quadra 610

radarthekat said:

"Most investment analysts believe that Apple will have a good quarter, with some predicting a record-breaking one..."

I've been quiet.  Haven't mentioned this to tip off any analysts.  Just been waiting to see if there's any analyst out there who would pick up on it?  What's the nugget of information I've been holding back?  The Sep - Dec 2011 holiday season, Apple's 2012 fiscal first quarter, was a 14 week quarter for Apple; Apple ends each quarter on the last Saturday of each calendar quarter.  Shhh, don't tell the analysts, but, the Sep - Dec quarter just ended was another one.  It's the first 14-week holiday quarter for Apple since 2011.  And that adds about 8% to the length of the quarter versus other years, which have 13 weeks.  

True Apple earnings devotees will recall that Apple earnings remained flat in its 13-week 2013 fiscal Q1 versus its 14-week 2012 fiscal Q1, and analysts derided the company as having reached the end of its growth.  Doomed.  But none would give voice to the fact that Apple matched its previous year Q1 earnings with a shorter holiday quarter.  We can expect the same, I'm certain, this year and next, when Apple surprises to the upside with this next quarterly report, only to disappoint expectations next year when they're back to a typical 13-week holiday quarter.