It's Official: Apple Needs AI to Be a Winner

Investors who keep close tabs on Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) already know its recently ended fiscal fourth-quarter results were just mediocre. Although sales and operating income were both up year over year, and the company beat Wall Street's estimates on revenue and earnings per share, its actual net progress was modest. Top-line guidance for the quarter currently underway was also less than thrilling, and the report sent shares lower rather than higher.However, there's a takeaway buried in the numbers and post-earnings discussion that's too important to ignore: This company desperately needs its consumer-oriented AI platform -- called Apple Intelligence -- to be a hit. If it isn't, its days of anemic growth could be here to stay.Apple's revenue of $94.9 billion for the quarter ending in September improved on sales of $89.5 billion in the prior-year period, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $94.6 billion in the process. While profits slipped from $1.46 per share in the comparable quarter a year earlier to only $0.97 per share this time around, that dip reflected a one-time tax payment. The adjusted figure of $1.64 per share was still better than the $1.60 per share analysts were expecting.Continue readingWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei MotleyFool Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei MotleyFool