Apple to Report Quarterly Outcomes as Traders Search for iPhone Progress

Traders, like Dan Morgan, are on the lookout for indicators that development is predicted to proceed within the second half—even because the tech sector struggles with a microchips scarcity and different uncertainties stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. Some shareholders are evidently jittery. Shares have risen 1.3% this yr via Tuesday, whereas the S&P 500 is up about 12%.

“There’s simply so little room for error—it makes it actually difficult,” mentioned Mr. Morgan, a senior portfolio supervisor who focuses on expertise at Synovus Belief Co., which counts Apple amongst its largest holdings. “The market all the time appears to be like six months forward.”

Apple and different tech giants have benefited, as college students and employees caught at house turned to their merchandise in report numbers, pushing share costs to new heights. Apple’s inventory nearly doubled final yr. Its present valuation, as a measure of its value to earnings ratio, is the very best since December 2007, in keeping with FactSet, and has ratcheted up expectations for the corporate’s outcomes.

Google-parent Alphabet Inc. beat gross sales data within the first quarter due to a rise in digital advert spending, and Microsoft Corp. noticed its quarterly gross sales improve 19%.

Even because the world’s greatest tech corporations proceed to put up report outcomes, they continue to be within the crosshairs of regulators and investigators who’re scrutinizing how they wield market energy.

Apple’s power available in the market is being questioned by smaller tech corporations. Apple this week rolled out software program modifications to iPhones and iPads to make it more durable for apps to trace customers throughout the web, a measure touted by Chief Government Tim Cook dinner as a shopper safeguard. Fb Inc. and others have questioned Apple’s motives within the matter.

Apple is on the eve of going to trial in federal courtroom to defend itself towards claims by the maker of the favored videogame “Fortnite” that the iPhone firm is engaged in anticompetitive habits in its app retailer. Apple has denied wrongdoing. Observers are additionally waiting for regulators within the European Union to disclose outcomes quickly of their investigations into claims of Apple’s monopoly habits. Apple has mentioned the complaints are baseless and defended its function in selling companies on its App Retailer.

Apple stopped offering detailed steerage about coming quarters final yr, as Covid-19 upended every day life world wide and initially despatched markets falling amid fears of a world recession. Nonetheless, analysts and buyers shall be on the lookout for any indicators of how Mr. Cook dinner is feeling concerning the months forward.

Mixed with the earlier quarter’s outcomes, the Cupertino, Calif.-based firm is on tempo, in keeping with analysts’ estimates, to complete 2021 exceeding final yr’s report revenue by greater than 20%.

A lot of the expansion final yr was fueled in sudden locations. Apple noticed report demand for Mac computer systems and an 11% rise in iPad pill gross sales. That development is predicted to have continued within the March interval, with Mac gross sales rising 27% to $6.eight billion and iPads rising 29% to $5.6 billion.

The true engine of 2021 is the most recent iPhone: Total iPhone income might have risen 42% to $41 billion, in keeping with estimates.

Greater-end variations of the iPhone 12 look like boosting that determine. The common retail value within the U.S. through the previous three months rose $52 to $847 from a yr earlier, in keeping with information from Client Intelligence Analysis Companions LLC, which surveys patrons.

The most costly model, the Professional Max with a 6.7 inch show that begins at $1,099, noticed its share develop to 20% of gross sales from 13% a yr earlier, the survey discovered.

The addition of sooner 5G mobile connections to this yr’s cellphone was anticipated to assist Apple in China the place rivals had crushed Mr. Cook dinner to market with extra superior telephones. Higher China gross sales might have risen 30% to $12.Three billion within the interval after reaching a report within the earlier quarter.

Write to Tim Higgins at Tim.Higgins@WSJ.com