Apple Faces Slow Second Quarter; Will Larger iPhone Boost Sales?

Apr 23, 2014 11:24 AM EDT | Jordan Ecarma

Apple's meteoric rise seems to have slowed, causing Wall Street investors to become antsy as the company's shares drop.

While it's still the most valuable company in the world, Apple saw shares fall 5.2 percent this year, and Wednesday's quarterly report didn't offer much better news, according to a Forbes analysis.  

As sales slow for iPhones and iPads, Apple revenue is expected to plateau for the first time in at least 10 years, while profit will drop an estimated 5 percent. If the projection is correct, Apple will see its sixth period in a row with miniscule or no growth.

Part of the problem is the expectation that a new iPhone will be released this fall, possibly with a larger screen. Shoppers don't want to buy the model already on Apple shelves. 

As the company looks for the next big product, investors are growing impatient amid rising concern that Apple is no longer the innovator it was under co-founder Steve Jobs.

"There's incredible potential but how long can you wait?" Michael Obuchowski, chief investment officer at Merlin Asset Management and portfolio manager at Concert Wealth Management Inc., told Forbes. "I'm getting to the level of frustration that I don't know how much longer I'll be holding on to that company."

Apple is still bringing in a killing, reporting a net income of $37 billion in 2013, but company shares have fallen 24 percent from their record high point in September 2012.

In its own projection, the Cupertino, Calif.-headquartered corporation has placed revenue for this quarter at $42 billion to $44 billion, which compares with $43.6 billion for the same quarter year-over-year, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Apple has continued to focus on quality, higher-end products, quashing conjecture that the company could debut a cheaper iPhone. Even as consumers look forward to such products as the larger iPhone, likely coming later this year, investors and analysts have become pessimistic about whether or not the company can continue to grow.

"We see Apple as a provider of premium priced electronics, a lucrative market but one that may not sustain its current market valuation of $473 billion in the years ahead," Colin Gillis, an analyst at BGC Financial, wrote in a note to clients this week, as reported by the L.A. Times.

See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?

© 2024 Auto World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Get the Most Popular Autoworld Stories in a Weekly Newsletter

Join the Conversation

Real Time Analytics