Apple posted one of its strongest quarters yet in fiscal Q1 2026. The company closed the period with higher revenue, faster earnings growth, and record demand for its core products and services. The numbers show how Apple entered 2026 with momentum across hardware, software, and its growing ecosystem.
Apple shared these results through its official newsroom after closing the quarter that ended on December 27, 2025. The report laid out how iPhone, Services, and Apple’s massive device base drove both sales and profits.
Apple Q1 2026 Earnings
Apple delivered strong year-over-year growth across key financial metrics. These figures explain why the quarter stands out.
- Revenue: $143.8 billion, up 16 percent year over year
- Earnings per share: $2.84, up 19 percent year over year
- Operating cash flow: Nearly $54 billion
- Cash returned to shareholders: Almost $32 billion
- Active installed base: More than 2.5 billion devices
These numbers show that Apple did not just sell more products. It also kept margins strong, which lifted profits and cash generation.
Tim Cook highlighted
Apple CEO Tim Cook focused on demand for iPhone, growth in Services, and the size of Apple’s global user base.
“Today, Apple is proud to report a remarkable, record-breaking quarter, with revenue of $143.8 billion, up 16 percent from a year ago and well above our expectations. iPhone had its best-ever quarter driven by unprecedented demand, with all-time records across every geographic segment, and Services also achieved an all-time revenue record, up 14 percent from a year ago. We are also excited to announce that our installed base now has more than 2.5 billion active devices, which is a testament to incredible customer satisfaction for the very best products and services in the world.”
Cook made it clear that iPhone still anchors Apple’s business. At the same time, Services added another layer of growth, while the huge base of active devices gives Apple long-term strength across software, subscriptions, and hardware upgrades.
CFO Kevan Parekh emphasized
Apple’s CFO Kevan Parekh pointed to profits, cash flow, and shareholder returns as the key results from the quarter.
“During the December quarter, our record business performance and strong margins led to EPS growth of 19 percent, setting a new all-time EPS record. These exceptionally strong results generated nearly $54 billion in operating cash flow, allowing us to return almost $32 billion to shareholders.”
His statement shows how Apple turned high sales into real financial power. Strong margins pushed earnings to a new record, while cash flow gave the company room to reward investors through buybacks and dividends.
Dividend and investor details
Along with the earnings report, Apple announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.26 per share. The company will pay the dividend on February 12, 2026, to shareholders who are on record as of February 9, 2026.
Apple will also host its Q1 2026 earnings call on January 29, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. PT. During the call, Apple executives will discuss the results in more detail and answer questions from analysts. A replay of the webcast will remain available for about two weeks.
This quarter shows how Apple continues to grow on several fronts at once. iPhone demand stayed strong across every region, Services hit another record, and the company expanded its already massive base of active devices. At the same time, Apple turned that growth into higher profits and large cash returns for shareholders.
Together, Tim Cook and Kevan Parekh painted a clear picture. Apple entered 2026 with strong products, loyal customers, and financial strength that gives it room to invest, return cash, and keep expanding its ecosystem.
