Demand for Macs, iPhones Fuels Apple

Wall Street Journal - Two days before it's set to unveil a major new product, Apple Inc. reported a surge in quarterly profit and revenue that showed demand for its technology hasn't cooled off.

The Cupertino, Calif., company continued to power through the weak economy. Apple, after adjusting for a key accounting change, posted a 50% rise in profit and a 32% increase in revenue for its fiscal first quarter ended Dec. 26.

The growth was fueled by strong sales across most of Apple's product lines as iPhone shipments more than doubled and Macintosh computer sales climbed 33%.

"What this demonstrates is the strength of Apple's brand in good and bad times," said Bill Kreher, an analyst with Edward Jones.

Overall, Apple reported a quarterly profit of $3.38 billion, or $3.67 a share, up from $2.26 billion, or $2.50 a share, a year earlier. Revenue increased to $15.68 billion from $11.88 billion.