Apple Expected to Report Strong Earnings Today, But Unlikely to Set Record-Breaking Quarter

Apple BondsApple is set to report its earnings results for the second quarter of its 2017 fiscal year at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time today.

Apple provided the following guidance for its second quarter on January 31:

• revenue between $51.5 billion and $53.5 billion
• gross margin between 38 percent and 39 percent
• operating expenses between $6.5 billion and $6.6 billion
• other income/expense of $400 million
• tax rate of 26 percent

That guidance suggests Apple will report its second-best March quarter earnings results in the company's history:

• Q2 2013: $43.6 billion
• Q2 2014: $45.6 billion
• Q2 2015: $58 billion
• Q2 2016: $50.6 billion
• Q2 2017: $51.5+ billion

Wall Street analysts generally expect Apple to meet the higher end of its guidance, with revenue estimates averaging around $53 billion. If accurate, Apple will have grown around four to six percent compared to the year-ago quarter, marking its second consecutive quarter of growth after an uncharacteristic nine-month skid last year.

MacRumors.com compiled estimates from over a dozen financial institutions and independent firms tracking Apple and the company's stock. The figures are listed below, ranked from highest to lowest in terms of total revenue. The date column reflects when each research note was distributed to clients.

AAPL Q2 2017 earnings preview 1
On a category-by-category basis, the highlight of Apple's earnings results will likely be its services, such as the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, and Apple Pay. Most analysts estimate Apple's services revenue will be up to 20 percent higher, totaling up to $7.4 billion versus $5.9 billion a year ago.

AAPL Q2 2017 earnings preview 2
iPhone remains Apple's most important product by a significant margin. Most analysts predict that Apple topped the 51.1 million iPhones it sold in the year-ago quarter, with several estimates coming in above 52 million. However, four analysts expect iPhone sales to decline compared to the year-ago quarter.

iPad unit sales are forecasted to decline to between 7 million and 9.8 million compared to the 10.2 million tablets Apple sold in the year-ago quarter, while Mac sales should remain relatively flat on a year-over-year basis.

AAPL Q2 2017 earnings preview 3
Meanwhile, analysts believe Apple Watch sales totaled between 1.6 million and 3 million in the quarter. Apple does not disclose Apple Watch sales in its quarterly earning results, instead grouping the device under its "Other Products" category, alongside iPods, Apple TVs, Beats Electronics, and accessories.

Apple's cash and marketable securities total is projected to have surpassed $250 billion in the second quarter, up from $246.1 billion last quarter. Apple is expected to provide an update about its capital allocation, including dividends and share buybacks, as it usually does at this time of its fiscal year.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri will discuss the company's financial results on a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. MacRumors.com will transcribe the call as it unfolds for those unable to listen.

Tags: AAPL, Earnings

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive These Five Perks

Wednesday July 9, 2025 9:20 am PDT by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, did you know that Apple offers you five perks beyond the extra storage space, at no additional cost? Here are the perks included with all iCloud+ plans:Private Relay keeps your Safari browsing history entirely private from network providers, websites, and even Apple. Hide My Email generates unique, random email addresses whenever needed. Hom...

Top Rated Comments

Nimrad Avatar
107 months ago
"I can't believe they're focusing on doing earnings reports when they should make their accountants and finance people work on a new Mac Pro, Mac Mini etc."
hehehehehe
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mantan Avatar
107 months ago
Always love when the earnings reports come out and Apple customers cheer like they've won something. Apple remains insanely profitable while charging them a premium for increasingly stale/mediocre products and we jump up and down and clap for them.

It was a lot easier to pay an Apple tax when their products were superior to everything on the market.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Igloo Avatar
107 months ago
yea ok thats all good but where is my god dang new Mac Mini!!!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michaelgtrusa Avatar
107 months ago
"I can't believe they're focusing on doing earnings reports when they should make their accountants and finance people work on a new Mac Pro, Mac Mini etc."
hehehehehe
Only product people can make a new Mac Pro.
[doublepost=1493724801][/doublepost]
yea ok thats all good but where is my god dang new Mac Mini!!!
Profit is the new product line.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tech4all Avatar
107 months ago
I was wondering how quick will it be for someone to mention the Mac thingy. Wasn't expected to be the first comment.
Don't worry, it'll probably be the only mention of "Mac" you'll have to see. The closest thing Apple will get to "Mac" during the conference call is the "pipeline."
[doublepost=1493737647][/doublepost]
Spoiler - Apple (still) makes a ton of cash. People complain about the lack of a new Mac Pro.
You're right, I hope Apple never updates the Macs and they make even more money.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
selfsilent Avatar
107 months ago
Spoiler - Apple (still) makes a ton of cash. People complain about the lack of a new Mac Pro.
Apple making billions doesn't help us. Apple making a new Mac Pro does help us and the sale of it will help Apple.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)