{"id":339884,"date":"2017-05-03T04:38:29","date_gmt":"2017-05-02T20:38:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techcrunch.com\/?p=1484521"},"modified":"2017-05-03T04:38:29","modified_gmt":"2017-05-02T20:38:29","slug":"apple-hits-a-speed-bump-in-q2-after-its-stock-soared-in-the-past-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/apple-hits-a-speed-bump-in-q2-after-its-stock-soared-in-the-past-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple hits a speed bump in Q2 after its stock soared in the past year"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Apple hit a little snag in the second quarter, falling slightly under what Wall Street expected in its earnings report \u2014 causing a slight drop after its stock has jumped massively in the past year.<\/p>\n

The company reported earnings of $2.10 per share on revenue of $52.9 billion. Wall street was looking for earnings of $2.02 per share on revenue of around $53 billion. It also sold 50.8 million iPhones, whereas analysts expected Apple to sell 51.4 million iPhones. This is a slight miss on a few marks, which in the grand scheme of things might not be that big of a deal \u2014 if only an unexpected trip-up as the tide seems to have turned as to whether Apple can keep growing.<\/p>\n

Apple shares hit a 52-week high this afternoon before trading ended, and in the past year have been on a very steady rise. That\u2019s even amid plenty of concern that its core driver \u2014 the iPhone \u2014 will no longer be the rocket ship it used to be driving Apple\u2019s stock up. Instead, its portfolio of other products (services in particular) are starting to show signs of steady growth, meaning Apple\u2019s ceiling may be higher than simply getting record iPhone sales every quarter.<\/p>\n

The pitch \u2014 one that kept its revenue from dropping off \u2014 may have even been more important than the results. Seriously. Take a look at the chart! In the past year, Apple shares are up more than 50%.<\/p>\n

Last quarter, Apple surprised Wall Street with a better-than-expected quarter as its services revenue \u2014 which executives have often said are going to be the size of a Fortune 100 company this year \u2014 started to offset its stalling iPhone growth engine. Thanks to a seemingly healthy diversification of revenue streams, Apple was able to once again grow its revenue after it seemed like it was headed for a decline (or, at least, topping out). <\/p>\n

All this means its stock price is continuing to rise, which is critical for a number of reasons. It has to continue to attract talent, which it can woo with the prospect of a rising share price as compensation. It also has to keep away activist investors which \u2014 even though Apple is huge \u2014 may see it as an attractive company to bug in order to demand an increased return on capital. The latter is probably not so likely given its size, but there\u2019s some precedent for activists like Carl Icahn going after the company<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Of course, even a 1% drop in Apple\u2019s shares (what happened after the earnings report came out) can mean billions of dollars in value for the company\u2019s market cap \u2014 now above $750 billion \u2014 vanish in a few minutes. But again, looking back at that chart, it appears pretty clear that Apple is starting to figure out how to not only diversify beyond its main driver, but also sell that story to Wall Street.<\/p>\n

Featured Image: Justin Sullivan\/Getty Images<\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"\" Apple hit a little snag in the second quarter, falling slightly under what Wall Street expected in its earnings report — causing a slight drop after its stock has jumped massively in the past year. The company reported earnings of $2.10 per share on revenue of $52.9 billion. Wall street was looking for earnings of $2.02 per share on revenue of around $53 billion. It also sold 50.8… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

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