By Peter Svensson
Apple products have been getting cheaper. That's good news for consumers but not for investors, who thought the company would keep boosting profits and revenues at its previous breakneck pace.
On Tuesday Apple revealed that its growth slowed in the most recent quarter. In both revenue and net income, the company posted the smallest increases in years, and failed to meet analyst expectations.
It wasn't so much the volume of sales: Apple sold 17 million iPads in April to June period, beating expectations, and 26 million iPhones, at the low end of expectations.
But Apple's average selling prices for both gadgets declined to levels last seen in 2010 for the iPhone and the lowest levels ever in the case of the iPad.
Apple introduced a new iPad in March, but kept the older model in stores while cutting its price.
The average selling prices of Macs also fell.
Net income in Apple's fiscal third quarter was US$8.8 billion, or US$9.32 per share. That was up 21 percent from US$7.3 billion, or US$7.79 per share, a year ago.
Analysts polled by FactSet were expecting earnings of US$10.37 per share.
Revenue at the Cupertino, California, company was US$35 billion, up 23 percent. Analysts were expecting US$37.5 billion.
Apple shares fell US$34.99, or 5.8 percent, to US$565.93 in after-hours trading, after the release of the results.
AP