UBS data suggests Apple sold 69M iPhones in blockbuster December quarter
The latest research from UBS has prompted the firm to advise investors that it believes Apple sold a massive 69 million iPhones in the just-concluded December quarter -- a sum that would obliterate the company's previous all-time record.
Using its proprietary UBS Evidence Lab iPhone Monitor, the investment firm told investors on Wednesday that it now expects Apple to have sold a total of 69.3 million iPhones in the December quarter. That's beyond Wall Street consensus of 65.5 million units for the three-month span.
To put the estimates in perspective, Apple's previous all-time record came a year ago, when the company sold a massive 51 million iPhones in the holiday 2013 quarter. An increase of 18.3 million units would amount to nearly 36 percent growth in iPhone sales from the year-ago quarter.
It should be noted, however, that Wall Street expectations were too high last year, as Apple was unable to build enough iPhones to meet demand. Prior to its December 2013 results, investors expected Apple to report sales of 56.5 million iPhones for the quarter.
Whether market expectations are again out of hand for the December 2014 quarter will be revealed on Tuesday, Jan. 27, when Apple reports its fiscal 2015 first-quarter results.
UBS analyst Steven Milunovich noted that his company's latest data reveals a likely surge in demand for the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in China. The research suggests that China could account for as much as 35 percent of all iPhone shipments for the quarter, compared with 22 percent a year ago.
His estimates call for Apple to earn total revenue of $68 billion, up significantly from $57.6 billion in revenue a year ago.
UBS's estimates come from search results tracked in over 20 countries, weighted by respective country data from Gartner Market Statistics. Further adjustments are made for quarterly variances and seasonal effects, built on a model using a sample period from late 2008 to the end of 2012.
UBS has maintained its "buy" rating on shares of AAPL with a 12-month price target of $125.
Using its proprietary UBS Evidence Lab iPhone Monitor, the investment firm told investors on Wednesday that it now expects Apple to have sold a total of 69.3 million iPhones in the December quarter. That's beyond Wall Street consensus of 65.5 million units for the three-month span.
To put the estimates in perspective, Apple's previous all-time record came a year ago, when the company sold a massive 51 million iPhones in the holiday 2013 quarter. An increase of 18.3 million units would amount to nearly 36 percent growth in iPhone sales from the year-ago quarter.
It should be noted, however, that Wall Street expectations were too high last year, as Apple was unable to build enough iPhones to meet demand. Prior to its December 2013 results, investors expected Apple to report sales of 56.5 million iPhones for the quarter.
Whether market expectations are again out of hand for the December 2014 quarter will be revealed on Tuesday, Jan. 27, when Apple reports its fiscal 2015 first-quarter results.
UBS analyst Steven Milunovich noted that his company's latest data reveals a likely surge in demand for the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in China. The research suggests that China could account for as much as 35 percent of all iPhone shipments for the quarter, compared with 22 percent a year ago.
His estimates call for Apple to earn total revenue of $68 billion, up significantly from $57.6 billion in revenue a year ago.
UBS's estimates come from search results tracked in over 20 countries, weighted by respective country data from Gartner Market Statistics. Further adjustments are made for quarterly variances and seasonal effects, built on a model using a sample period from late 2008 to the end of 2012.
UBS has maintained its "buy" rating on shares of AAPL with a 12-month price target of $125.
Comments
It's probably a "pump and dump" ploy by analysts.
Still, this is a blockbuster result if true.
I still think that they should sell 3 up-to-date models (5.5, 4.7, 4. All with 64 and 128 GB options)" and 1 year old versions of those devices with 32 GB of memory.
As it stands, memory is the thing that will still give Android OEMs some room on the high end. Like big screens (especially) and 4g did. Less than 32GB (16 or 8) is just an insult and results in a crap product.
Same strategy for iPads (12.2, 9.9, 7,9). 3 Laptops: The rumored 12" Air, starting with 256GB of memory for 999 $ (in place of the 11 and 13" Air and 13" rMBP), 15" rMBP starting at 1499$ and 17" rMBP at 1999$. **** the mini. 21" retina IMAC and 27" and keep updating the Pro.
Focus more on software. Stop being greedy and unpleasant to users (low memory options, like the 8GB 5c and 16GB models. Stupid decisions, like the 2011 MBAir not supporting handoff (despite having the whole set of requirements) and having the worst display of every single laptop sold above 600$ since 2012).
That would be nice. Also, 2 year schedule for OS and a bigger workforce on software. /rant
Despite all that, what an amazing company.
Trying to imagine what 69 million iPhones would look like if they were all set out together.
That would be one huge porn fest.
When has Apple stock ever been where it should be? It's always been undervalued.
...Analysts quickly raised their estimates above 70M so that they could be disappointed when results were announced, thereby driving AAPL down. Most analysts were unavailable for comment as they were all vacationing on the Samsung private yacht. In other news...
69 Million? I wish but that sounds a little too high.
That's not that difficult, if Apple sold only iPhone6 it is about 4405 m3 or a cube of 16,4m x 16,4m x 16,4m (16,4m3).
They would fill two Olympic size swimming pools and weigh more than three Saturn V rockets.
They cannot make that many iPhones, but they can order them (like we do).
And about 9030 metric tons, impressive.
True but orders don't count as sales until they ship.
I must be visiting the wrong sites