Apple (AAPL) 10-Q2023 Q3 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES

(408) 996-1010

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Basis of Presentation and Preparation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Apple Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively “Apple” or the “Company”). Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are normal and recurring in nature, necessary for fair financial statement presentation. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Certain prior period amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation. These condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2022.

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52- or 53-week period that ends on the last Saturday of September. An additional week is included in the first fiscal quarter every five or six years to realign the Company’s fiscal quarters with calendar quarters, which occurred in the first fiscal quarter of 2023. The Company’s fiscal years 2023 and 2022 span 53 and 52 weeks, respectively. Unless otherwise stated, references to particular years, quarters, months and periods refer to the Company’s fiscal years ended in September and the associated quarters, months and periods of those fiscal years.

The following table shows the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three- and nine-month periods ended July 1, 2023 and June 25, 2022 (net income in millions and shares in thousands):

Approximately 32 million restricted stock units (“RSUs”) were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended July 1, 2023 because their effect would have been antidilutive.

Net sales disaggregated by significant products and services for the three- and nine-month periods ended July 1, 2023 and June 25, 2022 were as follows (in millions):

Total net sales include $3.3 billion of revenue recognized in the three months ended July 1, 2023 that was included in deferred revenue as of April 1, 2023, $3.1 billion of revenue recognized in the three months ended June 25, 2022 that was included in deferred revenue as of March 26, 2022, $7.0 billion of revenue recognized in the nine months ended July 1, 2023 that was included in deferred revenue as of September 24, 2022, and $6.3 billion of revenue recognized in the nine months ended June 25, 2022 that was included in deferred revenue as of September 25, 2021.

The Company’s proportion of net sales by disaggregated revenue source was generally consistent for each reportable segment in Note 10, “Segment Information and Geographic Data” for the three- and nine-month periods ended July 1, 2023 and June 25, 2022, except in Greater China, where iPhone revenue represented a moderately higher proportion of net sales.

As of July 1, 2023 and September 24, 2022, the Company had total deferred revenue of $12.2 billion and $12.4 billion, respectively. As of July 1, 2023, the Company expects 67% of total deferred revenue to be realized in less than a year, 26% within one-to-two years, 6% within two-to-three years and 1% in greater than three years.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

The following tables show the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities by significant investment category as of July 1, 2023 and September 24, 2022 (in millions):

The Company may use derivative instruments to partially offset its business exposure to foreign exchange and interest rate risk. However, the Company may choose not to hedge certain exposures for a variety of reasons, including accounting considerations or the prohibitive economic cost of hedging particular exposures. There can be no assurance the hedges will offset more than a portion of the financial impact resulting from movements in foreign exchange or interest rates.

To protect gross margins from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, the Company may enter into forward contracts, option contracts or other instruments, and may designate these instruments as cash flow hedges. The Company generally hedges portions of its forecasted foreign currency exposure associated with revenue and inventory purchases, typically for up to 12 months.

To protect the Company’s foreign currency–denominated term debt or marketable securities from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, the Company may enter into forward contracts, cross-currency swaps or other instruments. The Company designates these instruments as either cash flow or fair value hedges. As of July 1, 2023, the maximum length of time over which the Company is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for term debt–related foreign currency transactions is 19 years.

The Company may also enter into derivative instruments that are not designated as accounting hedges to protect gross margins from certain fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, as well as to offset a portion of the foreign currency exchange gains and losses generated by the remeasurement of certain assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies.

Interest Rate Risk

To protect the Company’s term debt or marketable securities from fluctuations in interest rates, the Company may enter into interest rate swaps, options or other instruments. The Company designates these instruments as either cash flow or fair value hedges.

The notional amounts of the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments as of July 1, 2023 and September 24, 2022 were as follows (in millions):

The gross fair values of the Company’s derivative assets and liabilities as of September 24, 2022 were as follows (in millions):

The derivative assets above represent the Company’s gross credit exposure if all counterparties failed to perform. To mitigate credit risk, the Company generally enters into collateral security arrangements that provide for collateral to be received or posted when the net fair values of certain derivatives fluctuate from contractually established thresholds. To further limit credit risk, the Company generally enters into master netting arrangements with the respective counterparties to the Company’s derivative contracts, under which the Company is allowed to settle transactions with a single net amount payable by one party to the other. As of September 24, 2022, the potential effects of these rights of set-off associated with the Company’s derivative contracts, including the effects of collateral, would be a reduction to both derivative assets and derivative liabilities of $7.8 billion, resulting in a net derivative asset of $412 million.

The carrying amounts of the Company’s hedged items in fair value hedges as of July 1, 2023 and September 24, 2022 were as follows (in millions):

The Company has considerable trade receivables outstanding with its third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, resellers, small and mid-sized businesses and education, enterprise and government customers. The Company generally does not require collateral from its customers; however, the Company will require collateral or third-party credit support in certain instances to limit credit risk. In addition, when possible, the Company attempts to limit credit risk on trade receivables with credit insurance for certain customers or by requiring third-party financing, loans or leases to support credit exposure. These credit-financing arrangements are directly between the third-party financing company and the end customer. As such, the Company generally does not assume any recourse or credit risk sharing related to any of these arrangements.

Vendor Non-Trade Receivables

The following tables show the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statement details as of July 1, 2023 and September 24, 2022 (in millions):

The following table shows the detail of other income/(expense), net for the three- and nine-month periods ended July 1, 2023 and June 25, 2022 (in millions):

European Commission State Aid Decision

On August 30, 2016, the European Commission announced its decision that Ireland granted state aid to the Company by providing tax opinions in 1991 and 2007 concerning the tax allocation of profits of the Irish branches of two subsidiaries of the Company (the “State Aid Decision”). The State Aid Decision ordered Ireland to calculate and recover additional taxes from the Company for the period June 2003 through December 2014. Irish legislative changes, effective as of January 2015, eliminated the application of the tax opinions from that date forward. The Company and Ireland appealed the State Aid Decision to the General Court of the Court of Justice of the European Union (the “General Court”). On July 15, 2020, the General Court annulled the State Aid Decision. On September 25, 2020, the European Commission appealed the General Court’s decision to the European Court of Justice (the “ECJ”) and a hearing was held on May 23, 2023. A decision from the ECJ is expected in calendar year 2024. The Company believes it would be eligible to claim a U.S. foreign tax credit for a portion of any incremental Irish corporate income taxes potentially due related to the State Aid Decision.

Commercial Paper

The Company issues unsecured short-term promissory notes (“Commercial Paper”) pursuant to a commercial paper program. The Company uses net proceeds from the commercial paper program for general corporate purposes, including dividends and share repurchases. As of July 1, 2023 and September 24, 2022, the Company had $4.0 billion and $10.0 billion of Commercial Paper outstanding, respectively. The following table provides a summary of cash flows associated with the issuance and maturities of Commercial Paper for the nine months ended July 1, 2023 and June 25, 2022 (in millions):

Share Repurchase Program

During the nine months ended July 1, 2023, the Company repurchased 365 million shares of its common stock for $56.1 billion, excluding excise tax due under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The Company’s share repurchase programs do not obligate the Company to acquire a minimum amount of shares. Under the programs, shares may be repurchased in privately negotiated or open market transactions, including under plans complying with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Restricted Stock Units

A summary of the Company’s RSU activity and related information for the nine months ended July 1, 2023 is as follows:

The fair value as of the respective vesting dates of RSUs was $7.0 billion and $14.9 billion for the three- and nine-month periods ended July 1, 2023, respectively, and was $7.8 billion and $17.3 billion for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 25, 2022, respectively.

The following table shows share-based compensation expense and the related income tax benefit included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended July 1, 2023 and June 25, 2022 (in millions):

As of July 1, 2023, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding RSUs and stock options was $20.9 billion, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of 2.7 years.

Unconditional Purchase Obligations

The Company has entered into certain off–balance sheet commitments that require the future purchase of goods or services (“unconditional purchase obligations”). The Company’s unconditional purchase obligations primarily consist of supplier arrangements, licensed intellectual property and content, and distribution rights. Future payments under noncancelable unconditional purchase obligations with a remaining term in excess of one year as of July 1, 2023, are as follows (in millions):

Contingencies

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of business and that have not been fully resolved. The outcome of litigation is inherently uncertain. In the opinion of management, there was not at least a reasonable possibility the Company may have incurred a material loss, or a material loss greater than a recorded accrual, concerning loss contingencies for asserted legal and other claims.

The following table shows information by reportable segment for the three- and nine-month periods ended July 1, 2023 and June 25, 2022 (in millions):

A reconciliation of the Company’s segment operating income to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended July 1, 2023 and June 25, 2022 is as follows (in millions):

Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Unless otherwise stated, all information presented herein is based on the Company’s fiscal calendar, and references to particular years, quarters, months or periods refer to the Company’s fiscal years ended in September and the associated quarters, months and periods of those fiscal years. Each of the terms the “Company” and “Apple” as used herein refers collectively to Apple Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, unless otherwise stated.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the 2022 Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

The Company periodically provides certain information for investors on its corporate website, www.apple.com, and its investor relations website, investor.apple.com. This includes press releases and other information about financial performance, information on environmental, social and governance matters, and details related to the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders. The information contained on the websites referenced in this Form 10-Q is not incorporated by reference into this filing. Further, the Company’s references to website URLs are intended to be inactive textual references only.

The Company has historically experienced higher net sales in its first quarter compared to other quarters in its fiscal year due in part to seasonal holiday demand. Additionally, new product and service introductions can significantly impact net sales, cost of sales and operating expenses. The timing of product introductions can also impact the Company’s net sales to its indirect distribution channels as these channels are filled with new inventory following a product launch, and channel inventory of an older product often declines as the launch of a newer product approaches. Net sales can also be affected when consumers and distributors anticipate a product introduction.

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52- or 53-week period that ends on the last Saturday of September. An additional week is included in the first fiscal quarter every five or six years to realign the Company’s fiscal quarters with calendar quarters, which occurred in the first quarter of 2023. The Company’s fiscal years 2023 and 2022 span 53 and 52 weeks, respectively.

Weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar had an unfavorable impact on the Company’s total net sales, which decreased 1% or $1.2 billion during the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same quarter in 2022. The year-over-year net sales decrease consisted primarily of lower net sales of iPad and iPhone, partially offset by higher net sales of Services.

During the third quarter of 2023, the Company announced the following new products:

The Company repurchased $18.0 billion of its common stock and paid dividends and dividend equivalents of $3.8 billion during the third quarter of 2023.

Macroeconomic Conditions

Macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, changes in interest rates, and currency fluctuations, have directly and indirectly impacted, and could in the future materially impact, the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

Segment Operating Performance

The following table shows net sales by reportable segment for the three- and nine-month periods ended July 1, 2023 and June 25, 2022 (dollars in millions):

Americas

Americas net sales decreased during the third quarter and first nine months of 2023 compared to the same periods in 2022 due primarily to lower net sales of iPhone and Mac, partially offset by higher net sales of Services.

Europe

The weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar had a net unfavorable year-over-year impact on Europe net sales during the third quarter and first nine months of 2023. During the third quarter of 2023, the Europe net sales increase consisted primarily of higher net sales of iPhone. During the first nine months of 2023, the Europe net sales decrease consisted primarily of lower net sales of Mac, partially offset by higher net sales of iPhone.

Greater China

The weakness in the renminbi relative to the U.S. dollar had an unfavorable year-over-year impact on Greater China net sales during the third quarter and first nine months of 2023. During the third quarter of 2023, the Greater China net sales increase consisted primarily of higher net sales of iPhone. During the first nine months of 2023, the Greater China net sales decrease consisted primarily of lower net sales of iPhone.

Japan

The weakness in the yen relative to the U.S. dollar had an unfavorable year-over-year impact on Japan net sales during the third quarter and first nine months of 2023. During the third quarter of 2023, the Japan net sales decrease consisted primarily of lower net sales of iPhone. During the first nine months of 2023, the Japan net sales decrease consisted primarily of lower net sales of iPhone, Services and Wearables, Home and Accessories.

Rest of Asia Pacific

The weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar had a net unfavorable year-over-year impact on Rest of Asia Pacific net sales during the third quarter and first nine months of 2023. During the third quarter of 2023, the Rest of Asia Pacific net sales decrease consisted primarily of lower net sales of iPhone and iPad. During the first nine months of 2023, the Rest of Asia Pacific net sales increase consisted primarily of higher net sales of iPhone, partially offset by lower net sales of Mac.

The following table shows net sales by category for the three- and nine-month periods ended July 1, 2023 and June 25, 2022 (dollars in millions):

iPhone net sales decreased during the third quarter and first nine months of 2023 compared to the same periods in 2022 due primarily to lower net sales from certain iPhone models, partially offset by higher net sales of iPhone 14 Pro models.

Mac

Mac net sales decreased during the third quarter and first nine months of 2023 compared to the same periods in 2022 due primarily to lower net sales of laptops.

iPad

iPad net sales decreased during the third quarter of 2023 compared to the third quarter of 2022 due primarily to lower net sales across most iPad models. Year-over-year iPad net sales were relatively flat during the first nine months of 2023.

Wearables, Home and Accessories

Services

Products and Services gross margin and gross margin percentage for the three- and nine-month periods ended July 1, 2023 and June 25, 2022 were as follows (dollars in millions):

Products Gross Margin

Products gross margin decreased during the third quarter and first nine months of 2023 compared to the same periods in 2022 due primarily to the weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar and lower Products volume, partially offset by cost savings and a different Products mix.

Products gross margin percentage increased during the third quarter of 2023 compared to the third quarter of 2022 due primarily to cost savings and a different Products mix, partially offset by the weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar and decreased leverage. Year-over-year Products gross margin percentage decreased during the first nine months of 2023 due primarily to the weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar and decreased leverage, partially offset by cost savings and a different Products mix.

Services Gross Margin

Services gross margin increased during the third quarter and first nine months of 2023 compared to the same periods in 2022 due primarily to higher Services net sales, partially offset by the weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar and higher Services costs.

Services gross margin percentage decreased during the third quarter of 2023 compared to the third quarter of 2022 due primarily to higher Services costs, partially offset by improved leverage. Year-over-year Services gross margin percentage decreased during the first nine months of 2023 due primarily to higher Services costs and the weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, partially offset by improved leverage.

The Company’s future gross margins can be impacted by a variety of factors, as discussed in Part I, Item 1A of the 2022 Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors.” As a result, the Company believes, in general, gross margins will be subject to volatility and downward pressure.

Operating expenses for the three- and nine-month periods ended July 1, 2023 and June 25, 2022 were as follows (dollars in millions):

Research and Development

The growth in research and development (“R&D”) expense during the third quarter and first nine months of 2023 compared to the same periods in 2022 was driven primarily by increases in headcount-related expenses.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative expense was relatively flat during the third quarter and first nine months of 2023 compared to the same periods in 2022.

Provision for income taxes, effective tax rate and statutory federal income tax rate for the three- and nine-month periods ended July 1, 2023 and June 25, 2022 were as follows (dollars in millions):

The Company’s effective tax rate for the third quarter and first nine months of 2023 was lower than the statutory federal income tax rate due primarily to a lower effective tax rate on foreign earnings, including the favorable impact of changes in unrecognized tax benefits, tax benefits from share-based compensation, and the U.S. federal R&D credit, partially offset by state income taxes.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2023 was lower compared to the third quarter of 2022 due primarily to a lower effective tax rate on foreign earnings, including the favorable impact of changes in unrecognized tax benefits, partially offset by lower tax benefits from share-based compensation. The Company’s effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2023 was lower compared to the same period in 2022 due primarily to a lower effective tax rate on foreign earnings and the impact of U.S. foreign tax credit regulations issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 2022, partially offset by lower tax benefits from share-based compensation.

The Company believes its balances of cash, cash equivalents and unrestricted marketable securities, along with cash generated by ongoing operations and continued access to debt markets, will be sufficient to satisfy its cash requirements and capital return program over the next 12 months and beyond.

The Company’s contractual cash requirements have not changed materially since the 2022 Form 10-K, except for manufacturing purchase obligations.

Manufacturing Purchase Obligations

The Company utilizes several outsourcing partners to manufacture subassemblies for the Company’s products and to perform final assembly and testing of finished products. The Company also obtains individual components for its products from a wide variety of individual suppliers. Outsourcing partners acquire components and build product based on demand information supplied by the Company, which typically covers periods up to 150 days. As of July 1, 2023, the Company had manufacturing purchase obligations of $38.4 billion, with $38.1 billion payable within 12 months. The Company’s manufacturing purchase obligations are primarily noncancelable.

Capital Return Program

In addition to its contractual cash requirements, the Company had authorized share repurchase programs as of July 1, 2023. The programs do not obligate the Company to acquire a minimum amount of shares. As of July 1, 2023, the Company’s quarterly cash dividend was $0.24 per share. The Company intends to increase its dividend on an annual basis, subject to declaration by the Board of Directors.

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and the Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and operating results require the Company’s management to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts reported. Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of the Notes to condensed consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q and in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of the 2022 Form 10-K describe the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. There have been no material changes to the Company’s critical accounting estimates since the 2022 Form 10-K.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Based on an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) were effective as of July 1, 2023 to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the third quarter of 2023, which were identified in connection with management’s evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Epic Games, Inc. (“Epic”) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (the “District Court”) against the Company alleging violations of federal and state antitrust laws and California’s unfair competition law based upon the Company’s operation of its App Store. On September 10, 2021, the District Court ruled in favor of the Company with respect to nine out of the ten counts included in Epic’s claim. The District Court found that certain provisions of the Company’s App Store Review Guidelines violate California’s unfair competition law and issued an injunction enjoining the Company from prohibiting developers from including in their apps external links that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than Apple in-app purchasing. The injunction applies to apps on the U.S. storefront of the iOS and iPadOS App Store. On April 24, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (the “Circuit Court”) affirmed the District Court’s ruling. On June 7, 2023, the Company and Epic filed petitions with the Circuit Court requesting further review of the decision. On June 30, 2023, the Circuit Court denied both petitions. On July 17, 2023, the Circuit Court granted Apple’s motion to stay enforcement of the injunction pending appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Epic has appealed the Circuit Court’s stay of the injunction. If the U.S. Supreme Court reverses the Circuit Court’s stay of the injunction or declines Apple’s petition, the injunction will take effect.

Other Legal Proceedings

The Company is subject to other legal proceedings and claims that have not been fully resolved and that have arisen in the ordinary course of business. The Company settled certain matters during the third quarter of 2023 that did not individually or in the aggregate have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or operating results. The outcome of litigation is inherently uncertain. If one or more legal matters were resolved against the Company in a reporting period for amounts above management’s expectations, the Company’s financial condition and operating results for that reporting period could be materially adversely affected.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

Share repurchase activity during the three months ended July 1, 2023 was as follows (in millions, except number of shares, which are reflected in thousands, and per share amounts):

Item 6.    Exhibits