Apple forecasts strong sales growth

Expects revenue to grow 13% to 16% in fiscal second quarter, as iPhone demand in Asia rebounds

- STEPHEN NELLIS AKASH SRIRAM

An Apple logo is displayed on a computer motherboard.

Apple on Thursday forecast higher-than-expected revenue growth of up to 16% for the March quarter, powered by strong demand for its iPhones and a sharp rebound in China and accelerating demand in India.

That followed holiday-quarter results that beat estimates as well, with CEO Tim Cook telling Reuters that demand for the latest handsets was “staggering.”

Apple's iPhone 17 lineup helped lift sales across key markets in the company’s fiscal first quarter ended Dec 27, easing investor concerns about a hardware sales plateau.

Apple shares rose 3.5% in extended trading after the results were released, but later pared gains to trade up 0.8%.

Apple expects revenue for its fiscal second quarter to grow 13% to 16%, versus a 10% rise that analysts expected, according to LSEG. The company also forecast operating expenses of $18.4 billion to $18.7 billion, slightly above spending in the first quarter.

The revenue forecast, however, bakes in some processor supply constraints that are affecting iPhone production, Mr Cook told analysts on a conference call. TSMC makes Apple's chips.

“We're currently constrained. And at this point, it’s difficult to predict when supply and demand will balance,’ he said, adding, “we're seeing less flexibility in supply chain than normal, partly because of our increased demand that I just spoke about.”