31M iPhone sales projected after Apple's strong showing at AT&T

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014
One Wall Street analyst has reiterated his expectation that Apple sold 30.9 million iPhones in the June quarter, a forecast bolstered by strong iPhone activation numbers from AT&T.

Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets reacted on Tuesday to AT&T's quarterly results, in which the company revealed it sold 3.7 million iPhones in its most recent quarter, 22 percent of them to new customers. With 5.1 million total smartphones sold, the iPhone accounted for nearly 75 percent of all smartphone activations at AT&T.

White sees Tuesday's results from AT&T as even further evidence that iPhone sales for the June quarter will be stronger than many on Wall Street expect. He has called for Apple to report sales of 30.9 million iPhones in the three-month span.

"We believe that the Street has overreacted to iPhone shipment concerns in the June quarter," White said in a note to investors. "We are modeling iPhone shipments of 30.9 million units, or down 12 (percent quarter over quarter), well above Street expectations."

Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray also said Tuesday that he believes AT&T's figures show better-than-expected iPhone sales for the June quarter. His forecast of between 28 and 29 million units is lower than White's, but Munster said he remains "comfortable" with his prediction, which is still higher than most investors.

As AppleInsider highlighted in its earnings preview on Monday, most investors believe Apple will report sales of between 25 million and 27 million iPhones for its third quarter of fiscal 2012.

AT&T vs. Verizon


AT&T's iPhone activations were down just 14 percent quarter over quarter, from 4.3 million in the previous three-month span. In White's eyes, the number is positive, given that it is better than the 16 percent quarter over quarter decline that Verizon reported last week, and that the iPhone 4S first debuted in the U.S. last October.

White also noted that the three leading U.S. carriers — AT&T, Verizon and Sprint — made up just 26 percent of Apple's total iPhone shipments in the March quarter. That's much lower than the 35-to-40-percent level of total iPhone sales that U.S.-based carriers accounted for in 2009 and 2010.

With high expectations for the iPhone, Topeka Capital Markets has maintained its price target of $1,111 for AAPL stock. White said his firm remains "aggressive buyers of Apple at current levels."

Munster noted that if global iPhone sales are in-line with the U.S. sequential decline of 15 percent, it would suggest Apple sold 27 million units in the June quarter. But as international sales of the iPhone increase, the global decline is not expected to be as great as in the U.S.

Apple will report earnings for its third quarter of fiscal 2012 this afternoon after markets close at 4 p.m. Eastern. AppleInsider will have full coverage of the results, as well as the quarterly earnings conference call with Apple executive scheduled for 5 p.m. Eastern.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 20
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,728member
    Well so much for the iPad did well but not iPhone expert opinions last week ... well so far anyway. These folks should take up betting at horse racing tracks for entertainment.
  • Reply 2 of 20


    While ATT is a bellweather for iPhone adoption in the US... The real issues are Europe and China/Asia.  Munster must not have eyeballs in markets over there, as he's hedging his pronouncement.  


    My prediction.  Apple shares will rise dramatically today, Fall on the news, and rise again tomorrow.  And I really don't care, as I'm holding my shares through the end of 2013, at least.

  • Reply 3 of 20
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    The entire reason for the Topeka Capital valuation looks to be because it tops it over the $1 trillion company level.
  • Reply 4 of 20
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,728member
    solipsismx wrote: »
    The entire reason for the Topeka Capital valuation looks to be because it tops it over the $1 trillion company level.

    Wow!

    OK back now from stiff drink ... required on the vague chance topping a trillion happens in the next year or so ....
  • Reply 5 of 20
    blackbookblackbook Posts: 1,361member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by TheOtherGeoff View Post


    While ATT is a bellweather for iPhone adoption in the US... The real issues are Europe and China/Asia.  Munster must not have eyeballs in markets over there, as he's hedging his pronouncement.  


    My prediction.  Apple shares will rise dramatically today, Fall on the news, and rise again tomorrow.  And I really don't care, as I'm holding my shares through the end of 2013, at least.



    Every other company on the planet has been reporting slowing sales in Europe and Asia due to crashing economies. If iPhone sales are light I wouldn't be surprised if that were the reason. Especially since in Europe and Asia iPhones are very much LUXURY devices and not everyday smartphones like here in the US.

  • Reply 6 of 20

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post



    One Wall Street analyst has reiterated his expectation that Apple sold 30.9 million iPhones in the June quarter, a forecast bolstered by strong iPhone activation numbers from AT&T.


     


     


    Yeah?  And what does he know?  I never heard of him.  And his methodology is suspect, to say the least.  ONE Analyst.  Just one.  


     


    Hey - I predict that Apple sold 300.9 billion iPhones.  Cans I be was ANALyst too?


    \


    \


    \


     


     


     


     


    /s

  • Reply 7 of 20
    herbapouherbapou Posts: 2,228member


    The whisper EPS is now at 11.9  My source had the exact EPS number last quarter so I give it a very reliable rating because I suspect its a leak.  Considering the strong ipad sales, that means the iphone sales are going to be horrible (which means in line with street consensus).  My estimates will be for around 30 millions iphones and 20 millions ipads, which should support an EPS of around 11.9  


     


    Those are very good numbers, but for wallstreet anything less than a blowout will send the stock down. I will hold my 2014 options but sell a few october options prior to earning just in case. In fact I will do it right now.


     


    Here are the earings numbers prediction made by user White_Knight_in_Texas on the finance forums:


    APPLE "BEATS" their own Company Guidance consistently as follows:



    2010 Q1 Guidance = $4.80; Actual = $6.43;(Beat=40.0%)

    2011 Q2 Guidance = $4.90; Actual = $6.40; (Beat=30.6%)

    2011 Q3 Guidance = $5.07; Actual = $7.79; (Beat=53.6%)

    2011 Q4 Guidance = $5.50; Actual = $7.05 (Beat=28.2%)

    2012 Q1 Guidance = $9.30; Actual = $13.87 (Beat=49.1%)

    2012 Q2 Guidance = $8.50; Actual = $12.30 (Beat=44.7%)



    Given: APPLE’s EPS Company Guidance is $8.68 for This Quarter ( Fiscal Q3 Ending June 30, 2012) – to be reported July 24, 2012.



    If APPLE “beats” their Guidance by only 30% (Equating to an actual EPS of $11.28), then TTM EPS = $44.55…



    15 PE = $668.25/sh.;

    16 PE = $712.80/sh.;

    17 PE = $757.35/sh.;

    18 PE = $801.90/sh.;

    19 PE = $846.45/sh.;

    20 PE = $891.00/sh.

  • Reply 8 of 20
    aaarrrggghaaarrrgggh Posts: 1,609member
    herbapou wrote: »
    The whisper EPS is now at 11.9  My source had the exact EPS number last quarter so I give it a very reliable rating because I suspect its a leak.  Considering the strong ipad sales, that means the iphone sales are going to be horrible (which means in line with street consensus).  My estimates will be for around 30 millions iphones and 20 millions ipads, which should support an EPS of around 11.9  

    I would be a bit disappointed at 11.9, but not worried. You do need to realize that iPads have much less margin than iPhones, until the majority of people realize that 64GB is the right size to get.

    At 30 iPhones, 20 iPads, 4.5 Macs, and 44.8% gross margin you are at about $12.13. I am hoping margins are a little better to get closer to 12.3, but we will know in a few hours.
  • Reply 9 of 20
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    I wish the media would stop with these stupid AT&T and Verizon subsidies stories. Every high-end smart phone is subsidized. Go to T-Mobile's website and practically every Android smartphone is free with contract....and a $350 subsidy. But yet listening to the clowns on CNBC you'd think only Apple is benefiting from subsidies. Give me a break...
  • Reply 10 of 20


    Everyone is missing the growth in China...... YoY growing at 118%!!!  Earnings will rock!!!!  :)

  • Reply 11 of 20
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by herbapou View Post


    The whisper EPS is now at 11.9  My source had the exact EPS number last quarter so I give it a very reliable rating because I suspect its a leak.  Considering the strong ipad sales, that means the iphone sales are going to be horrible (which means in line with street consensus).  My estimates will be for around 30 millions iphones and 20 millions ipads, which should support an EPS of around 11.9  


     


    Those are very good numbers, but for wallstreet anything less than a blowout will send the stock down. I will hold my 2014 options but sell a few october options prior to earning just in case. In fact I will do it right now.


     


    Here are the earings numbers prediction made by user White_Knight_in_Texas on the finance forums:


    APPLE "BEATS" their own Company Guidance consistently as follows:



    2010 Q1 Guidance = $4.80; Actual = $6.43;(Beat=40.0%)

    2011 Q2 Guidance = $4.90; Actual = $6.40; (Beat=30.6%)

    2011 Q3 Guidance = $5.07; Actual = $7.79; (Beat=53.6%)

    2011 Q4 Guidance = $5.50; Actual = $7.05 (Beat=28.2%)

    2012 Q1 Guidance = $9.30; Actual = $13.87 (Beat=49.1%)

    2012 Q2 Guidance = $8.50; Actual = $12.30 (Beat=44.7%)



    Given: APPLE’s EPS Company Guidance is $8.68 for This Quarter ( Fiscal Q3 Ending June 30, 2012) – to be reported July 24, 2012.



    If APPLE “beats” their Guidance by only 30% (Equating to an actual EPS of $11.28), then TTM EPS = $44.55…



    15 PE = $668.25/sh.;

    16 PE = $712.80/sh.;

    17 PE = $757.35/sh.;

    18 PE = $801.90/sh.;

    19 PE = $846.45/sh.;

    20 PE = $891.00/sh.



     


    http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/07/24/all-eyes-on-apples-earnings-estimates-are-sharply-divided/


     


    Sure, there could be a slowdown because of iPhone 5 anticipation, but who knows. The range is all over the map.

  • Reply 12 of 20
    aaarrrggghaaarrrgggh Posts: 1,609member
    rogifan wrote: »
    I wish the media would stop with these stupid AT&T and Verizon subsidies stories. Every high-end smart phone is subsidized. Go to T-Mobile's website and practically every Android smartphone is free with contract....and a $350 subsidy. But yet listening to the clowns on CNBC you'd think only Apple is benefiting from subsidies. Give me a break...

    The meaningful portion of the commentary right now is that since there wasn't a major iPhone upgrade push this Q, they didn't have the subsidy expense, making profit easier to come by. If the new iPhone is released in October, the picture will be even better for them as people like me with a 4 purchased at launch are out of contract. It is basically something to buffer optimism about T's results.
  • Reply 13 of 20
    applegreenapplegreen Posts: 421member


    Even if iPhone sales disappoint and the stock sells off after hours, it will come back up again very fast, because:


     


    1) Valuation is low.  Apple should have about $135 per share in cash at qtr-end.  Forward P/E ex-cash is about 8.6, which is absurdly low.


     


    2) Apple will soon start paying dividends.  With a yield of 1.8%, the stock will not fall much.


     


    3) There are new products on the near horizon.  Institutions will load up in anticipation of a block-buster Christmas qtr.


     


    I am going to add to my position after hours, if the stock falls below $590.  I expect that the stock will be north of $700 by year's end.

  • Reply 14 of 20
    tooltalktooltalk Posts: 766member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Rogifan View Post



    I wish the media would stop with these stupid AT&T and Verizon subsidies stories. Every high-end smart phone is subsidized. Go to T-Mobile's website and practically every Android smartphone is free with contract....and a $350 subsidy. But yet listening to the clowns on CNBC you'd think only Apple is benefiting from subsidies. Give me a break...


     


    Technically, you could also get older iPhones for free too..  Furthermore, Apple's subsidy is much greater than most Android phones: $400-$450 for Apple iPhones vs. $320 for Samsung Galaxy phones . I would definitely buy a Galaxy Note if AT&T is willing to subsidize a bit more.

  • Reply 15 of 20
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member


    26 million iPhones.


     


    The stock is going to go down to $200 a share.

  • Reply 16 of 20
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    26 million iPhones.

    The stock is going to go down to $200 a share.
    Apple beat their own estimates on revenues. It's just some of the wall street clowns predictions 30M+ iPhones.
  • Reply 17 of 20
    sdw2001sdw2001 Posts: 18,016member


    Speaking of AT&T, I'm seriously considering bailing when I get my next iPhone.  Their network has improved since my first iPhone in 2008, but it's still absolutely atrocious compared to Verizon.  

  • Reply 18 of 20
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Rogifan View Post

    Apple beat their own estimates on revenues. It's just some of the wall street clowns predictions 30M+ iPhones.


     


    And since the market actually listens to analysts…

  • Reply 19 of 20
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    And since the market actually listens to analysts…
    It's the Gene Munsters of the world that are the problem. He was just on CNBC claiming the calendar Q4 as the biggest product launch in the history of man. Good grief.
  • Reply 20 of 20
    applegreenapplegreen Posts: 421member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post


     


    And since the market actually listens to analysts…



    As I said before, added to position at $568.48.

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