8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

January 14, 2004

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)

APPLE COMPUTER, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

California	0-10030	94-2404110
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014
(Address of principal executive offices)
(408) 996-1010
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Item 7.            Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed herewith:

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Text of press release issued by Apple Computer, Inc. dated January 14, 2004.
99.2	Data sheet issued by Apple Computer, Inc. dated January 14, 2004.

Item 12.         Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On January 14, 2004, Apple Computer, Inc. (Apple) issued a press release regarding Apple’s financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended December 27, 2003 and a related data sheet. A copy of Apple’s press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and a copy of the related data sheet is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.

The information contained in this Current Report shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		APPLE COMPUTER, INC.
Date: January 14, 2004
	By:	/s/ Fred D. Anderson
		Fred D. Anderson Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Text of press release issued by Apple Computer, Inc. dated January 14, 2004.
99.2	Data sheet issued by Apple Computer, Inc. dated January 14, 2004.

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Apple Reports First Quarter Results

Revenue Increases 36 Percent Year-Over-Year

CUPERTINO, California—January 14, 2004—Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2004 first quarter ended December 27, 2003. For the quarter, the Company posted a net profit of $63 million, or $.17 per diluted share. These results compare to a net loss of $8 million, or $.02 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Revenue for the quarter reached a four-year high of $2.006 billion, up 36 percent from the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 26.7 percent, down from 27.6 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 44 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

The quarter’s results include an after-tax investment gain of $3 million which increased earnings per diluted share by $.01.

Apple shipped 829 thousand Macintosh® units during the quarter, up 12 percent from the year-ago quarter, as well as 733 thousand iPod® units, up 235 percent from the year-ago quarter.

“It was an outstanding quarter for Apple, with double-digit unit and revenue growth and over 730,000 iPods sold,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’re kicking off 2004 with strong momentum, especially for Mac OS X, which is now used by almost 40 percent of our installed base, iPod and the iTunes Music Store, which has a 70 percent share of the legal music download market.”

“We are very pleased to have exceeded our revenue and profit targets for the first quarter,” said Fred Anderson, Apple’s CFO. “Continued strong asset management enabled us to increase cash by $225 million to just under $4.8 billion. Looking ahead to the second quarter of fiscal 2004, we expect our third consecutive quarter of year-over-year double-digit growth in both revenue and earnings, with revenue of about $1.8 billion and earnings per diluted share of $.08 to $.10.”

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.

Apple will provide live streaming of its Q1 2004 financial results conference call utilizing QuickTime™, Apple’s standards-based technology for live and on-demand audio and video

streaming. The live webcast will begin at 2:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/earningsq104/ and will also be available for replay. The QuickTime player is available free for Macintosh and Windows users at www.apple.com/quicktime.

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company’s estimated revenue and earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2004. These statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ. Potential risks and uncertainties include continued competitive pressures in the marketplace; the effect competitive and economic factors and the Company’s reaction to them may have on consumer and business buying decisions with respect to the Company’s products; the ability of the Company to make timely delivery of new programs, products and successful technological innovations to the marketplace; the continued availability of certain components and services essential to the Company’s business currently obtained by the Company from sole or limited sources; possible disruption in commercial activities caused by terrorist activity and armed conflict, such as changes in logistics and security arrangements, and reduced end-user purchases relative to expectations; possible disruption in commercial activity as a result of major health concerns, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS); risks associated with the Company’s retail initiative including significant investment cost, uncertain consumer acceptance and potential impact on existing reseller relationships; the effect that the Company’s dependency on manufacturing and logistics services provided by third-parties may have on the quality or quantity of products manufactured; the Company’s reliance on the availability of third-party music content; and the ability of the Company to successfully evolve its operating system and attract sufficient Macintosh developers. More information on potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included from time to time in the Company’s public reports filed with the SEC, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2003 and the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 27, 2003. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information, which speak as of their respective dates.

Press Contact:

Steve Dowling

(408) 974-1896

sdowling@apple.com

Investor Relations Contacts:

Nancy Paxton

(408) 974-5420

paxton1@apple.com

Joan Hoover

(408) 974-4570

hoover1@apple.com

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple’s PR website (www.apple.com/pr/), or call Apple’s Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.

© 2004 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iPod and QuickTime are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions, except share amounts)

	December 27, 2003			September 27, 2003
ASSETS:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,724		$	3,396
Short-term investments	1,067			1,170
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $48 and $49, respectively	586			766
Inventories	89			56
Deferred tax assets	218			190
Other current assets	345			309
Total current assets	6,029			5,887
Property, plant, and equipment, net	684			669
Goodwill	85			85
Acquired intangible assets	22			24
Other assets	151			150
Total assets	$	6,971		$	6,815
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	1,085		$	1,154
Accrued expenses	995			899
Current debt	302			304
Total current liabilities	2,382			2,357
Deferred tax liabilities and other non-current liabilities	259			235
Total liabilities	2,641			2,592
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, no par value; 900,000,000 shares authorized; 368,760,946 and 366,726,584 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	1,960			1,926
Deferred stock compensation	(56		)	(62		)
Retained earnings	2,457			2,394
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(31		)	(35		)
Total shareholders’ equity	4,330			4,223
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	6,971		$	6,815

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In millions, except share and per share amounts)

	THREE MONTHS ENDED
	December 27, 2003		December 28, 2002
Net sales	$	2,006	$	1,472
Cost of sales	1,470		1,066
Gross margin	536		406
Operating expenses:
Research and development	119		121
Selling, general, and administrative	343		299
Restructuring costs	—		23
Total operating expenses	462		443
Operating income (loss)	74		(37		)
Other income and expense:
Gain on non-current investments	4		—
Interest and other income, net	9		29
Total other income and expense	13		29
Income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes	87		(8		)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	24		(2		)
Income (loss) before accounting change	63		(6		)
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net	—		2
Net income (loss)	$	63	$	(8	)
Earnings (loss) per common share before accounting change:
Basic	$	0.17	$	(0.02	)
Diluted	$	0.17	$	(0.02	)
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic	$	0.17	$	(0.02	)
Diluted	$	0.17	$	(0.02	)
Shares used in computing earnings (loss) per share (in thousands):
Basic	362,450		359,057
Diluted	372,308		359,057

EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

January 14, 2004

Apple Computer, Inc.

Q1’04 Summary Data

	Q4’03 Actual			Q1’03 Actual			Q1’04 Actual			Sequential Change				Year/Year Change
	Units k	Rev $m		Units k	Rev $m		Units k	Rev $m		Units		Revenue		Units		Revenue
Product Summary
iMac (1)	253	$	279	298	$	356	227	$	251	-10	%	-10	%	-24	%	-29	%
iBook	137	154		186	216		201	221		47	%	44	%	8	%	2	%
Power Mac (2)	221	419		158	292		206	398		-7	%	-5	%	30	%	36	%
PowerBook	176	348		101	235		195	399		11	%	15	%	93	%	70	%
Subtotal CPUs	787	1,200		743	1,099		829	1,269		5	%	6	%	12	%	15	%
iPod	336	121		219	81		733	256		118	%	112	%	235	%	216	%
Peripherals & Other HW	NM	217		NM	137		NM	243		NM		12	%	NM		77	%
Software & Other	NM	177		NM	155		NM	238		NM		34	%	NM		54	%
Total Apple		$	1,715		$	1,472		$	2,006			17	%			36	%
										Sequential Change				Year/Year Change
	CPU Units k	Rev $m		CPU Units k	Rev $m		CPU Units k	Rev $m		Units		Revenue		Units		Revenue
Operating Segments
Americas	453	$	928	377	$	738	378	$	924	-17	%	0	%	0	%	25	%
Europe	158	323		202	351		240	519		52	%	61	%	19	%	48	%
Japan	76	171		71	139		77	157		1	%	-8	%	8	%	13	%
Retail	59	193		46	148		73	273		24	%	41	%	59	%	84	%
Other Segments (3)	41	100		47	96		61	133		49	%	33	%	30	%	39	%
Total Operating Segments	787	$	1,715	743	$	1,472	829	$	2,006	5	%	17	%	12	%	36	%

(1)Includes eMac product line.

(2)Power Mac figures include server sales.

(3)Other Segments include Asia Pacific and FileMaker.

NM:  Not Meaningful