Apple Computer's quarterly profit blew past even the most optimistic Wall Street targets, powered by sales of iPods, Macintosh computers and Mac minis, but Apple's revenue forecast was less rosy and the stock fell.
Profit rose more than sixfold on sales of its iPod digital music players, the Mac mini personal computer and new PowerBook notebook PCs. Apple sold 5.31 million iPods, accounting for 31 per cent of the company's revenue.
The company employs around 1,000 in the Republic.
"The third-quarter EPS [ earnings per share] guidance was better than the Street, but the revenue was slightly below some on the Street," said Sushil Wagle, senior vice-president of J&W Seligman, which owns Apple shares.
IPod sales in the second quarter fell short of the six million target of rumoured forecasts, Mr Wagle said.
Apple said net income for its fiscal second quarter, ended March 26th, rose to $290 million (€225.9 million) from $46 million on a split-adjusted basis. Revenue surged 70 per cent to $3.24 billion from $1.91 billion.
Analysts on average had expected a profit of 24 cents a share, within a range of 21 cents to 30 cents, on revenue of $3.19 billion.
