苹果的利润下滑，但优于预期

Analystshave been expecting a lackluster quarter from Apple, but it's really more of amixed picture.

Apple earns 7dollars and 47 cents a share versus expectations of 7 dollars and 32 cents ashare. Revenues came in pretty much in line with expectations at 35.3 billionvs. 35.2 billion. The company however sold only 14.6 million ipads which wasless than the expected 16 million, but it sold more than 31 million iphoneswhich beat estimates and has started gaining after iPhone was traded. But iPhonesales are plateauing. And many are asking what's the next new hot product. Itslast big innovation was the ipad and that was launched back in 2010.Someinvestors are getting impatient with CEO Tim Cook and questioned whether he canbe an innovator like Steve Jobs. And now many experts believed smart phonesales are close to saturation. And when customers do buy, they are for the lessexpensive ipad mini or the older iphone which is obviously decreasing profit margins.Many are hoping the proposed iwatch and itv will be the big draw and give backthe company's cool factor. The stock is taking the beating, down by about 40%,losing almost half of its value since hitting 700 about 10 months ago. Yet itis the most cash-rich company in the world with about 140 billion dollars inits culverts. Apple fans have been used to have the profits in sales, betweenOctober 2009 and early 2012,Apple doubled its quarterly earnings in eight outof those ten quarters and sales were by more than 50%. Apple's financial maynot be heading in the right direction but that doesn't mean that it isn't successful.At least one expert believes this company still has the right staff.

As about missingthis quarter might be for Apple, they still have the holiday quarter to lookforward to. And apple is settling on sort of schedule where their new staff,the new choice comes out in the fall and that could be potentially huge for them.Doubling sale if they actually do finally come out with the game changingproduct like an iwatch or Apple TV. So Apple really has an opportunity for ahuge comeback even if this quarter may not be as good as some people like.

Apple is the sixthlargest American company in terms of revenue and forward guidance is at the topof expectations for the fourth quarter.

FeliciaTaylor, cnn, New York.