Apple is facing high expectations for its fiscal third quarter earnings results, but in many respects the three months ending June 30 are really just a warm up for big gains ahead.
The company is expected to deliver third quarter earnings of $5.85 a share on revenue of $24.99 billion. Consensus estimates have been creeping higher in recent days and remain fluid based on Thomson Reuters' real-time tracking. There are significant wild cards as Apple's latest quarter will be a lull before a new iPhone, back-to-school shopping, a likely iPod refresh and the holiday season. For instance:
Here's a look at the metrics and expectations.
Analysts across the board are viewing the June quarter as a warm up act for the quarters ahead. Among the key items for Apple over the next six months.
Meanwhile, Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu predicted that Apple can benefit from better component costs. "We continue to believe that Apple is positioned to outperform in this tough macroeconomic environment with its defendable strategic and structural advantages and its vertical integration," said Wu.