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Apple beats earnings expectations, but rising memory costs threaten profit margins
Economies.com
2026-11-03 19:58 UTC
Apple reported stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings on Monday, November 2, supported by record iPhone sales and continued growth in its services business. However, a warning about rising memory-chip prices and shrinking profit margins overshadowed the results, sending the company's shares lower as investors questioned whether higher costs could undermine profitability heading into 2027.
The results highlight an increasingly difficult environment for consumer electronics manufacturers, as the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure absorbs semiconductor production capacity and drives up component prices.
Record revenue driven by iPhone demand
Apple reported revenue of $114.5 billion for its fiscal fourth quarter, up 12% from $102.5 billion a year earlier and exceeding analysts' expectations of approximately $113.4 billion.
Net income rose to $30.71 billion from $27.47 billion, while earnings per share increased to $2.10 from $1.85, surpassing forecasts of $1.99.
iPhone revenue climbed 17.5% to approximately $57.6 billion, supported by strong demand for premium models and higher selling prices.
Mac revenue increased nearly 24%, although iPad sales declined 10.4% and revenue from wearables, home products and accessories fell 7.9%.
Apple's services business generated a record $31.6 billion, reinforcing its importance as a source of recurring revenue.
Memory costs squeeze margins
Despite the strong results, Apple forecast a gross profit margin of 45%–46% for the December quarter, below analysts' expectations of approximately 46.3% and the 47.9% recorded in September.
The September figure also benefited from tariff refunds that added approximately one percentage point to margins and $0.05 to earnings per share.
Chief Executive John Ternus, who succeeded Tim Cook in September, described the current memory-pricing environment as unprecedented and warned that costs could continue increasing into next year.
Apple has partially protected itself through inventory purchased at lower prices, but those supplies will gradually be replaced by more expensive components.
The company has already increased prices across parts of its iPhone, Mac and iPad lineups, helping offset some of the pressure.
However, further increases could become more difficult as consumers face persistent cost-of-living pressures.
AI investment creates new challenges
The surge in demand for memory chips reflects a broader shift in semiconductor manufacturing toward high-performance components used in AI servers.
Technology companies are investing heavily in data centers, increasing competition for manufacturing capacity that also supplies smartphones, personal computers and other consumer devices.
For Apple, the problem extends beyond component prices.
The rollout of its AI-powered Siri will increase cloud infrastructure expenses, while accounting rules require the company to recognize some revenue from AI-enabled devices over their useful lives rather than immediately upon sale.
These factors are expected to weigh on profitability even as demand for Apple's products remains relatively strong.
Holiday-quarter outlook disappoints investors
Apple expects revenue to grow between 7% and 10% during the December quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations of approximately 6.1% growth.
However, services revenue growth is projected to slow to 8%–9%, compared with 9.8% in September.
The company also faces supply constraints affecting its new foldable iPhone Duo, which has experienced strong initial demand but remains difficult to obtain.
Apple shares fell approximately 4% in Tuesday's premarket trading, putting more than $170 billion of market capitalization at risk.
The decline reflects concerns about valuation as much as operating performance, with Apple trading at nearly 35 times expected earnings over the next 12 months.
Outlook for 2027
Apple enters 2027 with strong consumer demand, substantial cash generation and an expanding services business, but its ability to protect margins will depend increasingly on semiconductor prices and supply availability.
Higher product prices could sustain revenue growth, although they may also discourage upgrades if household spending weakens.
For investors, the immediate question is whether Apple's pricing power can continue offsetting rising costs without damaging demand, particularly as the AI investment boom places growing pressure on the wider electronics supply chain.
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