Apple earnings

PICKY, PICKY: Check this out: Apple's fiscal Q4 profit climbed 24% and revenue topped Wall Street's forecasts, which you’d think would be cause for celebration. Think again. The company’s quarterly performance was deemed disappointing because profit on a per-share basis fell short of analysts' estimates. Net income came to $8.2 billion, while revenue was $36 billion. Apple sold 26.9 million iPhones in the quarter, up 58% from a year earlier, as well 14 million iPads, up 26%, though the latter total was also less than forecast. The stock price, which has dropped 13% since the release of the iPhone 5 on Sept. 21, briefly dipped below $600 yesterday following the earnings report. Talk about having to meet a higher standard. (10/26a)