Apple announced revenues of USD 20.34 billion for its fiscal fourth quarter to 25 September, up sharply from USD 12.21 billion in the year-earlier period. International sales accounted for 57 percent of the quarter's revenue. Apple's gross margin fell to 36.9 percent from 41.8 percent in the year-ago quarter. Net profit rose to USD 4.31 billion, or USD 4.64 per diluted share, from USD 2.53 billion or USD 2.77 per share. The results were well ahead of its previous guidance for revenues of USD 18 billion and EPS of USD 3.44. Apple sold 14.1 million iPhones in the quarter, representing 91 percent unit growth over the year-ago quarter. The company also sold 4.19 million iPads during the quarter, and Mac sales improved 27 percent to 3.89 million. iPod sales were down 11 percenr year-on-year to 9.05 million. Apple said both revenues and profit were at all-time highs for the company, while iPhone sales beat rival Research In Motion's most recent quarterly sales of 12.1 million phones. Apple also generated almost USD 5.7 billion in cash flow from operations during the quarter. The company forecast revenue of around USD 23 billion and EPS of USD 4.80 for fiscal Q1, and said the company still has "a few surprises left for the remainder of this calendar year".
