Apple posts record numbers as profits rise 78%

Apple has posted record revenues, sales and profits in its latest quarterly financial report, seeing earnings rise by 78 per cent in year on year figures.

The report was issued last night and shows figures for the quarter ending on Christmas day 2010, which is Apple's first financial quarter 2011. Quarterly revenue stood at $26.74 billion (£16.7bn) and quarterly profit at $6 billion (£3.75bn), both record figures for the company. During that period last year, Apple posted revenues of $15.68 billion (£9.8bn) and profit of $3.38 billion (£2.1bn).

The company also released specific sales figures for its major lines, shifting 4.13 million Macs during the period, 23 per cent more than the same quarter in 2010. Apple also sold 16.24 million iPhones during the three months leading up to Christmas 2010, an 86 per cent growth year on year.

19.45 million iPods were bought at retail during the quarter - a seven percent unit decline from one year ago. The company's newest product, the iPad, sold 7.33 million units during the quarter.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who announced Monday that he'll be leaving the company in the hands of experienced COO Tim Cook whilst he takes a period of medical leave, made a statement to accompany the figures.

"We had a phenomenal holiday quarter with record Mac, iPhone and iPad sales," said Jobs. "We are firing on all cylinders and we've got some exciting things in the pipeline for this year including iPhone 4 on Verizon which customers can't wait to get their hands on."

"We couldn't be happier with the performance of our business, generating $9.8 billion in cash flow from operations during the December quarter," said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's CFO. "Looking ahead to the second fiscal quarter of 2011, we expect revenue of about $22 billion and we expect diluted earnings per share of about $4.90."

A webcast discussing the report is available on Apple's website.