Apple Sells Fewer iPhones, Gilead Misses Sales

Apple, Inc. AAPL shares are falling more than 1% in after-market trading following its fiscal Q2 earnings report released after Tuesday's closing bell. Though the earnings per share of $2.10 beat the Zacks consensues estimate by 8 cents, somewhat disappointing sales -- especially in regard to iPhone 7 shipments in the quarter -- are taking the stock down after peaking at another all-time high earlier today.

iPhone shipments of 50.8 million was below the 52.5 million analysts had been looking for, as well as down year over year from 51.2 million in Q2 2016.Mac sales were right in-line at 4.2 million, but iPads were also down -- 8.9 million units shipped in the quarter from the 9.6 million expected.

That said, the company did raise its dividend yield more than 10% to 63 cents per share. And, of course, Apple sits on a simply gargantuan wad of cash, now up to $256.8 BILLION. But concerns over the Chinese market are weighing somerwhat on Apple shares, even as many anaylasts point out Apple's iPhone 8 is expected to be launched sometime this year, and one key reason for a dip in iPhone 7 sales in Q2 is that consumers are awaiting the new release before trading in their old unit. For more, click here.

Biopharma major Gilead Sciences GILD missed top-lines estimates for its Q1 report after the bell today. Earnings of $2.23 per share compares to the Zacks consensus estimate of $2.18, but quarterly sales of $6.5 billion missed the $6.66 billion we had expected. The company decided to keep its full-year 2017 guidance intact.

Gilead specializes in HIV/AIDS drugs as well as hepatitis-C, and is also the maker of Tamiflu. The Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company also has $34 billion in cash, so we imagine Gilead's conference call will discuss whether a new acquisition may be in order for the $89 billion market-cap drug maker. Shares are down more than 2% in after-market trading, and the company is down about 22% year over year. For more, click here.

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