Apple has delivered a stunning financial performance that exceeded even the most optimistic market projections. The technology behemoth reported fourth-quarter revenue reaching $102.5 billion, propelling the company to unprecedented financial heights. However, this remarkable achievement comes with a significant concern that tempers investor enthusiasm.
Record-Setting Services Division
While hardware sales typically experience seasonal fluctuations, Apple’s Services division has emerged as the company’s most reliable profit center. This segment—encompassing everything from the App Store to iCloud—achieved an unprecedented $28.75 billion in revenue.
The high-margin Services business is increasingly becoming the foundational pillar of Apple’s financial structure, providing consistent cash flow that helps offset the cyclical nature of iPhone sales and creates greater financial stability for the corporation.
iPhone 17 Drives Impressive Growth
The recently launched iPhone 17 has proven exceptionally popular with consumers, generating $49.03 billion in sales—representing a 6 percent increase that substantially outperformed analyst expectations. The September introduction of this new device generation clearly resonated strongly with the market.
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Even more noteworthy is management’s bold forecast for the crucial holiday shopping period. Company executives anticipate 10 to 12 percent growth, which would represent the strongest December quarter in Apple’s corporate history—a projection that has generated significant excitement among investors.
China Concerns Loom Over Success
The outstanding financial results are partially overshadowed by concerning performance in one critical market. Revenue in Greater China declined to $14.5 billion, representing a $500 million decrease compared to the same period last year. This region stood alone as the only major market to experience contraction.
This development raises important questions for Apple, as China has historically served as one of the company’s primary growth engines. Market participants are closely monitoring whether this regional weakness could potentially restrain the stock’s impressive upward trajectory despite otherwise exceptional corporate performance.
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