Apple just released its fiscal fourth quarter results for 2026, revealing an impressive $114.48 billion in total revenue. Apple saw a 12 percent jump compared to the same period last year, driven heavily by hardware sales and steady software growth. Under the leadership of CEO John Ternus, Apple closed out its strongest fiscal year on record with very high customer satisfaction scores.
Break down the main numbers from this earnings report
Total revenue hit $114.48 billion, which cleared the expected $113.46 billion. Earnings per share came in at $2.10, sitting slightly above the anticipated $2.00 mark. CFO Kevan Parekh mentioned that the active device installed base reached a new high across all major regions.
- Total revenue reached $114.48 billion, representing a 12 percent increase year over year.
- Net profit settled at $30.71 billion for the quarter.
- The services sector brought in $31.57 billion, becoming a massive piece of the overall revenue pie.
- Apple generated $28 billion in operating cash flow to return to shareholders.
- Greater China sales missed forecasts despite showing year over year growth.
Hardware sales grow fast thanks to the latest models
Sales across the board showed interesting shifts. Revenue for the iPhone line grew to $57.58 billion, beating the expected $56.48 billion. This momentum was helped by the recent launch of the highly anticipated foldable iPhone Duo, a device that starts at $1,999 and represents a massive change for the smartphone maker.
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The premium tier also did heavy lifting for the bottom line. High end models like the new iPhone 18 Pro and the larger iPhone 18 Pro Max contributed strongly to the record September numbers. These device sales offset declines in places like the United States and Japan due to a surge in demand from the Chinese market.
Other devices see mixed results into the holiday season
Meanwhile, Mac revenue grew to $10.79 billion. Much of this excitement surrounds the introduction of touchscreen Macs for the first time. Not everything went up during the quarter. iPad sales brought in $6.23 billion, and the wearables, home, and accessories division settled at $8.30 billion.
Apple also introduced a whole new generation of hardware for the home, which pairs with an updated Siri to carry the brand into the busy shopping months. Management wants to speed up product development and broaden the range of available devices.
Here’s what Apple CEO John Ternus said about the latest results:
“Today, Apple is proud to report a September quarter revenue record of $114.5 billion, up 12 percent from a year ago, with iPhone reaching a September quarter record and Services reaching an all-time high, capping off our best fiscal year ever. […] We’re closing the year with our most ambitious lineup yet. That includes the iPhone Duo, the most transformational iPhone since the original, alongside iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, our most powerful iPhones yet. We also just introduced a whole new generation of hardware for the home and brought Touch to Mac for the first time. Together with the all-new Siri AI, it’s an incredible lineup to carry us into the holiday season.”
Here’s what Apple CFO Kevan Parekh added for the latest results:
“Apple delivered September quarter records for net income and EPS. Our record September quarter capped off a strong fiscal 2026, with all-time record revenue of $479 billion and double-digit EPS growth. […] We generated $28 billion in operating cash flow during the quarter, allowing us to return $28 billion to shareholders. Thanks to our very high levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, our installed base of active devices reached a new all-time high across all major product categories and geographic segments.”
Future outlook shows potential despite rising memory chip costs
The Q4 2026 earnings show a business that knows how to keep its main revenue engines running hot. While hardware updates pushed immediate sales, the steady climb in services revenue proves it can monetize its growing user base long after a physical device is sold.
Looking ahead to the December quarter, leadership expects another solid revenue period. However, rising memory chip costs are squeezing finances and might put some pressure on overall margins. It will be interesting to watch if the new holiday lineup can maintain this pace into 2027 while management reportedly plans layout adjustments and project cuts.
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