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Compared to Estimates, Apple (AAPL) Q4 Earnings: A Look at Key Metrics

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Apple (AAPL - Free Report) reported $114.48 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 11.7%. EPS of $2.05 for the same period compares to $1.85 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $112.95 billion, representing a surprise of +1.35%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +3.54%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.98.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Apple performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
  • Net Sales by Category- Wearables, Home and Accessories: $8.3 billion versus the six-analyst average estimate of $9 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -7.9%.
  • Net Sales by Category- iPhone: $57.58 billion versus the six-analyst average estimate of $57.18 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +17.5%.
  • Net Sales by Category- iPad: $6.23 billion versus $6.54 billion estimated by six analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -10.4% change.
  • Net Sales by Category- Mac: $10.79 billion versus the six-analyst average estimate of $9.56 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +23.7%.
  • Net Sales- Products: $82.9 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $81.46 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +12.5%.
  • Net Sales- Services: $31.57 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $31.5 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +9.8%.
  • Gross margin- Services: $23.98 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $23.76 billion.
  • Gross margin- Products: $30.84 billion versus $29.91 billion estimated by three analysts on average.

View all Key Company Metrics for Apple here>>>

Shares of Apple have returned +3.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.9% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

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