Apple Climbs to 5th in WSB Rankings Amid Revenue Challenges and Strategic AI Push
AInvestFriday, Nov 1, 2024 7:02 am ET
1min read
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In the latest WSB rankings, Apple climbed 13 spots to secure the 5th position. Apple's shares have seen a decline by 1.82%, marking a two-day downturn with a total loss of 3.32%.

On November 1st, Apple reported its fiscal fourth-quarter results for 2024, ending September 28. The company achieved a total net sales of $94.93 billion, representing a 6% increase year-on-year. However, net profit dropped by 36% to $14.736 billion.

The iPhone division saw a 6% rise in net sales, reaching $46.222 billion. In contrast, the wearables, home, and accessories segment experienced a 3% decline, netting $9.042 billion. The Mac and iPad divisions posted gains of 2% and 8% respectively, contributing $7.744 billion and $6.95 billion to the quarter's revenue.

Regionally, Greater China remains a challenging market for Apple, marking its fifth consecutive quarter of declining revenue. While Apple's China revenue saw a slight decrease of 0.3% to $15 billion, efforts to revitalize its position are ongoing. In contrast, Apple reported stronger performance in other regions, including a 4% increase in the Americas and significant growth in Europe and the rest of Asia.

Apple's recent financial setback largely stems from a substantial EU tax penalty, resulting in a onetime tax expense of $10.2 billion for the quarter. Despite this, Apple continues to focus on technological advancements, particularly with Apple AI. Apple plans to roll out new AI features, starting in December, across various countries with localized adaptations, including AI-enhanced writing tools, new visual intelligence experiences, and ChatGPT integration.

The company's strategy includes deploying these innovations globally, with intentions to expand language and feature support from April 2025. This initiative is expected to enhance user interaction and engagement, providing a new level of immersive experience for iPhone users worldwide.

Changes in executive roles have also been announced. Current CFO Luca Maestri will transition to leading Apple's enterprise services team starting January 2025, after a decade in his financial role, triggering speculation about future leadership changes within the company.

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