Apple has closed its strongest three months on record, reporting revenue of $114.5 billion for the fiscal fourth quarter that ended on September 26, 2026. The figure was 12 percent higher than in the same quarter a year earlier, and it capped a full fiscal year in which the company brought in $478.8 billion, up from $416.2 billion in 2025. Diluted earnings per share rose 14 percent to $2.10 in the quarter, while the gross margin reached 47.9 percent. Tariff refunds added five cents to earnings per share and one percentage point to the margin, a reminder that trade policy has become a visible line in even the largest technology results.
The result matters beyond one company’s balance sheet. Apple’s quarterly numbers are read as a signal of consumer spending on premium devices, and a record driven by phones and services suggests demand held up even as households faced higher prices elsewhere. It also sets a high bar for the holiday quarter, when the devices launched in October will finally show up in sales.
iPhone Remains Apple’s Biggest Business
The iPhone remains the engine of the company. Sales of the handset reached $57.6 billion in the September quarter, compared with $49 billion a year earlier, and for the full year they climbed to $254.1 billion from $209.6 billion in 2025. That growth came before the newest models had a full quarter on sale, which makes the holiday period the more important test of whether the latest line-up can sustain the momentum.
Services, the second-largest part of the business, also set a record, reaching $31.6 billion in the quarter, up from $28.8 billion a year earlier, and $123.3 billion for the full year, up from $109.2 billion. That steady rise has given Apple a more predictable revenue stream alongside hardware sales.
Mac sales provided another bright spot, rising from $8.7 billion to $10.8 billion in the quarter and moving ahead of wearables, home and accessories, which slipped from $9 billion to $8.3 billion. Mac revenue for the full year reached $37.9 billion, up from $33.7 billion. The iPad weakened in the quarter, falling from $6.9 billion to $6.2 billion.
Apple Sales Across Different Regions
Geographically, the Americas remained Apple’s largest market, generating $48.7 billion in the quarter compared with $44.2 billion a year earlier, and $198.1 billion for the full year. Europe followed with $32 billion, up from $28.7 billion, and Greater China contributed $17.5 billion, up from $14.5 billion.
The rest of Asia Pacific grew from $8.4 billion to $9.7 billion in the quarter, while Japan slipped slightly, from $6.6 billion to $6.5 billion. Growth across almost every region shows the record was not carried by a single market.
Apple’s Quarterly Profit and Financial Results
Profitability kept pace with sales. Net income for the September quarter reached $30.7 billion, up from $27.5 billion a year earlier, while operating income rose from $32.4 billion to $35.6 billion and gross profit climbed from $48.3 billion to $54.8 billion. For the full fiscal year, net income reached $132.2 billion, compared with $112 billion in 2025, and operating income rose to $158.1 billion from $133.1 billion.
Research and development spending also rose sharply, reaching $11.7 billion in the quarter compared with $8.9 billion a year earlier, and $45.8 billion for the full year against $34.6 billion in 2025. Selling, general and administrative spending rose more modestly, from $7 billion to $7.5 billion in the quarter.
Apple Launches New Products Ahead of the Holiday Season
The quarter itself ended before Apple’s October launches, so the newest devices will only appear in the next set of results. In October the company introduced updated MacBooks, its first touchscreen MacBook Pro, and an iPad mini with an OLED display. It also expanded its smart home range with a new smart display, cameras, thermostats, locks, smart speakers and an updated Apple TV streaming device. Another major release was the iPhone Duo, which started shipping in late October.
That timing matters for how the record should be read. The September quarter was strong without those products, so the December quarter will test whether the new line-up adds further growth. Holiday sales and the reception of the touchscreen MacBook and the iPhone Duo will all feed into the next report.
Apple CEO Comments on Record Revenue
Apple chief executive John Ternus described the September quarter as a record period, pointing to strong iPhone revenue and the all-time high reached by services. He said the results marked the end of the company’s strongest fiscal year to date, and highlighted the latest product line-up, including the iPhone Duo, the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Ternus also pointed to Apple’s expansion into smart home hardware, touchscreen MacBooks and new Siri artificial intelligence features, saying these would be important during the holiday season. The next report will show whether September’s record was a peak or a stepping stone.
