does everything imagine Microsoft will do when Gates and Balmer actually step down?
P.S. Apple target price has now been raised to $560/share.
http://247wallst.com/2012/01/06/appl...e-target-aapl/
P.S. Apple target price has now been raised to $560/share.
A price it will never reach.
A price it will never reach.
If share split, you may be right ...
The other phone sites are quoting 35 million. Where does AI get their 32 million. Did Oliver get it from d.e.d.?
are you channelling bettieblue for us today?? The fixation with DED is very amusing, to a point. Fortunately if you actually READ FOR COMPREHENSION you might have discovered this little gem in the article:
Based on the data released by Samsung, Dongbu Securities Co. took a stab and estimated that the company sold 32 million smartphones in the fourth quarter, according to Bloomberg.
See - it pays to read carefully before you comment!
Also no doubt fan boys will come here to make this a sole Galaxy SII number.
A price it will never reach.
it points out the interesting chasm between market predictions and market response: predicting $560 and keeping the P/E low only increases pressure - the question is how/when will it "snap"? Is it the 70% shareholders who are managing funds that are doing this in order to weigh more Apple into their portfolios before releasing the P/E to float where it (ostensibly) belongs?
Or does the market truly punish innovative companies for not behaving like other more predictable companies?
And it is always amusing to see how ernestly Amazon, Google and Samsung report their numbers, but in ways that are effectively useless to analyzing actual performance at a detailed level.
A price it will never reach.
If $560 is 1.33 times the current price (and also the same s/p on October 18th) and the forward p/e for the last quarter was 10.77 and Tim Cook said that rev* for the holiday quarter would be $37 million / $28 million (last quarter) = 1.32; then couldn't it theoretically climb to $560 (or close to it) if they didn't compress the forward p/e (or trailing) even more.
... or is my math fucked.
Whoops... I forgot that this thread is about Samsung's record number of phones.
We return you to regular programming...
[*this assumes that the correlation between rev and earnings will not differ wildly unless Apple's margins have been drastically reduced]
They sold 32 million smartphones.
The didn't sell 32 million Android smartphones, nor did they sell 32 million Galaxy phones. Too bad Samsung doesn't give a breakdown by phone type.
Too bad Samsung does not provide any audited data of any kind on their phone or tablet sales.
All we have are estimates put out by consulting-whoevers, and numbers that are wildly inconsistent with collateral data on things such as app sales, web traffic, etc.
Bottom line: I don't believe these sales figures in the least.
The other phone sites are quoting 35 million. Where does AI get their 32 million. Did Oliver get it from d.e.d.?
It's all FUD anyway, so who cares.