Apple reports fiscal Q3 2012 results

When it comes to financial results and device sales, Apple is not showing any signs of breaking its money-making stride or disrupting its winning sales streak any time soon.

The Cupertino-based tech outfit has announced the financial results for its fiscal Q3 2012 period, with the firm posting quarterly revenue of $35 billion and quarterly net profit of $8.8 billion. Both of the results compare very favourably to the $28.6 billion revenue and net profit of $7.3 billion that Apple delivered within the same period last year. International sales accounted for 62% of the quarter’s revenue.

Cupertino managed to sell 17 million iPads during the quarter, representing a massive 84% unit increase over the same period last year. iPhone sales also pressed the up button on the sales elevator, with Apple selling 26 million iPhones during the quarter, which is a 28% unit increase compared to this time in 2011.

It is however down on the 35.1 million iPhones the company sold during the previous quarter (fiscal Q2 2012), with sales winding down in the run up to the new iPhone’s announcement later this year. Market research firm Strategy Analytics revealed last month that Apple generated a staggering $150 billion of cumulative revenues with its iPhone range, over the first five years since launch in June 2007.

The company sold four million Mac computers during its fiscal Q3 2012, which is a 2% unit increase over the year-ago quarter, whilst iPods continue their role as the black sheep of the Apple product range. Cupertino sold 6.8 million iPods, resulting in a 10% unit decline from the firm’s financial Q3 2011.

“We’re thrilled with record sales of 17 million iPads in the June quarter,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We’ve also just updated the entire MacBook line, will release Mountain Lion tomorrow and will be launching iOS 6 this fall. We are also really looking forward to the amazing new products we’ve got in the pipeline.”

Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO added: “We’re continuing to invest in the growth of our business and are pleased to be declaring a dividend of $2.65 per share today. Looking ahead to the fourth fiscal quarter, we expect revenue of about $34 billion and diluted earnings per share of about $7.65.”

In related news, Microsoft recently reported its record Q4 and full year revenue, whilst its closest mobile OEM (original equipment manufacturer) partner Nokia released its Q2 2012 interim fiscal report.