Term Paper
Term Paper
Principles of Finance
Course Code: FIN1105
Term Paper on
Financial Performance of Apple Inc.
Submitted To
Dr. Jannatul Ferdaous
Professor
Department of Business Administration in Finance & Banking
Bangladesh University of Professionals
Submitted By
Group no.
Members: ID:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Date of Submission: 29th June 2025
I. Letter of Transmittal
II. Acknowledgement
III. Executive Summary
IV. Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Introduction
1. Introduction
1.1 Introduction
Apple Inc. operates as a world-famous American technology company from Cupertino, California,
that delivers elegant products with user-friendly interfaces and seamless hardware-software-
service integration. Apple Inc. started its operations on April 1, 1976, when Steve Jobs, Steve
Wozniak and Ronald Wayne established the company in a garage to market Wozniak's Apple I
personal computer. The Apple II revolutionized the industry by introducing color graphics while
becoming one of the first mass-produced microcomputers after the company established itself as
a leading force in personal computing. The Macintosh launch in 1984 brought graphical user
interfaces and mouse navigation to mainstream computing while setting new personal computer
standards. Apple developed its product range past computers by launching the iPod in 2001,
iPhone in 2007 and iPad in 2010, which transformed their respective markets through their
minimalist designs and user-friendly interfaces and focus on user experience. The unified
environment for millions of users worldwide exists through Apple's complete ecosystem, which
includes Mac computers together with iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch and services like iCloud,
Apple Music and the App Store. Apple maintains its enduring philosophy through simplicity,
attention to detail and continuous innovation, which manifests in its iconic products and "Think
different" ethos. Apple maintains its position as the largest technology company by revenue
through its dedication to innovation and excellence and its focus on delivering a seamless user
experience.
This paper evaluates Apple Inc.'s financial performance by analyzing its fundamental business
segments alongside its innovative strategies, which drive its sustained market dominance in global
technology.
Restricted access to confidential company data- The internal data availability is limited because
Apple maintains strict nondisclosure policies and operates with a secretive culture.
Limited analytical experience- The report was written by undergraduate researchers who are still
developing their analytical skills which may have limited the depth of the financial and operational
assessment.
Incomplete departmental insights- The three-year study period prevented us from collecting
complete data across all Apple departments particularly in the newly emerging fields of AI, health
research and autonomous systems.
Complex scale of manufacturing ecosystem- The extensive supply chain of Apple which
includes Chinese outsourced manufacturers creates operational challenges that surpass our current
capabilities.
Ratio analysis is a financial evaluation method that involves interpreting data from a company’s
financial statements to assess its performance and financial health. The analysis provides essential
information about liquidity and profitability, together with efficiency and solvency. The analysis
of financial ratios, including Liquidity Ratios, Activity Ratios, Debt Ratios, Profitability Ratios
and Market Ratios, enables analysts and managers and investors to make appropriate decisions
about operations and investments and risk management. Ratio analysis helps companies to
evaluate their performance through time-based comparisons and peer industry assessments, which
reveal hidden trends and weaknesses in financial data.
1) Current Ratio: The liquidity ratio measures a company's short-term obligation payment
capability through its liquid assets, including cash, accounts receivable and marketable securities.
The ratio shows how well a company can transform its assets into cash to fulfil its current
liabilities. Financial health improves when liquidity ratios are high because the company maintains
sufficient cash flow to avoid defaulting on short-term debts.
𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔
Current Ratio =
𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑳𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔
2) Quick Ratio: The quick ratio or acid-test ratio evaluates a company's short-term liability
payment capabilities through its most liquid assets, while excluding inventory. The quick ratio
provides a more stringent liquidity assessment than the current ratio because it only considers
assets that can be easily converted into cash. A ratio of 1 or higher typically indicates strong
financial health and minimal risk of short-term default. Standard Quick ratio is 1:1.
𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔−𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚
Quick Ratio = 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑳𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔
2.2.2 Activity Ratio
Activity ratios show how well a company uses its assets to produce revenue. The ratios assess how
quickly assets such as inventory, receivables and total assets produce sales or cash. The three main
activity ratios used in financial analysis are inventory turnover, accounts receivable turnover and
total asset turnover. High activity ratios usually indicate good asset management and strong
operational performance, but lower ratios could indicate inefficiencies or underutilized resources
or potential liquidity issues.
1) Inventory Turnover: The financial ratio of inventory turnover shows the number of times a
company sells and restocks its inventory during a specific time frame. The ratio shows both the
effectiveness of inventory management and the performance of sales operations. A high turnover
rate indicates both strong sales performance and effective inventory management, but a low rate
could indicate overstocking or poor sales performance.
2) Average Collection Period (ACP): The Average Collection Period represents the duration in
days that a business needs to receive payments from its credit customers. The measurement shows
how well a company handles its accounts receivable operations. A shorter collection period
indicates quicker cash inflows and better liquidity, while a longer period may suggest collection
issues or lenient credit policies.
𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆
Average Collection Period =
𝑨𝒏𝒏𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒔 ÷ 𝟑𝟔𝟓
3) Average Payment Period (APP): The average payment period shows the number of days a
company needs to clear its payables. The metric helps organizations evaluate their short-term
financial liquidity together with their credit management approaches. A longer payment period
helps cash flow but may damage supplier relationships, while a shorter payment period indicates
immediate payments.
𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆
Average Payment Period =
𝑪𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒅 ÷𝟑𝟔𝟓
4) Total Asset Turnover: Total asset turnover shows the efficiency of a company in using its total
assets to produce revenue. The ratio is obtained by dividing net profit by total assets. A higher
ratio indicates effective asset utilization and strong operational performance, while a lower ratio
may suggest inefficiencies or underused resources. This ratio is especially useful for comparing
companies within the same industry to assess their productivity and management effectiveness.
𝑵𝒆𝒕 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒊𝒕
Total Asset Turnover =
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔
1) Debt Ratio: The debt ratio represents a financial indicator which shows how much of a
company's total assets come from debt financing. The debt ratio equals total liabilities divided by
total assets. A higher debt ratio indicates that most of the company's assets come from borrowing,
which suggests increased financial risk. A lower ratio indicates better financial stability because
the company depends less on external financing.
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑳𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔
Debt Ratio =
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔
2) Times Interest Earned: The times interest earned (TIE), also known as the interest coverage
ratio, measures a company’s ability to meet its interest obligations on debt using its earnings before
interest and taxes (EBIT). It indicates how comfortably a firm can handle interest expenses with
its operating income. A higher ratio suggests greater financial stability and lower risk for creditors,
while a low ratio signals potential difficulty in meeting debt obligations
𝑬𝑩𝑰𝑻
Times Interest Earned =
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕
1) Gross Profit Margin: Gross profit margin reveals the percentage of revenue that remains after
subtracting the cost of goods sold (COGS). The ratio demonstrates how well a company manages
its product production and sales processes. Companies with higher margins demonstrate effective
production cost management and strong pricing approaches, but lower margins could indicate high
expenses or market price competition.
𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒊𝒕
Gross Profit Margin = 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒆
2) Operating profit margin: Operating profit margin reveals the percentage of revenue which
remains after paying operating expenses but before accounting for interest and taxes. The ratio
demonstrates how well a company manages its operational costs and pricing methods. A higher
margin indicates better control over operating costs and stronger profitability. Operating income
(or earnings before interest and taxes) divided by revenue produces the ratio. The ratio enables
industry-specific company comparisons and helps evaluate how well management controls
fundamental business expenses.
𝑶𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒊𝒕
Operating Profit Margin = 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒆
3) Net Profit Margin: Net profit margin is a profitability ratio that shows the percentage of net
profit earned from total revenue. It indicates how effectively a company converts sales into actual
profit after all expenses, including taxes and interest, are deducted. A higher net profit margin
reflects better financial performance and cost management.
𝑵𝒆𝒕 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒊𝒕
Net Profit Margin = 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒆
4) Earnings Per Share (EPS): Earnings per share (EPS) represents a fundamental profitability
indicator which demonstrates the amount of net income generated for each outstanding common
stock share. Investors use EPS to evaluate both the financial performance and the profitability of
a company. Companies with higher EPS values tend to demonstrate better profitability, which
usually leads to increased stock prices.
𝑵𝒆𝒕 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒊𝒕
Earnings Per Share =
𝑵𝒐. 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒄𝒌 𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚
5) Return on Assets (ROA): Return on Assets (ROA) is a profitability ratio that measures how
effectively a company uses its total assets to generate profit. It indicates the efficiency of
management in turning assets into profits. A higher ROA reflects better performance and efficient
resource utilization. It is calculated by dividing net profit by total assets, usually expressed as a
percentage, and is helpful for comparing companies across industries.
𝑵𝒆𝒕 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒊𝒕
ROA = 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔
6) Return on Equity (ROE): Return on Equity (ROE) is a profitability ratio that measures how
effectively a company uses shareholders’ equity to generate net income. It indicates the return
earned on the owners’ investment and is calculated by dividing net income by average
shareholders’ equity. A higher ROE suggests efficient use of equity and strong financial
performance, while a lower ROE may signal inefficiencies or weak profitability.
𝑵𝒆𝒕 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒊𝒕
ROE = 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚
1) Price / Earnings (P/E) Ratio: The Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio shows how much investors pay
for each dollar of earnings per share (EPS) through the current share price. The ratio shows how
much investors are willing to spend for each dollar of earnings. A high P/E ratio may suggest
expectations of future growth, while a low P/E can indicate undervaluation or weak prospects. It
is widely used for stock valuation and comparing companies within the same industry.
2) Market / Book (M/B) Ratio: The Market/Book (M/B) ratio compares a company’s market value
per share to its book value per share. It indicates how much investors are willing to pay for each
dollar of the company’s net assets. A ratio above 1 suggests that the market values the firm more
than its accounting value, often reflecting investor confidence, while a ratio below 1 may indicate
undervaluation or concerns about future performance.
1. Board of Directors
▪ Arthur D. Levinson – Chairman
▪ A.I. Gore
▪ Alex Gorsky
▪ Andrea Jung
▪ Monica Lozano
▪ Ronald Sugar
▪ Susan Wagner
The Board of Directors oversees Apple’s strategic direction and governance, ensuring the
company’s long-term success and accountability.
Table: 4.1
Current Ratio
1
0.98
0.96
0.94
0.92
0.9
0.88
0.86
0.84
0.82
0.8
2022 2023 2024
Current Ratio
Fig: 4.1
Interpretation: The current ratio increased from 0.879 in 2022 to 0.988 in 2023, which shows
better liquidity and a stronger ability to meet short-term obligations. However, it declined again to
0.867 in 2024, which suggests a potential weakening in financial stability. This trend indicates that
the company needs to review its short-term asset and liability management.
Quick Ratio:
2022 2023 2024
Table: 4.2
Quick Ratio
0.96
0.94
0.92
0.9
0.88
0.86
0.84
0.82
0.8
0.78
0.76
2022 2023 2024
Quick Ratio
Fig: 4.2
Interpretation: The quick ratio increased from 0.847 in 2022 to reach its highest point at 0.944
in 2023, which shows better short-term liquidity and the company's capacity to pay off immediate
liabilities. The liquidity position weakened when the quick ratio dropped to 0.826 in 2024. The
decrease in the quick ratio may result from higher current liabilities or reduced liquid assets.
Inventory Turnover:
2022 2023 2024
Table: 4.3
Inventory Turnover
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2022 2023 2024
Inventory Turnover
Fig: 4.3
Interpretation: The inventory turnover has steadily declined over the three years shown. In 2022,
turnover was highest at 45.197, dropping to 33.823 in 2023, and further decreasing to 28.87 in
2024. This trend suggests slower inventory movement, which may indicate reduced sales
efficiency or overstocking.
Table: 4.4
Total Asset Turnover
1.13
1.12
1.11
1.1
1.09
1.08
1.07
1.06
1.05
1.04
2022 2023 2024
Fig: 4.4
Interpretation: The total asset turnover ratio decreased from 1.12 in 2022 to 1.09 in 2023 and
then to 1.07 in 2024. The company has become less efficient in using its assets to generate revenue
over time. The downward trend could indicate that the company is not using its assets effectively
or that sales have decreased.
Table: 4.5
Average Collection Period
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
2022 2023 2024
Fig: 4.5
Interpretation: The average collection period increased from around 26 days in 2022 to 28 days
in 2023, and then further rose to about 31 days in 2024. This indicates that it is taking the company
longer to collect payments from customers each year, which could lead to cash flow challenges.
The rising trend may suggest inefficiencies in credit control or slower customer payments.
Table: 4.6
Average Payment Period
125
120
115
110
105
100
95
2022 2023 2024
Fig: 4.6
Interpretation: The average payment period increased from around 104 days in 2022 to
approximately 106 days in 2023, and then sharply rose to about 120 days in 2024. This suggests
the company is taking longer to pay its suppliers, which could reflect improved cash flow
management or delayed payments. However, the rising trend might also strain supplier
relationships if it continues.
Table: 4.7
Average age of inventory(In days)
14
12
10
0
2022 2023 2024
Fig: 4.7
Interpretation: The average age of inventory increased steadily from about 8 days in 2022 to
around 11 days in 2023, and then to approximately 13 days in 2024. This indicates that inventory
is taking longer to sell each year, which may signal slower sales or overstocking. A rising trend
like this could impact cash flow and operational efficiency if not managed properly.
Debt Ratio:
2022 2023 2024
Table: 4.8
Debt ratio
0.86
0.85
0.84
0.83
0.82
0.81
0.8
2022 2023 2024
Debt ratio
Fig: 4.8
Interpretation: The debt ratio decreased from about 0.856 in 2022 to approximately 0.823 in
2023, indicating a reduction in reliance on debt. However, it rose again to around 0.843 in 2024,
suggesting the company increased its debt levels slightly. This fluctuation may reflect strategic
borrowing or changing capital structure priorities.
Table: 4.9
Fig: 4.9
Interpretation: The gross profit margin has shown a consistent upward trend from 2022 to 2024.
It increased from approximately 43.3% in 2022 to around 44.1% in 2023, and further to about
46.2% in 2024. This suggests improving profitability, likely due to better cost control or increased
pricing power.
Table: 4.10
Net Profit Margin (%)
25.5
25
24.5
24
23.5
23
2022 2023 2024
Fig: 4.10
Interpretation: The net profit margin remained stable between 2022 and 2023, both hovering
around 25%. However, in 2024, it saw a noticeable decline to about 24%, suggesting that the
company experienced lower profitability or increased costs. This decline could signal potential
challenges in maintaining profit levels, such as rising expenses or reduced sales.
Table: 4.11
EPS
6.28
6.26
6.24
6.22
6.2
6.18
6.16
2022 2023 2024
EPS
Fig: 4.11
Interpretation: The chart shows a consistent decline in EPS (Earnings Per Share) from 2022 to
2024. EPS decreased from just above $6.27 in 2022 to about $6.23 in 2023, and further down to
approximately $6.2 in 2024, indicating a downward trend in the company's profitability over these
years.
Table: 4.12
Fig: 4.12
Interpretation: The operating profit margin declined slightly from around 30.3% in 2022 to
approximately 29.8% in 2023, indicating a dip in operational efficiency or increased operating
costs. However, it rebounded significantly in 2024 to about 31.5%, suggesting improved cost
control or higher operational income. Overall, the margin trend shows resilience and recovery after
a temporary decline.
Return on Asset:
2022 2023 2024
Table: 4.13
Return on Asset (%)
28.5
28
27.5
27
26.5
26
25.5
25
24.5
24
2022 2023 2024
Fig: 4.13
Interpretation: The return on total assets steadily declined from 2022 to 2024, dropping from
approximately 28.3% in 2022 to around 27.5% in 2023, and further down to about 25.7% in 2024.
This downward trend indicates the company’s decreasing efficiency in generating profit from its
assets over the three-year period.
Return on Equity:
2022 2023 2024
Table: 4.14
200
150
100
50
0
2022 2023 2024
Interpretation: The return on total equity decreased significantly from 2022 to 2023, dropping
from around 196.95% to about 156.076%. In 2024, there was a slight recovery as the return
increased marginally, but it remained well below the 2022 level. This suggests the company's
efficiency in generating returns from its equity weakened in 2023 and only partially rebounded in
2024.
Price/Earning Ratio:
2022 2023 2024
Table: 4.15
P/E ratio
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2022 2023 2024
P/E ratio
Fig: 4.15
Interpretation: The P/E (Price-to-Earnings) ratio increased consistently from around 24 in 2022
to 28 in 2023, and then to approximately 37 in 2024. This upward trend suggests growing investor
confidence and higher market valuation of the company relative to its earnings. However, it may
also indicate that the stock is becoming more expensive, potentially reflecting expectations of
strong future growth.
Market/Book Ratio:
2022 2023 2024
47.535 42.541 61.586S
Table: 4.16
M/B ratio
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2022 2023 2024
M/B ratio
Fig: 4.16
Interpretation: The M/B (Market-to-Book) ratio increased from about 42 in 2022 to 44 in 2023,
and then further rose to approximately 62 in 2024. This upward trend indicates an increasing
market valuation relative to the company's book value, which may reflect investor optimism or
higher growth expectations. However, such high ratios could also suggest that the company's stock
is becoming expensive, potentially signaling overvaluation.
Chapter 5
Findings and Recommendations