Apple Financial Analysis

Company Profile

Apple Inc., formerly Apple Computer, Inc., was incorporated under the laws of the State of California on January 3, 1977. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple designs, manufactures and markets personal computers and related software, services, peripherals and networking solutions. The Company also designs, develops and markets a line of portable digital music players along with related accessories and services, including the online sale of third-party audio and video products. Apple Inc's products and services include the Macintosh line of desktop and notebook computers, the Mac OS X operating system, the iPod line of portable digital music players, the iTunes Store, a portfolio of peripherals that support and enhance the Macintosh and iPod product lines, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications, the Xserve and Xserve RAID server and storage products, and a variety of other services and support offerings. The Company sells its products worldwide through its online stores, its retail stores, its direct sales force, and third-party wholesalers, resellers and value-added resellers. In addition, Apple also sells a variety of third-party Macintosh and iPod compatible products, including application software, printers, storage devices, speakers, headphones and various other accessories and supplies through its online and retail stores.

The Company manages its business primarily on a geographic basis. Apple Inc.'s, operating segments comprises the Americas, Europe, Japan and Retail. The Americas segment includes both North and South America. The Europe segment includes European countries, as well as the Middle East and Africa. The Retail segment operates Apple-owned retail stores in the United States, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Other operating segments include Asia-Pacific, which includes Australia and Asia except for Japan, and the Company's subsidiary, FileMaker, Inc.

Business Strategy

The Company is committed to bringing the best personal computing and portable digital music experience to students, educators, creative professionals, business, government agencies, and consumers through its innovative hardware, software, peripherals, services, and Internet offerings. Apple’s business strategy leverages its unique ability to design and develop its own operating system, hardware, application software, and services to provide its customers new products and solutions with superior ease-of-use, seamless integration, and innovative industrial design. The Company believes continual investment in research and development is critical to facilitate innovation of new and improved products and technologies. Besides updated to its existing line of personal computers and related software, services, peripherals, and networking solutions, Apple continues to capitalize on the convergence of digital consumer electronics and the personal computer by creating and refining innovations like the iPod and iTunes Stores. Apple’s strategy also includes expanding its distribution network to effectively reach more of its targeted customers and provide them with a high-quality sales and after-sales support experience.

Company History

On April 1, 1976, the Apple computer was born. Steven Wozniak, a high school drop-out who worked for Hewlett-Packard, dabbled in computer-design and created what would become the Apple I. His high school buddy Steven Jobs, also a drop-out, worked for Atari and convinced him that the two should form a company to market the new computer, which eventually took off in 1977 with the Apple II. Hobbyists did not take the Apple I