Apple’s earnings top analysts’ forecasts, but year-over-year sales drop for third straight quarter
Associated PressApple’s eked out a slightly higher profit last quarter even though sales dipped during the period, a showing that may not be enough to sustain investor enthusiasm that recently made the iPhone maker the first publicly held U.S. company to be valued at $3 trillion. Investors have remained upbeat about Apple’s prospects despite the company’s modest sales erosion, largely because its results have been less wobbly than other major technology companies that suffered steeper slides coming out of pandemic. Apple’s performance capped a succession of mostly positive quarterly reports from Big Tech companies regaining their stride after stumbling through much of year. Apple is still fighting court rulings that would allow iPhone app makers to provide payment options for digital services outside Apple’s own system, which generates 15% to 30% commissions for the company.