For Apple, the question is how much longer will its Golden Age last? After being dismissed as a computer industry has-been, Apple is once more the icon of innovation. CEO Steven P. Jobs has breathed new life into the company with a snazzy line of iPod music players. Some 16 million have been sold so far, creating a halo effect for Apple's Macintosh computers. The combination has boosted Apple's sales 72%, to $6.7 billion, in the past two quarters, from the same period a year ago. Profits have risen even faster, up 436%, to $585 million.
But some analysts worry that iPod sales could slow now that so many music-lovers have purchased one. And Mac lovers will soon be done upgrading to Apple's new Mac OS X operating system software. Moreover, Apple's five-month-old Mac mini hasn't been a major hit, despite being the cheapest Mac ever at $499. And, as if that weren't enough, Apple is now embarking on a tricky transition from IBM's PowerPC microprocessor to those made by Intel.
Oh sure, Apple has warned Wall Street to lower its expectations and look for growth of 15% or so a year. But given the scorching performance of recent years, bullish investors may not be satisfied.
All figures are for the most recent available 12 months.
* Latest available data for the 12-month period ended Dec. 31, Jan. 31, Feb. 29, Mar. 31, or Apr. 30. For companies that do not report quarterly, the most recent annual data were used.
Data provided by Standard & Poor's Compustat, BusinessWeek
Apple Computer, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of personal computers and related software, services, peripherals, and networking solutions. It also designs, develops, and markets a line of portable digital music players along with related accessories and services, including the online distribution of third-party music and audio books. The company's products and services include the Macintosh line of desktop and notebook computers; the Power Mac line of desktop personal computers; the iPod digital music player; the Xserve server; Xserve RAID storage products, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications; the Mac OS X operating system; the online iTunes Music Store, a portfolio of peripherals that support the Macintosh and iPod product lines; PowerSchool software product, a Web-based student information system for K-12 schools and school districts; and a variety of other service and support offerings. It also offers various associated Apple-branded computer hardware peripherals, including iSight digital video cameras, and a range of flat panel TFT active-matrix digital color displays. In addition, the company sells a variety of third-party products, including computer printers and printing supplies, storage devices, computer memory, digital video and still cameras, personal digital assistants, iPod accessories, and various other computing products and supplies. The company offers its products to education, consumer, creative professional, business, and government customers. Apple Computer sells its products through its online stores, retail stores, direct sales force, as well as through third-party wholesalers, resellers, and value added resellers. The company operated 84 retail open stores, as of September 25, 2004. These stores sell hardware, software, and peripheral products, as well as a variety of third-party hardware and software products. Apple Computer, Inc. was founded in 1976 by Mr. Steven P. Jobs and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.
No. of Employees
11,695
Data provided by
Steven P. Jobs
Bio
Steven P. Jobs serves as Chief Executive Officer of Apple Computer Inc., ("Apple"). Mr. Jobs is a Co-Founder of Pixar and has been the Chairman since March 1991 and as Chief Executive Officer since February 1986. Mr. Jobs also Co-Founded NeXT Software Inc. ("NeXT"), which developed and marketed object-oriented software for client/server business applications and the Internet, and served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NeXT from October 1985 until February 1997, when NeXT was acquired by Apple. Mr. Jobs then served as an advisor to Apple on a limited basis and served as interim Chief Executive Officer until assuming his current role as Chief Executive Officer at Apple. He has been a Director of Pixar since February 1986. In addition, Mr. Jobs is currently member of the Board of Directors of Apple Computer Inc. Mr. Jobs served as a Director of Gap Inc. since September 1999.
* Latest available fiscal year
** The sum of the net value of options exercised and held in the latest available fiscal year
Key Executives
Steven P. Jobs, Timothy D. Cook, Nancy R. Heinen, Ronald B. Johnson, Peter Oppenheimer, Jonathan Rubinstein, Philip W. Schiller, Bertrand Serlet, Sina Tamaddon, Avadis Tevanian Jr.
Board Members
Steven P. Jobs, Fred D. Anderson, William V. Campbell, Millard Drexler, Arthur D. Levinson, Jerome B. York, Albert Gore
