Apple’s Sales Decline for Third Quarter in a Row, Cites 30% Drop in Greater China

The era of rapid growth for Apple is over. Finally, the laws of large numbers have cooked the company (pun intended) — as the company just reported its third consecutive quarter of sales deceleration. I am certain S. Jobs is peering down on Tim ‘Pole Grabber’ Cook right now, like an  eagle in the nest — wanting to pick him up by his talons and shred his transexual ass all over the earth — pecking away at his eyes.

This is truly a disgraceful number, one that should instill a sense of apathy into the employees of the company — convincing them to leave a sinking ship. Apple is the new Microsoft, before Microsoft figured out how to make its share price rise again.  It’s all shit, really. Margins are weak and sales in China are down 30%, on top of weak American sales of -7%.

Apple beats by $0.01, reports revs in-line; guides Q1 revs above consensus, gross margin below (118.25 +0.60)

Reports Q4 (Sep) earnings of $1.67 per share, $0.01 better than the Capital IQ Consensus of $1.66; revenues fell 9.0% year/year to $46.85 bln vs the $46.98 bln Capital IQ Consensus. Apple reports Q4 gross margins 38.0% vs 38% ests vs 39.9% last year.

iPhone shipments 45.5 mln vs 45.2 million ests and 48.05 million last year.
iPads 9.3 mln vs 9.3 million ests versus 9.9 million in Q4 of last year.
Macs 4.9 mln vs 5.2 million ests versus 5.7 million in Q4 of last year.
Co issues upside guidance for Q1, sees Q1 revs of $76-78 bln vs. $75.33 bln Capital IQ Consensus; gross margins of 38.0-38.5% vs 39% ests vs 40.1% last year; op-ex $6.9-7.0 bln;

“We are pleased to have generated $16.1 billion in operating cash flow, a new record for the September quarter.”
Rev by geography: Americas -7%; Europe +3%, Greater China -30%; Japan +10%, Asia Pac. -1%.

The stock is lower by 2%. There’s no reason to ever buy this piece of shit again.

UPDATE: Recode touches upon the China sales decline.