Apple iPhone Captures Half of Global Smartphone Revenue in 2017 Q4
For the first time ever, Apple's iPhone captured more than half of all revenues from global smartphone sales in the fourth quarter of last year.
According to data presented Thursday by research firm Strategy Analytics, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and the company’s iPhone took a record 51% of global smartphone sales revenue in the fourth quarter of last year. That’s about $61.4 billion of the $120.2 billion total.
The stunning number means that Apple captured more smartphone revenue last quarter than all other smartphone makers combined.
The researchers noted that the wholesale average selling price for a smartphone rose from $255 in the last quarter of 2016 to $300 in the final quarter of 2017. That means that even though shipments are declining, smartphone prices and revenues continue rising.
[nativounit]
Here’s what Strategy Analytics had to say:
Apple generated three times more smartphone revenue than nearest rival Samsung and 7 times more than Huawei. Apple iPhone’s average selling price is approaching US$800 and almost three times higher than the overall industry average. Apple iPhone is an incredible money-making machine.
Samsung’s fourth-quarter revenues totaled $18.9 billion, enough to finish second behind Apple, with 15.7% of global revenue. Third-place Huawei posted revenues of $8.4 billion in the quarter, enough for a 7% market share. All other smartphone makers posted $31.5 billion in fourth-quarter revenues, for 26.2% market share.
Samsung raised its average selling price to $254, and Huawei’s average selling price is the lowest of the top three at $205.
Apple shares traded up about 2.4% at $171.40 in the noon hour Thursday. The stock’s 52-week range is $134.84 to $180.10, and the 12-month consensus price target is $192.43.
[recirclink id=443602]
[wallst_email_signup]
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Paul Ausick has been writing for 247Wallst.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.
He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.
