Apple shifts 26.9 million iPhones during Q4

Apple sold 26.9 million iPhones during the fourth quarter this year, turning over US$36 billion revenue with $8.2 billion profit.

But despite the results the tech giant missed Wall Street estimates, which forecast $8.75 on sales of $35.8 billion and not the $8.67 announced.

The results follow the launch of the new iPhone 5, with the company’s smartphone sales representing 58% growth over the year-ago quarter.

Apple sold 14 million iPads during the quarter, a 26% increase since the same period last year, and 4.9 million Macs accounting for a 1% unit rise from 2011.

But the company saw a 19% decline in iPod sales, only shipping 5.3 million during the quarter ending September 30.

“We’re very proud to end a fantastic fiscal year with record September quarter results,” says Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.

“We’re entering this holiday season with the best iPhone, iPad, Mac and iPod products ever, and we remain very confident in our new product pipeline.”

Apple’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $2.65 per share of the Company’s common stock, payable on November 15 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 12.

“We’re pleased to have generated over $41 billion in net income and over $50 billion in operating cash flow in fiscal 2012,” says Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO.

“Looking ahead to the first fiscal quarter of 2013, we expect revenue of about $52 billion and diluted earnings per share of about $11.75.”