Will Apple Blow out Estimates Again?
January 24, 2010
Worldwide personal computer sales grew by 15.2 percent to 85.8 million units (20.7 million, U.S.) in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to the International Data Group, which attributed pent up demand and lower prices for the leap in sales. Hewlett-Packard was the top vendor with a 21 percent market share, followed by Acer at 13.4 percent.
Information technology consultant Gartner Inc. sees more people surfing the Web via mobile phones (iPhones?) by 2013 than PCs. It estimates that the total number of PCs at that point will approach 1.78 billion, versus 1.82 billion or more smart or web-enabled phones. Apple Macs lost market share over the period. Why? Macs are too expensive, and today's bestselling computers sell for about one-third the cost of mainstream Macs. It seems the economic downturn has finally hit home for Apple. Though the company's Mac sales in the fourth quarter were strong, growth could not keep up with the wider industry, where personal computer sales jumped 25 percent in the fourth quarter.
In the third quarter of 2009, Mac commanded a 9.1 percent market share in the U.S., and many Apple fanatics believed that the 10 percent barrier would be breached by year end. However, in the fourth quarter Mac took only 7.4 percent of all U.S. personal computer sales (less than the 7.5 percent in the same quarter a year ago.). Apple reports first quarter earnings on January 25, 2010. Consensus GAAP EPS is $2.05 and Non-GAAP figure of $3.49
