Strong iPhone numbers helped Apple set record sales for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2014.
The company, which just released its earnings report for the period, posted a quarterly net profit of $8.5 billion. The figure represents an 11.8 percent increase from the $7.5 billion the company posted during the same period in 2013.
Apple's quarterly revenue also jumped to $42.1 billion from $37.5 billion during the same quarter last year. The growth was driven by stronger-than-expected iPhone sales. During the quarter, the company sold 39.3 million iPhones, with about 10 million being purchased within three days of the device's release date on Sept. 19. The company's sales figures beat the 38 million units that analysts had earlier projected.
Sales for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which are expected to grow to 60 million units by the end of the year, may spike just in time for the Christmas season.
"Our fiscal 2014 was one for the record books, including the biggest iPhone launch ever with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus," Apple CEO Tim Cook said. "With amazing innovations in our new iPhones, iPads and Macs, as well as iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, we are heading into the holidays with Apple's strongest product lineup ever. We are also incredibly excited about Apple Watch and other great products and services in the pipeline for 2015."
Another area of growth for the company is its iMac desktops. Apple sold 5.52 million units during the quarter, which comes to a 21 percent increase from the same period a year ago. This represents the highest jump in iMac sales since December 2011, and Apple seems poised to exploit the healthy segment.
A few days ago, the company launched a 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display with a price tag of $2,499.
While positive news dominated Apple's announcement, there were also low points that may worry investors. The company's iPad sales dropped, continuing a trend that has been heading downwards for months. Apple sold 12.3 million units during the quarter, down 13 percent from the same period a year ago. The company has just replenished its iPad line with the release of the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3.
