technology giant will release its quarterly results on Wednesday, with many predicting its first profit slide nine years

Apple

prefer surprises. Speculation - often reported - is still abundant before the company made its latest announcements, but the software giant itself never comments. On Wednesday, Apple Chief Tim Cook may have another surprise, although it was predicted by many - the first decline in profits of technology companies for nine years.

things have been difficult for Apple recently. Its shares have lost 20% over the last three months and closed Friday at $ 500, down from the record high of $ 705.07 during the launch of the iPhone 5 in September.

Apple shares have largely been on the slide since its launch marked by an unpopular decision to abandon Google Maps now own version botched the sailors left three times more likely to s 'absence, according to a survey. The heads rolled.

There was speculation last week that the company had dropped to third - suggesting that iPhone sales had slipped. Apple suppliers often change and, like other rumors he plans to use the new crystal technology in their devices. No comment from the company, Apple shares slid again.

And yet, for all these questions, Apple is widely expected to have sold nearly 50m iPhones last quarter - another record - and fans can not get enough of your iPad and iPad Mini. The company remains the world's most valuable.

This is the story of two blocks. A fan support should continue to redefine how commercial companies like General Motors and IBM are at their peak. The other, for the critics, is a manufacturer of phones will be taken by exaggerated reality.

Walter Piecyk, BTIG analyst, is in the latter camp. It downgraded Apple's stock stalled since April last purchase - a move that seems to SMART Sync now. Piecyk predicts that Apple will put another record quarter of sales of the company and an increase of approximately 80% in iPhone sales since the period of September, when sales were affected by the customers wait outside the the new phone.

But not on sales this quarter is concerned. The problem is Piecyk Apple "tablet product cycle." The company once relied on sales growth of its successful products, even after their fuel launch hype. Apple fever is still there - long lines formed at Apple stores around the world for the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini. But now, there are worrying signs that Apple has lost the ability to use the momentum of these sites.

For a time, Apple was the smartphone and tablet locked. Now, Samsung, HTC and others have products that generate a lot of buzz. "They can not wait now. Scheduled If you sell an old phone," said Piecyk.
Sales

The former tend to be less profitable for the company and the yields are higher because of teething problems. However, Apple can no longer rely on sales to offset these costs mounting. Speed ??locations and the level of competition is increasing and Piecyk, Apple is likely loser.

Horace Dediu analyst Asymco has more or less the same numbers as BTIG, but I could not disagree more. There are technical reasons that can underwhelm quarter - this quarter is a week shorter than the same quarter last year and the company has faced two versions - but more importantly, he said, Apple is still a star with room to grow
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