Mac revenues were also up sharply at 46 percent, according to the most recent data from market firm NPD Group, as cited Monday by Lehman Brothers analyst Ben Reitzes in a noted distributed privately to clients.
The rapid growth in April suggests the Cupertino-based company is in good position to report upside to Reitzes' current estimate of 37 percent Mac growth for the three-month period ending June.
Meanwhile, a similar set of data from NPD covering iPods reveals that sales of the media players were up 15 percent in units and 10 percent in dollar sales during April, compared to a rise of 12 percent in units and 4 percent in revenues for the overall market.
"We continue to believe our estimate of a 2 percent year-over-year unit decline in iPods could prove conservative; although year-over-year weekly growth rates have decelerated in May," Reitzes said.
In his note to clients, the Lehman analyst also reiterated his belief that Apple will introduce an updated line of Mac notebooks in time for the back-school season that heats up in the July time frame, which will include redesigned MacBooks, MacBook Pros and more MacBook Airs.
"Checks are indicating that the attractive look of the Air may make its way into other models in terms of slimmer, metallic designs," he said. "We believe these notebooks will be popular for the back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons."
Apple remains the analyst's "top pick" in the IT hardware space. He rates the company's shares as "Overweight," or outperforming those of its similarly situated peers over the next 12 months, with a price target of $202.
80 Comments
Wow! An estimate it will go up 8.5% in the next 12 months.
Wow! An estimate it will go up 8.5% in the next 12 months.
You can get pretty rich making 9% a year. Eventually Apple will be too big (market cap) to continue growing quickly, and I don't plan on being the last one out of the stock.
You can get pretty rich making 9% a year. Eventually Apple will be too big (market cap) to continue growing quickly, and I don't plan on being the last one out of the stock.
I know, but I expect it to reach 200 before this 3rd fiscal quarter ends in June. Apple's growth on the Mac front and the launch of the 3G iPhone around the world should help it increase several fold over teh next several years. If we were just atalkng about iPods then I have have sold my stock awhile ago.
Personally, I don't invest in any company that i don't expect to double my investment at least every 12 months.
If you want to build a business this is how you do it.
You have to start slow, steady and focused on the end game.
Start with one amazing product and design it with everything you got (iMac) over and over till it is a truly amazing product.
Then when it is a success build upon that with other innovative products.
Don't over extend yourself and don't cave to pressures for thousands more products to milk the market.
Build what you believe is the best products for you companies long term viability.
Stay innovative and creative so remain the industry leader.
Apple died (Before Jobs return it did truly die) because it was easier to follow than lead.
With the return of Jobs he injected the company with this philosophy and look at Apple now.
Very cool. The rebirth of Apple has been a joy to watch. Jobs has returned Apple to its roots. Love it.