Apple’s record quarterly results will relieve some pressure after it came second to Samsung last year in market share but can it overtake its rivals before the end of 2018?
Apple set a new quarterly record in March with revenue exceeding $61bn (£45bn) – a 16% increase on last year.
Tim Cook, CEO of the world’s most valuable company, was pleased with the revenue growth in iPhone, services and wearables, as well as the 20% sales growth in Greater China and Japan – two of its key markets.
Chief financial officer Luca Maestri said: “Our business performed extremely well during the March quarter, as we grew earnings per share by 30% and generated over $15bn in operating cash flow.
“Given our confidence in Apple’s future, we are very happy to announce that our board has approved a new $100bn share repurchase authorisation and a 16% increase in our quarterly dividend.”
It’s a bold move, but does the California-based company’s market share substantiate the confidence of its C-Suite?
Apple in the UK and US markets
Stats from market research company eMarketer reported Apple is expected to increase its market share of UK smartphone users from 40.1% last year to 41.4% in 2018.
Android is estimated to account for 54.1% – a slight increase from their 2017 share of 53.9%.
More than 18 million people in UK are expected to own an iPad in 2018, accounting for 50.7% of the UK tablet market.
In the US, Apple’s share of smartphone users is expected to remain at 44.6%.
Android, however, will account for 53.3% of US smartphone users and is estimated to increase this through to 2020.
Additionally, Apple’s share of the tablet market in the US is estimated to be 46.3% this year, down from 47% in 2017, and will continue to decline through to 2021.
Threat from Android and Amazon
Yoram Wurmser, principal analyst at eMarketer said: “Despite the rising number of tablet users, the new market for tablets continues to shrink.
“Over the past few years, Apple has struggled to compete against cheaper Android and Amazon devices, but iPad sales stabilised at the end of 2017, leading eMarketer to expect market share to continue to shrink but at a slower rate.”