Apple (AAPL) Investors Nervous as Q4 Earnings Date Comes Later-than-Expected

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) investors are showing a little nervousness as the company's fourth quarter earnings announcement is coming about one week later than many expected.

Apple disclosed on its investor relations website that it will report fourth quarter earnings on October 27, 2015. Estimates at StreetInsider.com's EPS Insider had pegged the date as October 20. Last year (FY 2014), the company reported its fourth quarter results on October 20 and beat by 11 cents.

Importantly, Apple's fourth quarter ended this year on September 26th. Last year the quarter ended on September 27th. So there is no reason to delay the results, investors would say.

Recent history shows that when Apple's earnings date is pushed out the results are not as stellar. In 2013, the company reported its fourth quarter results on October 28 and beat by only 5 cents. In 2012, the company reported its fourth quarter results on October 25 and missed by 1 cent.

Weaker than expected iPhone sales could be seen this quarter. Not only will the Chinese economic malaise and stock market rout hurt Apple this quarter, but the company will see only a minor boost from the refreshed iPhone. Recall, last year's iPhone 6 launch occurred on September 19th, resulting in 9 days of sales. This year, with the official iPhone 6S launch date September 25th this implies only two days of sales.

While there could be many moving parts to explain the later-than-expected earnings release, all signs point to Apple posting a weak fourth quarter. That said, this quarter will clearly not be as important as the December quarter (Q1 FY16). However, with investor sentiment already low, the last thing Apple investors want to see is a "miss."

You May Also Be Interested In

• Tractor Supply (TSCO) Tops Q1 EPS by 12c ; Offers Guidance
• FTI Consulting (FCN) Tops Q1 EPS by 40c
• ACNB Corporation (ACNB) Reports In-Line Q1 EPS