Apple designs, manufactures, and markets a range of products including smartphones (iPhone), personal computers (Mac), tablets (iPad), wearables (Apple Watch, AirPods, Beats), and accessories. Additionally, Apple offers services such as advertising, AppleCare, cloud services, digital content platforms (Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple News+, Apple TV+), and payment services (Apple Card, Apple Pay). The company's fiscal year ends on the last Saturday of September.
Apple operates in highly competitive markets characterized by rapid product cycles and technological advancements. The company generates revenue through direct (37%) and indirect (63%) sales channels, serving a broad customer base that includes individual consumers, businesses, and educational institutions. Apple's business is managed geographically with reportable segments in the Americas, Europe, Greater China, Japan, and the Rest of Asia Pacific. Key factors impacting Apple's business performance include continuous innovation, supply chain management, research and development, and seasonal sales patterns, particularly with higher sales in the first quarter due to holiday demand.