UPDATE: Apple (AAPL) Could See Flat Q4 iPhone Sales
(updated to correct third quarter iPhone sales)
With Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) slated to report fourth-quarter results after the market closes, inquiring minds want to know: how many darn iPhones got sold?
Well, data has the following unit sales in the U.S.:
- AT&T (NYSE: T) at 4.7 million;
- Verizon (NYSE: VZ) at 3.1 million; and
- Sprint (NYSE: S) at 1.5 million (for the third consecutive quarter!).
Growth at AT&T and Verizon were 74 percent and 55 percent from the same period last year, respectively. Sprint didn't have iPhone sales last year.
There's also second-tier carriers in the works, with the total U.S. iPhone market potentially expanding 100 percent.
Only a few selling days of the iPhone 5 will be included, and those were largely limited to certain markets.
If you assume that the three main carriers account for about 20 percent to 22 percent in the quarter, you'll end up with an iPhone range of 38.3 million to 41.3 million units. This would be a huge feat as they likely sold a much bigger percentage this quarter.
Notably, many see the number as much lower. The consensus estimates is for 25-26 million units. asymco thinks the number will be 27 million to 30 million. Sterne Agee sees 27 million.
Last quarter (Q3) the company sold 26.03 million units, they sold 35.06 million in Q2 and 37.04 million in Q1.
Of course Q113 - the iPhone 5 and holiday quarter - could bring record iPhone sales.
Shares of Apple are down 0.8 percent into its after-hours release Thursday.