Apple's Quarterly Spending Points to Major Product Launches, Significant Revenue Growth

Looking at Apple's quarterly SEC quarterly filing, Katy Huberty of Morgan Stanley believes Apple's revenue is poised to explode in the coming quarters. Huberty based her prediction on increases in Apple's off-balance sheet commitments, which have a historical correlation with revenue growth.

Off-balance sheet commitments are those investments in components and services that are involved in the mass production and launch of new devices. These line items include component purchases, manufacturing process equipment investments, advertising, and other services. Huberty notes that Apple's total spending in these areas has climbed 46 percent yearly and 36 percent quarterly in fiscal Q3 2014, making last quarter's jump the largest spending increase since Apple first launched the iPhone in 2007.

huberty-off-balance sheet commitments
Huberty, not surprisingly, attributes this spending increase to Apple's iPhone 6 and iWatch wearable, both of which are expected to launch later this year. These new products, along with services such as mobile payments, could accelerate growth and boost margins.

Apple has the opportunity to take share in slower growth smartphone and tablet markets with larger screens and new services. New product categories like iWatch, and services like payments could further boost growth.

Apple is rumored to be launching its next-generation iPhone 6, refreshed iPad models and a new iWatch smartwatch later this year. The company may also update its Mac hardware to coincide with the debut of OS X Yosemite.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch 10, iPad
Related Forums: iPad, iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...

Top Rated Comments

ggibson913 Avatar
145 months ago
I am a much bigger fan of the old Apple staggered releases. IPad in March, iPhone in June, etc. . Not a fan of the dump in the fourth quarter.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sulpfiction Avatar
145 months ago
Really excited about the iTime.

If it's called iTime, it's iTime to hire someone new in the naming dept.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Alphabetize Avatar
145 months ago
I miss the days of product announcements every few months or so!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pedromcm.pm Avatar
145 months ago
Greed

Jesus, what is wrong with all of these "analysts"? Too dumb to be real journalists? That bad at math and physics so engineering is out of the question?

I mean, isn't a 600 billion $ valuation and the title of most value public traded company and 8 billion $ on a slow quarter good enough?

It's so boring... All of those attempts to manipulate the stock price. Apple is fine. In fact, they are better than everybody else in the tech industry. Why focus on trying to bring them down instead of focussing on making lesser companies like Samsung Electronics, Asus, Lenovo, LG, HTC, etc. up their respective games?

I mean, LG sells 15 million devices this quarter and makes 100 million $ in profits. What's the point, then? What's the point in selling gazilion devices and not make any money? Focus on Amazon FFS.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
donnaw Avatar
145 months ago
Jesus, what is wrong with all of these "analysts"? Too dumb to be real journalists? That bad at math and physics so engineering is out of the question?

I mean, isn't a 600 billion $ valuation and the title of most value public traded company and 8 billion $ on a slow quarter good enough?

It's so boring... All of those attempts to manipulate the stock price. Apple is fine. In fact, they are better than everybody else in the tech industry. Why focus on trying to bring them down instead of focussing on making lesser companies like Samsung Electronics, Asus, Lenovo, LG, HTC, etc. up their respective games?

I mean, LG sells 15 million devices this quarter and makes 100 million $ in profits. What's the point, then? What's the point in selling gazilion devices and not make any money? Focus on Amazon FFS.

Just one small point, an 'analyst' is not a 'journalist'. An analyst's job is to take information from both the public sector and possibily other 'sources' (such as supply chain manufacturers) and try to predict growth or lack of growth in a company the point being to aid investors. An analyst makes their money on just how accurate their predictions are. Some are very good, because they study past actions as a way to predict the future or because they have 'other sources' where they get some inside information. Good analysts are very much in demand. They can try to manipulate stock prices but unless they are really good and have a great track record it's not really possible. Different investors listen to different analysts.

A journalist's job is to report news, period. Don't confuse the two.

As for the rest of your post, I don't get what you're trying to say. This is simply information and an observation by one analyst. Some people might use it to invest, some might use it to divest but a good investor will do more homework and make up their own mind.

Sorry, I just don't get the 'rant'.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bushido Avatar
145 months ago
dont care about the watch, gimme a new apple tv or at least a new interface
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)